I rifled through my wardrobe, suddenly painfully aware that most of my clothes were in some state of disarray—either too wrinkled, too casual, or just outright unsuitable for meeting a girlfriend’s mother.

  Girlfriend.

  God, that still felt weird to think about.

  I exhaled sharply, grabbing the least offensive option I could find—a pin bck button-up and a pair of decent jeans. Not too formal, not too casual. Just… neutral.

  Exactly how I wanted this interaction to go.

  After changing, I stared at myself in the mirror, smoothing down the shirt, debating whether I looked presentable enough or if I just looked like a guy desperately trying to look like he had his life together.

  There was no saving me at this point.

  My phone buzzed again.

  Astrid: Hurry up. We’re picking you up in 10 minutes.

  I sighed, running a hand through my hair before stuffing my phone in my pocket.

  I needed to get out of the house before my mum saw me and started asking questions.

  Slipping on my shoes, I grabbed my jacket and quietly made my way downstairs.

  I was so close to escaping. So close—

  “Henry?”

  I froze.

  Slowly, I turned to see my mum standing in the hallway, arms crossed, giving me that look.

  The one that said she knew something was up.

  Damn it.

  “You’re dressed,” she noted. “And awake.”

  “…Yeah.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Going somewhere?”

  I cleared my throat, shifting slightly. “Uh… lunch. With a… friend.”

  Mum squinted at me. “A friend?”

  I swallowed. “Yes.”

  Her eyes flickered down to my outfit before snapping back up to my face, and I knew—I knew she wasn’t buying it.

  “Uh-huh,” she said slowly. “And does this friend happen to be a girl?”

  I rubbed the back of my neck, knowing I was caught. “…Maybe.”

  Mum’s lips curled into a smirk.

  “Hmm. Would this girl friend happen to be Astrid?”

  I groaned, running a hand down my face. “Mum.”

  She grinned, looking far too pleased with herself. “I knew it.”

  I sighed, checking my phone. “I have to go.”

  “You’re meeting her mum, aren’t you?”

  I choked.

  “What—how—” I gaped at her. “Why would you even assume that?”

  Mum ughed, shaking her head. “Henry, please. You wouldn’t look that stressed if this was just some casual outing. You look like you’re walking into an interrogation room.”

  I scowled. “…That’s exactly what it feels like.”

  She smirked. “Smart woman, making you sweat a little.”

  I groaned. “I hate that you’re enjoying this.”

  She just patted my shoulder, barely holding back ughter. “Have fun, sweetheart.”

  I muttered something unintelligible under my breath before finally making my way outside, my face still burning as I walked down the street.

  A few minutes ter, a sleek bck car pulled up to the curb.

  The window rolled down, and there was Astrid, grinning way too smugly from the passenger seat.

  “Well, well, well,” she drawled. “Look who made it out alive.”

  I shot her a ft look. “You pnned this, didn’t you?”

  She batted her eyeshes. “I might have mentioned to my mum that I had a very special someone I wanted her to meet.”

  I inhaled deeply, my patience hanging by a thread.

  Astrid smirked. “Nervous?”

  I opened the car door and slid into the back seat. “Nope.”

  She tilted her head. “You sure?”

  I buckled my seatbelt, staring straight ahead. “Absolutely.”

  Astrid turned to face the driver’s seat. “Mum, Henry’s nervous.”

  I groaned.

  A soft chuckle came from the front.

  I swallowed, finally gncing up to meet the gaze of Astrid’s mother.

  She was a striking woman—sharp blue eyes, blonde hair pulled into a neat bun, dressed in a crisp white blouse and dark scks. She had the same air of confidence as Astrid, but much more refined.

  And definitely intimidating.

  She smiled, though. Polite. Measured.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, Henry.”

  I nodded, feeling weirdly like I was about to be cross-examined in a courtroom.

  “You too, ma’am.”

  Astrid snorted next to me.

  I shot her a look.

  Her mother just smiled, shifting the car into drive.

  “Well,” she said. “Let’s get to know each other, shall we?”

  I exhaled slowly, bracing myself.

  This was going to be a long lunch.

  ***

  The restaurant was nice. Too nice.

  I had been expecting some casual café or diner, but no—Astrid’s mum had taken us to a cssy pce with white tablecloths, fancy lighting, and waiters who looked like they were silently judging me.

  Astrid, of course, was completely unbothered, zily scrolling through the menu like this was just another Tuesday.

  Meanwhile, I was still mentally preparing for battle.

  “So, Henry,” Astrid’s mum said, folding her hands on the table. “Tell me about yourself.”

  I straightened slightly. “Uh… well, I’m in the same year as Astrid, just a different css. I like reading, writing, and… uh, I don’t really do much else.”

  Astrid snorted. “Wow. What a thrilling introduction.”

  I shot her a look. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I had to prepare a TED Talk on my existence.”

  Her mum chuckled. “Don’t worry, Henry, I get it. My daughter tends to be a lot to handle.”

  Astrid gasped. “Mum!”

  Her mum just sipped her water calmly. “I’m just saying, it takes a special kind of person to put up with you.”

  Astrid narrowed her eyes. “I see whose side you’re on now.”

  I smirked. “Wow. Even your own mum knows you’re a menace.”

  Astrid kicked me under the table.

  I winced but kept my expression neutral.

  Her mum just smiled, amused, before tilting her head at me. “So, Henry, let’s get to the real questions.”

  I blinked. “The real questions?”

  Astrid’s mum set down her gss, leaning forward slightly. “Are you being safe?”

  Silence.

  My brain completely shut down.

  Astrid choked on air. “MUM, WHAT THE HELL?”

  I stared at her, begging for crification. “Safe… how?”

  Her mum raised an eyebrow. “I mean, I assume you two are… active?”

  Astrid made a strangled noise. “Oh my God.”

  I blinked. “Like… participating in sports?”

  Astrid kicked me again.

  Her mum ughed. “That’s a cute way to say no.”

  I cleared my throat. “I—uh—we—” I shot a look at Astrid, who was covering her face in absolute horror.

  Her mum smiled, amused. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. For now.”

  I exhaled deeply, feeling like I had just survived something.

  Astrid, still visibly suffering, groaned. “I cannot believe you just asked that.”

  Her mum shrugged. “What? I just want to make sure you’re being responsible.”

  Astrid groaned louder, sinking further into her chair.

  I took a sip of my water, pretending I wasn’t actively reconsidering my life choices.

  The conversation finally shifted to something more normal—school, interests, general small talk.

  And then, just as Astrid was starting to recover—

  Her mum set down her fork, looking at her daughter thoughtfully.

  “You know, Henry,” she said, her voice suddenly softer, “I don’t think I’ve seen Astrid this happy in a long time.”

  Astrid immediately stiffened.

  Her mum smiled gently. “She’s always been… independent. Strong-willed. But tely, she just seems lighter. Less guarded.”

  Astrid froze completely, her face rapidly turning red.

  I blinked, gncing between them.

  Astrid refused to meet my gaze, instead aggressively cutting into her food like it had personally wronged her.

  Her mum just sipped her drink, looking far too pleased with herself.

  I smirked. “Wow. You hear that, Astrid? You’re happy.”

  She shot me a death gre. “Shut up.”

  Her mum chuckled. “Oh, don’t be embarrassed, sweetie. It’s a good thing.”

  Astrid muttered something under her breath, still refusing to look at me.

  I grinned. “So, does this mean I get credit for improving her mood?”

  Astrid stabbed her fork into her sad. “I will end you.”

  I leaned back, smug. “You like me.”

  She scowled. “I regret everything.”

  Her mum ughed, shaking her head. “Oh, this is fun.”

  Astrid groaned loudly. “You’re both the worst.”

  I just smirked, taking another sip of my drink.

  For once, I wasn’t the one squirming.

  And honestly?

  It felt great.

  Astrid sulked dramatically, stabbing at her food like it had personally betrayed her.

  I, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying myself.

  Her mum was still chuckling to herself, clearly pleased with the fact that she had successfully flustered her daughter.

  “I have to say, Henry,” she said, cutting into her steak with perfect precision, “you handle Astrid’s… personality surprisingly well.”

  I smirked. “You mean her menace behavior?”

  Astrid gred at me. “You’re literally the worst person I’ve ever met.”

  Her mum sighed, shaking her head. “No, that would be your ex.”

  Astrid choked on her drink.

  I froze, my fork pausing mid-air as I gnced at her mum in shock.

  Astrid coughed violently, wiping at her mouth. “Mum, what the hell?”

  Her mum looked completely unfazed, sipping her wine like she hadn’t just dropped a bomb at the dinner table.

  “What? I’m just saying,” she said casually, “compared to him, Henry’s practically a saint.”

  I blinked. “Wow. High praise.”

  Astrid groaned into her hands. “Please, stop talking.”

  Her mum ignored her completely, turning back to me. “Do you know how angry she was after that breakup?”

  Astrid smmed her forehead against the table.

  I smirked. “Oh, I know.”

  Her mum sighed, shaking her head fondly. “She was stomping around the house for weeks, ranting about how she was done with men, how she was never dating again—”

  Astrid let out an actual pained noise. “Mum, I swear to God—”

  “And then,” her mum continued, as if Astrid hadn’t just threatened her life, “suddenly, she’s hanging out with this mysterious boy all the time. Coming home in a suspiciously good mood. Giggling at her phone—”

  “I DID NOT GIGGLE,” Astrid yelled.

  I grinned, absolutely thriving off of this.

  “Oh my God,” I murmured, barely containing my ughter. “You giggled?”

  Astrid turned bright red.

  “No!” she snapped.

  Her mum just hummed. “I don’t know, sweetie. It was pretty giggle-like.”

  Astrid pointed her fork at her. “I am revoking your parental privileges.”

  Her mum ughed. “Oh, rex. I’m just saying—it’s nice to see you like this.”

  Astrid defted, slumping back in her chair, looking thoroughly defeated.

  I just smirked, resting my chin in my hand. “So, just to be clear… I am the exception to her no more dating rule?”

  Astrid gred at me, her eyes screaming do not say another word.

  Her mum smiled. “That would be correct.”

  I leaned back, very pleased with myself. “Huh. Look at that.”

  Astrid kicked me under the table. Hard.

  I winced but kept my expression smug.

  Her mum ughed. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop torturing her… for now.”

  Astrid exhaled heavily, rubbing her temples. “I hate both of you.”

  I smirked, nudging her foot with mine. “Love you too, babe.”

  Astrid shot me a lethal gre, but her ears were still red.

  Her mum smiled, clearly enjoying every second of this.

  “Well,” she said, setting down her fork, “I’d say lunch has been quite enlightening.”

  Astrid groaned. “Yeah. Enlightening. Let’s call it that.”

  I just grinned, reaching for my drink.

  This had been the best meal of my life.