"She hates me, and he regrets everything."
"But she protects you regardless. And he loves you despite not wanting to be here anymore."
"You don't understand."
"Try me."
"Nevermind, I shouldn't have brought it up."
"I don't like hearing you always complaining, but I still care."
"Don't try to fix me. Don't assume I'm broken."
"Jeez, I'm sorry."
"Can we drop it?" He put down the pool cue. "I'm going to get another beer. Want one?"
"You buying?"
"No, you are. You owe me."
His friend sighed. She'd met his parents a few times.
They're nice. At least, they treat me well. Maybe they think something is going on between the two of us. They'd be wrong though.
He came back with the beers.
"Are we going to see your parents next week?"
"I don't think we should. There's something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"Okay?"
"We've known each other for how long now?"
"I don't know. Several years?" Uh-oh, is this going where I think it's going?
"Do you think it's time we, ah you know, we went..."
Oh, he's really going there isn't he? "You think we should meet your parents on a new level?"
"That's, ah, that's not what I'm asking."
"I think I know."
"You know what?"
"What you're asking."
"You do?"
"The answer is yes, we could give it a shot."
He felt lightheaded. In a good way. "Seriously? No backsies!"
"No backsies."
"I better go before you change your mind."
"Call me later," she shouted after him.
He went home with a slight spring in his step.
But what if I'm wrong about what we just agreed to? No, I'm overthinking again. But would we turn out like my parents?