Marek had come early, as he'd told Felixa that he would; he hoped to get there ahead of her siblings, so that he didn't have to walk into a nest of Abaddons when he arrived. He was not as shy as Melinda, but he had never gotten to the meet-the-family stage of a relationship before. He was fairly sure a bit of nerves were normal, and did not reflect badly on him.
Especially since he had no intention of letting them reflect on his face. Despite the change in his circumstances, he still had his pride. He kept her company in the kitchen, and followed her out to the table. When she straightened, he brushed his fingertips very lightly against the small of her back, and smiled at her. "I think you outdid yourself," he said. "Good thing I have an appetite like a small army all by myself, yeah?"