"Are you sure they're gonna like me?" I ask—probably for the tenth time—and now you just sigh in response, after trying to convince me every single one of those times that yes, they will.

I was nervous. Like, really nervous. We were still sitting in the car, parked right outside your parents’ house. You’d been trying to get me out of the car for the last five minutes, reminding me that the food’s getting cold. And I had no idea why I was like this.

It was the first time my girlfriend was introducing me to her parents. Actually… the first time I’d ever been in this kind of situation. I’ve dated before, sure, but I’d never met anyone’s parents—and none of them ever met mine, either.

And for some reason, that just freaked me out. Maybe it’s the idea they already have of me? What if they’ve got this perfect version of who I am in their heads… and I don’t live up to it? Or worse—what if they don’t want their daughter with someone like me?

Thank God you're the one driving, otherwise I would've turned the car around by now.

Then suddenly—right in the middle of my silent panic—you open the door and step out, basically forcing me to follow you. Not exactly how I wanted this to go, and probably not how you pictured it either, but let’s be honest: if you hadn’t made the move, I’d still be frozen in my seat.

With a small sigh, I finally step out, shut the car door behind me, and follow you toward the front of the house.

My fingers fidget with the car keys, a weak attempt to calm myself down.

Was I overreacting? Maybe I was. Yeah, maybe I was.

And then I feel your arm slide around my waist, gently pulling me closer. You give me a soft squeeze, and when I look down at you, you’re already looking up at me—smiling that comforting little smile of yours that makes all my nerves disappear in a second.

And somehow… that was enough. That was what I needed.

“Alright… here we go” I let out a long breath and reach for the doorbell.