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Marjan couldn’t remember the last time she had been this nervous about something.
Hell, she had probably never been this nervous.
Because, to be honest, she had never done something like this before.
Sure she had done some bold and brave things, and maybe even a few stupid things, but this, this was completely different.
“You alright over there babe?” The sound of Nancy’s words from beside her startled her from her thoughts and she couldn’t help but nod her head and smile.
“Yeah, fine.” She really didn’t need the other woman to know what was bothering her. “Just lost in my own thoughts I suppose.”
“Sounds like a pretty dangerous place.” Nancy was only joking and Marjan knew it, but that didn’t stop her from sighing. “Seriously Marj, what’s gotten into you?”
“I just hope that the others don’t respond weirdly to this.” She gestured between them as she rambled. “I know they’re our friends and all, and they’re normally so supportive and everything, I just…”
Marjan felt her shoulders slump forward as she exhaled.
She was being ridiculous and she knew it.
“You worry they won’t accept us being together?” It was like the other woman could read her mind and it was terrifying.
“Yeah I guess.” She had no reason to think any of this though, because there had never been a more accepting group of people, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m being silly aren’t I?”
Nancy let out a little chuckle that made Marjan’s heart skip a beat or two and she couldn’t help but reach over and take her hand as they stopped at a stop light.
She hadn’t always been the kind of woman that needed this kind of reassurance and yet, here she was, acting like an insecure child.
She figured it wasn’t the first time that Nancy had dealt with this, but damn was it not an attractive feature to be displaying.
“You’re not being silly Marj.” Nancy squeezed her hand softly as she spoke and Marjan felt herself starting to calm down almost instantly. “I’m a little worried too.”
“Really?” Nancy may have been quiet, but she definitely wasn’t one to be scared or timid about anything. “You’re never worried.”
“I know.” There was the sass that Marjan was used too. “But they were your friends first. You guys have such history together. It’s kinda nerve wracking for me.”
“Well they’re your friends now too, our friends.” Saying those words out loud was almost calming and she could feel herself starting to relax. “I think things will be okay.”
“Yeah.” Nancy turned her attention back to the road as they continued toward Carlos and TK’s house, the car becoming silent as they both got lost in their own thoughts again.
--
When they arrived TK had met them at the door, ushering them in as he babbled on about how he was sorry about the mess but there had been a leaky washing machine or something.
And then he had vanished into the kitchen, Carlos’ voice echoing through the space as he tried to get his fiance to leave him alone long enough for him to finish preparing the snacks.
Nancy had made herself comfortable on the couch, the other couple’s new puppy Fred quickly joining her.
Fred, short for Fredricka, knew she wasn’t supposed to be on the couch, but clearly neither her or Nancy cared at the moment and Marjan chuckled, troublemakers is what they were.
Paul and Mateo arrived a few minutes later, the duo already arguing over who was going to win at Mario Kart and who was going to spend the next week doing everyone’s laundry at the station.
Once they were all seated around the giant table in the dining room Marjan had shot Nancy a look, hopefully she agreed with her that it was time to just get everything out in the open and get it done and over with.
“Um guys…” Nancy cleared her throat as she looked around the table, all eyes suddenly on her as hands stopped mid scoop over the serving bowls. “Marjan and I have something we want to share with you guys.”
Carlos and Paul shared a look that Marjan couldn’t have missed if she was blind, and TK simply chuckled as he leaned back in his seat.
“Wait, are you guys getting married or something?” Mateo’s question shocked her and Marjan could practically feel her jaw hit the floor. “Because I mean, things have been a little crazy and all lately, but it just seems like it’s time.”
Mateo was always the last one to know anything, literally anything, so hearing him be the one to call them out on their relationship was shocking.
“Uh…” She didn’t know how to respond to that, her eyes shifting from the younger man’s to her girlfriend and back.
“Oh I know what it is…” Carlos chuckled as he dropped a spoonful of rice onto his plate before offering them both a smile. “You’re finally gonna move in with each other.”
Again, neither she nor Nancy had an answer, both of them just standing awkwardly around the table as they watched their friends dissect a relationship they didn’t think they knew about.
“You’re getting a dog?” TK piped in and Marjan couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “You guys love Fred so much you’re gonna get her a playmate?”
She found herself shaking her head, her friends were ridiculous.
“That’s not it…” Nancy wrung her hands together in front of her, uncertain of what to say to their questions. “We uh…”
“We were going to tell you guys that we’re dating.” There, she had said it, finally.
It was out in the open and everyone knew it now.
Except Marjan was fairly certain that they had already known.
“It’s about damn time y’all said something.” She couldn’t help but reach over and smack Paul playfully as she rolled her eyes. “We’ve been waiting for an official announcement for what, six weeks now?”
“Six weeks?” Marjan couldn’t believe the volume at which she had uttered those two words, but she was downright shocked. “We’ve only been together for five.”
“Oops.” Carlos shrugged as he offered them a smile. “Close enough.”
She couldn’t believe this, they had been plotting all along.
“Why didn’t you guys say anything?” Mateo asked softly.
“We were afraid of how you guys would react.” Marjan was thankful that Nancy had been the one to say those words out loud because she didn’t know if she would have been able to.
“React?” TK sat up straighter in his chair and offered them both curious looks. “We’re excited for you guys.”
“You are?” She had always known that they were supportive and that they wouldn’t judge or push them away because of their relationship, but she had wondered if it would make things weird.
“Of course we are.” Paul reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to the table as he looked at her with soft eyes and a smile. “We’re family, it’s what we do.”
“So this isn’t gonna be weird for anyone?” Nancy gestured at the others around the table as she all but held her breath.
“Weird?” Mateo took a bite from his burrito and raised an eyebrow. “The weird part was you two acting like nothing was going on.”
“True that brother.” Paul reached out and offered a fist bump, which the younger man happily returned.
“We promise this isn’t weird, Marj.” Carlos Reyes had by far the most comforting sounding voice and the way his eyes softened as he spoke made Marjan feel instantly comforted.
“Yeah, it actually totally rocks.” And then there was TK with his goofy smile and proud eyes and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Yeah it kinda does doesn’t it?” They were all right, nothing was weird and nothing had changed and it did kind of totally rock.