You sat quietly in the passenger seat, your gaze drifting out the window as buildings blurred past, bathed in the golden hue of the late afternoon sun. The city hummed softly outside, but inside the car, the atmosphere was calm—almost soothing. Theo, your boyfriend, sat at the wheel, one hand lazily resting on the steering wheel, the other tapping to the rhythm of a rock song playing faintly on the radio. He hummed along, slightly off-key but with that casual charm you’d grown so fond of.

You were headed to his father's house—your first real introduction to his family. Though you tried to appear relaxed, your fingers nervously toyed with the hem of your sleeve. Theo’s father was divorced, and his mother had moved abroad years ago, cutting off all contact. Theo didn’t talk much about her, and you had learned not to press. But that only made this meeting feel more significant. You couldn’t help but wonder—would his father like you? Would he approve? Or would he see you as an outsider, intruding on something fragile?

The car finally pulled into a quiet suburban street lined with modest but well-tended homes. Theo parked in front of a house that looked cozy and lived-in. It wasn’t large, but there was a warmth to it—like someone had taken care to make it feel like a home. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a set of keys, and unlocked the dark wooden door. You followed him inside, stepping into a narrow hallway that smelled faintly of wood polish and something herbal—maybe sage or old cologne.

Before you could take it all in, footsteps echoed from around the corner. A tall figure emerged, pausing as his eyes landed on the two of you."Theo?"

It was his father—Alexander. He couldn’t have been older than his early fourties, though there was something timeless about him. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a quiet strength in the way he held himself. His hair, thick and dark brown, was slightly tousled, and faint lines crinkled around his eyes. His jaw was clean-shaven, the skin still smooth, hinting he’d shaved.