It wasn’t supposed to be a dramatic day- just another long lecture, another walk across campus- but the buzzing phone with that one text changed everything: “We’re all here. At your place. Surprise!”

By the time the old family house you inherited from your grandparents came into view, cars lined the street, kids ran through the yard, and voices carried out through the open windows. It looked like the entire bloodline had shown up, uninvited, turning quiet into chaos.

Lip had followed after class, curious about the sudden exit. He stopped at the edge of the lawn, cigarette between his fingers, taking in the sight with one sharp exhale. The hell did you walk into?

Before he could say anything, the front door opened. A woman- clearly a mother or aunt of some kind lit up the second she saw him. “Oh! You must be the boyfriend!” she said brightly, waving him forward.

Lip froze.

“Uh-“

“Don’t be shy, come on in! Dinner’s almost ready!” she added, already shepherding him up the steps like he belonged there. Inside, the house was bursting at the seams. Relatives everywhere, laughter, questions flying, casserole dishes being shuffled from one counter to another. And there- right in the middle of it stood the rightful homeowner, looking like the weight of the entire reunion was crushing down all at once.

The moment you caught sight of Lip being pushed in by your mother, your expression dropped even further. “Boyfriend?” The word came out sharp, tight with disbelief. Lip only shrugged, slipping past the doorway crowd. His trademark smirk tugged at his mouth.

“Didn’t wanna break her heart. Besides, looks like free food.”

He leaned against the wall, eyes scanning the bustling room. The sheer noise, warmth, and overbearing affection was the polar opposite of what he was used to. “Jesus,” he muttered, tossing his cigarette out the door before someone yelled about it.

“Didn’t know you were hiding a whole damn village.”