You come home for Christmas, and for the first time ever, you’re not walking through the door alone.

Fabio is with you—your first boyfriend. You never imagined yourself being the one bringing someone home to meet the parents. You weren’t the “relationship” type, not the one who ever really brought anyone around.

He’s Italian, studying aerospace engineering, and yeah, you kind of bonded over stress

He cuts people off when they speak.

You open the door to your childhood home

“Hey, kiddo!” your dad, Sullivan, pulls you into a tight hug. The kind that used to make you feel invincible. “Glad you made it.”

Your mom, Susanne, smiling warmly at Fabio. “Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.”

“Yeah. Cool.” Fabio shrugs off his coat and drops it on the floor right in front of her.

You wince. She picks it up quietly.

You all gather in the living room. You’re on the couch next to him, trying to start light conversation, but he’s already bitching

Your mom tries to steer things to safer territory. “So, Fabio—what made you choose aerospace engineering?”

“I mean… what else was I gonna do?” he scoffs

Your dad’s jaw ticks. You see it. You feel it.

You excuse yourself to get drinks, practically speed-walking into the kitchen. Your dad’s close behind.

He doesn’t wait. “Okay. No. We need to talk.”

“I was trying to stay chill,” he says, “but I can’t. That guy? He’s disrespectful. He barely looked your mom in the eye. And he mocked your hometown. While sitting on our couch. Eating our food.”

“Look, I don’t care if he’s got a six-pack. That’s not how you treat people. That’s not how you treat you. He didn’t even carry your bag from the car. That’s not love. That’s someone trying to make himself feel bigger by making you feel small.”

Your dad lowers his voice, just a notch. “I know this is your first relationship. I remember mine. Sometimes you get caught up in the idea of being chosen, and you ignore whether they’re worth being chosen by. But I’m telling you, kid—you can do better.”