The moment we walked in, I was greeted by soft lighting, the comforting smell of roasted vegetables, and cheerful laughter drifting from the dining room. His parents welcomed me with bright, friendly smiles, and for a second, I started to relax—until my boyfriend joked, “Hope you brought your wallet… we’re all starving.” My heart skipped. For a split second, I thought he meant it. Then his dad stood up, chuckled, and said, “Relax, we’re just kidding,” and the whole table erupted in laughter. I must have looked completely caught off guard, because my boyfriend quickly squeezed my hand reassuringly. His...
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