Max stood in front of his mirror, adjusting the collar of his dark green shirt for what felt like the hundredth time. He glanced at his reflection, exhaling slowly.
"Chill out, man," he muttered to himself. "It's just lunch... with her parents... no big deal."
Chris popped his head into the room, grinning. "Dude, you look like you're about to go on trial."
Evan snorted from the couch. "Just don't tell them about the time you got into that street brawl over a sandwich."
Max shot them both a glare. "Not helping."
Finally deciding his outfit was presentable—casual but not too laid-back—Max grabbed his keys and headed out. As he drove to Scarlet's house, his mind was a chaotic mix of excitement and anxiety.
When he arrived, Scarlet was already waiting outside. Her face lit up when she saw him, and she waved him over. "Hey! You look great."
Max couldn't help but smile back. "You too."
She reached for his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Don't be nervous. They're gonna love you."
Max smirked. "That's easy for you to say."
Inside the house, Scarlet's mom greeted them with a warm smile. "Oh, Max! Come in. Lunch is almost ready."
Scarlet's dad appeared from the kitchen, giving Max a nod. "Glad you made it."
Max returned the gesture, trying to look calm. "Thanks for having me."
They all settled in the dining room, where a delicious spread of pasta, garlic bread, and salad awaited them. As they dug in, Scarlet's mom asked, "So, Max, what got you into boxing?"
Max took a sip of water, thinking carefully. "It's something that just... clicked with me. At first, it was about staying strong and protecting myself. But eventually, it became more about pushing my limits and staying disciplined."
Scarlet's dad looked impressed. "Takes a lot of dedication. You ever think about going professional?"
Max shrugged, glancing at Scarlet. "I've thought about it. Right now, I'm just focused on getting better. I want to see how far I can push myself."
Scarlet's mom chimed in with a gentle smile. "And besides boxing, what else do you enjoy?"
Max relaxed a bit. "Fixing cars. My Mustang was a total wreck when I got it. Took months to get it running again, but I loved every minute of it."
Scarlet's dad's eyes lit up. "You rebuilt that car yourself? That's impressive."
Max nodded, his confidence growing. "Yeah. Chris and Evan helped out, too. It's kind of our project car."
Scarlet's mom seemed genuinely curious. "Scarlet mentioned you're good at guitar, too. Quite the mix of talents."
Max felt a faint blush on his cheeks. "I guess... it's just stuff I picked up along the way. Music helps clear my mind when things get too loud."
Scarlet squeezed his hand under the table, offering a subtle, encouraging smile.
As lunch went on, the conversation shifted to college, Scarlet's studies, and stories from her childhood—some of which made Scarlet roll her eyes while Max couldn't help but chuckle.
After lunch, as they moved to the living room for coffee, Scarlet's dad leaned over to Max and said quietly, "You seem like a good kid. Just make sure you treat my daughter right."
Max looked him straight in the eye, his tone sincere. "I will, sir. I promise."
Scarlet's dad gave a small nod, a hint of approval in his expression.
When it was finally time to leave, Scarlet walked Max to the door. "See? You did great," she whispered, a playful glint in her eyes.
Max smirked. "Only because you didn't let me crash and burn."
As they stood on the porch, Scarlet reached up, brushing a bit of lint off his shoulder. "Thanks for coming. It meant a lot."
Max couldn't help but smile. "Anytime."
He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead before heading to his car, feeling a sense of relief and accomplishment. As he drove back, he couldn't stop replaying the way Scarlet's parents had smiled at him as he left.
Maybe this whole meeting-the-parents thing wasn't so terrifying after all.