The dinner started smoothly, nick turned up at Charlies house on time and brought a bottle of wine. Nick was his usual charming self, he used his golden retriever personality to bring out smiles. But he also used his manners that came from being an established adult to show Charlies parents he was mature enough for a serious relationship with their son.
By the time they sat down to eat Charlies parents had a good first impression.
"So how long have you two been dating?" Julio asked.
"About four months."
"How did you first meet?"
Charlie and nick glanced at each other, Charlie didn't want to tell his parents about a club hook-up, so he chose a half truth.
"Aled got the flat an invite to an event at Nicks sports camp. Nick runs his own business."
"Oh how do you know Aled." Jane asked casually
There was a pause in the conversation as nick and Charlie both froze. Their reaction was noticeable and now the question was highlighted in his parents minds. Charlie knew they had to answer honestly.
"He is Aleds dad."
Jane and Julio's reaction was more stunned than shocked.
"You don't look old enough to be his dad."
"I barely am. He was born when me and my girlfriend were sixteen."
Charlie could see his parents doing the mental maths, working out that their teenage son was dating someone in their mid thirties.
Charlie wanted to distract his parents from those thoughts and so blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm planning to move into nicks house next year. Its still close to my uni and I spend so much time there already it just makes sense." Even as he said it Charlie realised he probably shouldn't have brought up their plans just now.
The rest of the evening was very aquard, they ate in mostly silence. Any talk felt forced. Everybody knew they were just going through the motions, waiting till the guest left before the real conversation began.
When Charlie kissed nick goodbye nick hugged him and whispered "Good luck."
The moment the door closed behind nick Charlies parents called him into the kitchen.
"Charlie as your parents its our duty to tell you when we think your making a mistake." Jane said.
"Is this about nicks age?" Charlie asked.
"Well....yes."
"Some parents wouldn't want me to date him because he is a guy. How is this any different?"
"Charlie you know this isn't prejudice. He's a man your still a boy."
"Were both legally adults."
"Your 19! The human brain doesn't fully mature until 25. By then he will be forty."
"15 years isn't that much. And even if it was, so what? Nick makes me happy, isn't that more important than his age."
"Charlie your still so young, you should set up your own life first, figour out who you are." Jane insisted. "At least put your relationship on hold for a few years, don't move in with him."
