Dinner had been a little awkward, what with Oliver being a stranger and Elio constantly feeling like his father was about to ask him a question that would make him blurt out why Oliver had really come to see him. But his parents had tried their best to make Oliver feel welcome, and this morning at breakfast it had almost been as though Oliver had been with him for years.

Elio wished he could spend the day with Oliver, but he knew that it would be a busy day at the shop with a lot of customers coming in to pick up their orders. So he couldn't get himself to ask for another day off - even if he knew his parents wouldn't hesitate to give it to him.

"Dad?" he asks when Annella and Oliver are out to deliver a big order. Oliver had seemed a little nervous when Elio's mother had asked him to go with her, but Elio had flashed an encouraging smile - not realizing that it would leave him alone with his father.

He had avoided him while sweeping up, but he could tell that Samuel was watching him, a worried look on his face. So he had gone over to him, hoping that his mother had been right and that this would be no big deal.

Still, his hands are shaking and he quickly sets down the broom.

"Oliver, he's…"

Samuel flashing a knowing smile, Elio's heart skipping a beat as he realizes that his father already knows.

"He's not just my friend," he adds, feeling like he still has to get the words out - even if only for himself. "We're…" together, he thinks, but are they? They still haven't had that talk. "We're more than friends. I'm in love with him," he blurts out, kicking himself for doing it again. But unable to keep himself from smiling as his father pulls him into a tight hug.

"You knew, didn't you?" he asks when his father lets go of him. "How?"

"Because I know you, Elio. When you told us about him…" He shrugs. "I could tell that this boy means a lot to you."

"He could have been my friend."

Samuel just smiles, Elio wondering if maybe he had blushed when he had told his parents about Oliver. Or had he stammered and showed them how nervous he was? Had he blurted out something, and not even noticed it?

"Are you okay with me being...?"

"I am." Samuel assures him. "Did you think I wouldn't be?"

"Maybe," Elio admits. "Mom said you wouldn't mind, but… I don't know." His cheeks flush, embarrassed that he had been so nervous to talk to his father - when his father had always told him that all that mattered to him was that he is happy.

"Oh, Elio," Samuel chuckles. "You should know better than that."

I do, Elio thinks, realizing that he wasn't putting it off because he was scared of his father's reaction, but because if he were to talk to him - if everyone were to know - it would become too real. The secret wouldn't be his own anymore, and he was not ready for that.

Elio is just wrapping up an order, when his mother and Oliver get back from delivering an order. He almost runs up to them to tell Oliver that he has spoken to his father, but he doesn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. So he keeps his eyes focussed on the flowers in his hands, a smile nearly bursting out of him as he hears Oliver and his mother laughing together. Something about it feeling so perfect - so right - that he almost forgets that this isn't the perfect rom-com.

"Your mom is the best." Oliver grins when he joins him a minute later. "I wish my parents…"

"I came out to my dad," Elio blurts out.

"What did he say?" Oliver asks, lowering his voice - the grin now gone.

"He already knew."

"I figured. The way he treated me…"

Elio gives a nod, blushing deeply when he remembers how right it had felt to have Oliver sitting by his side at the breakfast table.

"I'm happy for you, man." Oliver smiles, reaching out to put his hand on Elio's. "Your parents are great."

"Yeah, they are. I'm sorry your parents…" Elio begins, but he swallows back the rest of his words, not wanting to embarrass him.

"It's fine. They're pretty great too, when they're not fighting." Oliver shrugs, "Don't feel sorry for me, man," he laughs, nudging him in the arm. "They're really not so bad."

"Maybe I'll meet them one day."

"Maybe…" Oliver teases, before pulling Elio in for a hug - the two teenagers unaware of Annella and Samuel watching them with adoring smiles on their faces.

After work, Elio and Oliver had gone for a walk through town. Elio had grabbed Oliver's hand, smiling to himself when he realized that he was no longer nervous about who would see them. Just happy to be there with Oliver and wanting to share as much of his life with him as possible.

"I really hope I can stay longer next time," Oliver says when they are at the diner, having something to eat before Oliver has to go home. "Don't get me wrong, man, texting is fun, but this is…"

"I know." Elio smiles, trying to hide how much it hurts that they will have to say goodbye again. That this is how it will be from now on. "But I'll see you again next weekend, right? Or maybe the weekend after? I can ask my mom if she'll drive me to yours next time."

"Yeah… I'm not sure if I can do next weekend. My parents have been fighting a lot, and I don't want you to be in the middle of that, you know? Maybe it's best to wait until whatever they're dealing with now dies down."

"I'm sorry you're having to live with that."

"It's alright." Oliver shrugs. "I'm usually up in my room with my headphones on, so I don't hear most of it. But yeah, it's been pretty bad lately. I mean, it's nothing physical or anything, but they're just always arguing and when you're in a room with both of them, it's like…" He imitates an explosion. "It's not something I want you to see."

"I can handle it," Elio reassures him, before reaching out to grab his hand. "I want to meet them."

"You will." Oliver smiles. "But after this has died down, okay?"

"Okay." Elio nods. "You'll talk to me though, won't you? If the situation gets bad?"

"It won't. I told you, they're not so bad. It's probably just another fight over one of them forgetting an anniversary or something." Oliver shrugs, but when he sees the persistent look on Elio's face, he flashes a smile. "If it gets bad, I will tell you. I promise. Now come on, finish your food before I miss my bus."