Your parents were far from the best—especially when it came to boys.

For months, you had been secretly dating Chris, keeping your relationship hidden until, somehow, your parents found out. And, of course, they demanded to meet him.

Now, standing at their front door, you took a deep breath, mentally preparing yourself for what was sure to be a great dinner.

Chris, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to turn around and run. The way you had talked about your parents had clearly gotten to him, and you could see the nerves written all over his face. He knew he wouldn’t be welcome here.

Reaching for his hand, you gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, don’t worry. It’s gonna be fine,” you said, hoping you sounded more confident than you felt.