Melanie

Three months ago

"What the fuck?" Daniel's voice crackles through the phone, instantly confusing me. I pull the device away from my ear, staring at it as if it betrayed me.

"What's wrong?" I ask, my mind racing to decipher the cause of his sudden outburst. His tone is aggressive, and I'm left grasping for an explanation.

"Dinner at Mallory's? What the fuck, Mel? Why didn't she arrange it for next week?" Daniel's frustration rings through the words, leaving me bewildered.

"It's just dinner, Danny. What's the big deal?" I reply, attempting to downplay the situation. I can't fathom why he's so worked up about a simple dinner at Mallory's.

"Why not next week? Why this weekend?" Daniel demands, his anger palpable. I sigh, struggling to understand his agitation.

"I don't know, Daniel. It's not that serious. We'll just grab a meal, chat, and come back. What's the issue?" I question, trying to ease the tension.

His voice remains harsh as he asserts, "You won't go."

My eyes narrow, and I bristle at his attempt to dictate my plans. "Excuse me? You can't tell me what to do, Daniel."

Abruptly, his tone softens, catching me off guard. "You won't go because you should come to the wedding."

My heart flutters in my chest, confusion replaced by excitement. He left for his cousin's destination wedding two days ago, explicitly stating that I couldn't attend. Now, he's inviting me. This is a significant leap in our relationship, and I'm on cloud nine.

"Are you serious?" I ask, barely containing my joy.

"Of course," he replies, and I can't help but feel a surge of happiness. "Be here tomorrow. I can't wait to see you."

"I'll be there," I promise, my excitement bubbling over. "I miss you, Danny. I love you."

"Yeah, me too," he mumbles, and we exchange hurried goodbyes before ending the call.

I release a scream of exhilaration, unable to contain my happiness. Daniel is serious about us, and being invited to his cousin's wedding is undeniable proof. I'm going to meet his family this weekend, and the prospect thrills me beyond words.

But before I can revel in this newfound excitement, I remember the dinner at Mallory's. I need to break the news to her. I dial her number, my fingers dancing nervously on the screen. After a few rings, she answers with her usual warmth, "Hey, sis, what's up?"

I can hardly contain myself as I blurt out, "Nothing much, Mallory. I'm just going to meet Daniel's family this weekend!"

Silence follows my revelation. I can almost feel Mallory processing the information on the other end of the line. When she finally speaks, her tone is laced with confusion, "What are you talking about, Mel?"

I take a deep breath, realizing that I might have skipped a few crucial details. "Daniel's invited me to his cousin's wedding this weekend. I can't believe it! I'm finally meeting his family!"

More silence ensues, and I start to worry that maybe I've sprung this on her too suddenly. "Mallory?" I prompt, seeking some kind of response.

Mallory's strained voice filters through the phone, her words carrying a tension I hadn't expected. "That sounds great, Mel. I'm happy for you," she says, but her tone contradicts the sentiment. It's as if the weight of her unspoken thoughts hangs heavily in the air, and a pang of sadness settles in my chest. Nevertheless, I manage a polite "thank you" in response, not wanting to press further.

"As you can probably tell, I won't be at your dinner party tonight," I confess, hoping to address the elephant in the room. Mallory sighs, her voice still strained as she replies, "I gathered as much."

There's an uncomfortable silence between us, the unspoken tension palpable through the phone line. The discomfort is palpable, and I wish there was a way to alleviate it. I want her to share in my excitement, not be burdened by it.

"Look, Mallory, I have to go. I've got some packing to do," I say, hoping to break the awkward silence that hangs between us.

"Okay," she replies, and even through the phone, I can feel the distance that has crept into our conversation. "Have fun at the wedding."

"Thanks, Mallory," I say, though my gratitude is tempered by the melancholy of her reaction. We exchange a hurried farewell, and the call comes to an end.

Mallory may not be Daniel's biggest fan, but she's my sister, and I had expected a bit more warmth. Meeting Daniel's family is a significant step in our relationship, and I can't help but feel a tinge of disappointment that Mallory isn't sharing in my excitement. After all, meeting the family is a big deal, right?

Standing up from my cozy window nook, I make my way to the closet, my anticipation building with each step. Opening the closet door, I start filling a duffel bag with an assortment of essentials – pyjamas, swimsuits, dresses, the whole shebang. My mind races as I consider what to wear to the wedding, flipping through my formal dresses with a critical eye.

One by one, I dismiss the options until my fingers graze the lime green satin dress tucked at the back. The one with the draped front, low back, and those daring front slits. I take it off the hanger and hold it up to the light. It's perfect, and a grin spreads across my face. This is the one.

I can't wait to see Daniel's reaction when he sees me in it.

Nude pumps, gold hoops, and a delicate gold bracelet complete the ensemble. Satisfied with my choices, I sit back in my window nook, admiring the outfit laid out before me. My excitement grows, not just for the wedding, but for the opportunity to make a positive impression on Daniel's family.

With the wedding outfit settled, I grab my laptop and type a quick email to my manager, requesting a few days off. My heart flutters as I press send, the prospect of sharing this special moment with Daniel outweighing any work commitments. I keep the laptop in my lap, gazing outside while I wait for a response.

The anticipation is almost unbearable, but after a few minutes, the ping of a new email notification breaks the suspense. Opening the message, relief washes over me – my manager approves the days off. A smile stretches across my face as I close the laptop. Tomorrow can't come soon enough.

As I lean back in my window nook, my thoughts inevitably drift back to Mallory's strained reaction. The sadness lingers, a weight in my chest. Why can't Mallory see what I see in Daniel? He's changed so much, putting in effort to be a good boyfriend and make me happy. It's disheartening that my sister can't share in my joy, but perhaps she'll come around eventually.

Lost in my thoughts, I realize that I never asked Mallory how the banquet went. She was very anxious about it, but her reaction blocked me, my defense mechanisms kicking in, so I didn't think to ask her. It must have gone great though. The dress that Adam bought for Mallory was exceptional – that man truly has an eye for fashion. My heart tugs a little at the comparison between Adam and Daniel.

Adam has been all in from the start, wearing his heart on his sleeve and making Mallory happy without reservation. Meanwhile, Daniel has been more reserved, revealing his true self bit by bit. It's a different pace, and sometimes it feels like I'm navigating uncharted waters. Yet, he is opening up, even if it's at a slower pace than I'd imagined.

I mentally scold myself for comparing the two relationships. They're unique, each with its own dynamics. It's unfair to hold Daniel to a standard set by someone else. He's making an effort, and that counts for something. I am meeting his family in a few days, what more do I need really?

Not to mention that I thought I had someone who was all in from the start, just like Adam has been for Mallory. Marcus shattered my heart in a way no one else had before. The pain was profound, and the scars lingered long after he was gone. Things may go at a slow pace with Daniel, but at least it's all true.

I should be truly grateful for Daniel.