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This was exactly what they all needed. Storm Point hadn’t really lived up to the hype of the brochures Elliott had spent hours pouring over. Sure, maybe it had been the proclaimed tropical paradise once, but these days it was crawling with prowlers and giant spiders and the sky looked funny in too many places. Not exactly what he would call a ‘prime destination’ for a relaxing vacation; he’d learned that the hard way. The surrounding islands, however, were a different story. They definitely lived up to the hype of their brochures; golden sand, clear skies, blue oceans, snug beach huts for accommodation. Coming here had truly felt like paradise to Elliott, and it was only made better by having his two favourite people in the world accompanying him - and was honestly making him consider changing the name of his bar.
“Oh, I’m so full. I don’t think I could eat another bite,” Octavio groaned, leaning back in his seat and giving his toned stomach a couple of reassuring pats. “Luckily, I always wear elasticated shorts.”
Elliott chuckled quietly at that, taking a sip of his wine.
“You can’t eat any more? That’s not like you, Tav.”
“Hey, even I know, you gotta admit defeat sometimes,” Octavio replied, balling up a napkin and tossing it playfully in his partner’s direction.
“How are you holding up, Mom?” Elliott asked, turning his attention towards Evelyn who was sitting on the other side of the table.
She let out a little huff as she pushed her plate of leftovers away from her.
“I think I’ll join Octavio in the ‘I can’t eat any more’ club.”
“Who knew you could make BBQ fancy?” Octavio said, licking the remnants of some sticky sauce from his fingers. “I guess rich people always figure out a way, huh?”
“Well this is supposed to be one of the best resorts around,” Elliott told him, receiving a small smirk from the runner.
“Even better than Dionysus?”
The trickster shot him a sideways glance as he moved to stand.
“Yeah, this place is great. Let’s hope the drinks are just as good.”
“Elliott, honey,” Evelyn began, waving towards her son. “Sit down. Relax. We can order drinks later.”
“I’ll relax when I know my two favourite people are taken care of,” he replied, with a soft smile.
Evelyn shook her head fondly, as she watched him slowly jog away, dipping into the nearby canopy where the bar was held.
"I hope he's having a nice time," she sighed. "And I hope you don't mind me coming along, Octavio. I know you probably wanted some time away for just the two of you. But...Elliott asked me to come and he was very...persistent. Those puppy eyes still work on me after all these years. He's still my special boy, I can never say no to."
"Nah, I don't mind. He really wanted you to come," Octavio replied, following it with a small laugh. "I think planning vacations is like one of his favourite things to do."
"Oh, he's always loved them," Evelyn hummed. "I remember when he was a child he…or was that...Roger...I…"
Octavio's brows furrowed as he watched the frustration begin to seep into her features, and he quickly perked up with a memory of his own.
"Did he ever tell you about the time we went to that fancy hotel in Malta?" he said, watching her expression melt back to one of ease.
She shook her head.
"He got a little wasted at dinner. I think the wine was a little strong. And we were joking around. He said he bet he could beat me in a race back to our bedroom. But on the way, he ran into the wrong room. And the people staying in there started yelling at him. I think one of them even threatened to call security. The look on his face was just...one of the funniest things I've ever seen. And he actually did beat me back to our room in the end, because he was so scared and I was laughing too hard at him to run."
Evelyn rolled her eyes when he came to the end of his story, but was obviously amused.
"That sounds like something he would do."
She followed the trail of Octavio's eyes as his gaze moved towards the bar, with Elliott leaning against it. Their eyes seemed to meet with no effort at all, and Evelyn couldn't help but notice how the corner of Octavio's lip curled into a soft smile when Elliott shot him a cheeky wink.
"He's very fond of you, you know," she said, immediately catching the runner's attention. "I've seen him with other partners in the past but I don't think he's ever looked at anyone the way he looks at you."
"Really?"
She nodded, with a smile.
"Moms notice these things. I suppose, what I'm getting at is, I'm glad he met you, Octavio. I was hoping he'd meet someone. And you two have been going strong for a while now. I've never seen him so happy."
She paused when she realised Octavio was looking away from her, awkwardly fidgeting with his fingers.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…” she trailed off, looking down at her own hands. “Don’t mind me and my babbling. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“No, it’s…cool. It’s fine. I just…” Octavio shot one last look in Elliott’s direction, ensuring he was still preoccupied at the bar, before beginning to dig around inside his shorts pocket.
He pulled out a small box and set it on the table in front of her, gesturing towards it with a nod of his head.
“I’m, uh, kinda glad you said all that stuff because…I brought that here with me. But…I wasn’t sure.”
Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat when she took the box in her hands and opened it, emitting a small gasp at the silver ring inside. She swallowed harshly, emotion beginning to bubble in her throat.
“Oh, Octavio. It’s beautiful.”
“I was gonna give it to Elliott,” Octavio said, turning around to sit sideways in his seat, looking at her more directly, his leg jittering with a mix of raw energy and nerves. “I…I wanna ask him to marry me. Someday. But I totally wanna call dibs on him now! So…yeah! I’d…like to do that. If, y’know, um…It’s okay with you.”
“Of course it’s okay with me!” Evelyn laughed, leaning over in her seat to wrap her arms around him. “Elliott will be overjoyed.”
Octavio hugged her back, breathing in her perfume with a relieved sigh.
“Gracias.”
“Hey, what are we getting all emotional over here for?” Elliott asked, as he set the tray of drinks down on the table and began passing them out, giving Evelyn just enough time to pass the ring box back to Octavio under the table, which he stuffed back into his pocket.
“Oh, nothing,” she said, smiling up at her son. “We’re just happy to be here.”
“Man, did you see the guy behind the bar?” the trickster continued, oblivious. “He was throwing bottles in the air and spinning glasses around. I should learn how to do that, then I’d be able to charge for drinks and a show! I just hope these drinks were worth the wait...”
“Actually, I need to take a walk. My legs are getting cramped up just sitting around,” Octavio said, jumping out of his seat and offering a hand to his partner. “Come with?”
“What about…Mom?” Elliott said, quietly.
“I’ll be fine,” Evelyn assured him, gesturing around her. “I have a great view to keep me company. I’ll watch your drinks. Go. Stretch your legs.”
Evelyn watched them stroll along the sea shore, hand in hand, the sky above them lulling into a light orange as the sun began to set. She sipped from her glass contentedly, keeping her eyes fixed on them as they became shadowed silhouettes further down the beach. She could just about make out the moment Octavio dropped to one knee and shocked hands rushed to cover her son’s face. She smiled, finally allowing that emotion she’d been holding in her chest to bubble over.
“Oh…My special boys.”