The next morning, Yn was a mix of nerves and excitement. She’d arranged for Summer to meet her parents, Simon and Catherine, for lunch at a cozy restaurant downtown. Summer tried to play it cool, but Yn could tell she was feeling the pressure too.
As they walked into the restaurant, Yn spotted her parents already at a table near the back. They both looked up, smiling warmly as they saw her approach with Summer by her side.
“Yn!” her mother, Catherine, greeted, standing up to give her a big hug. “And you must be Summer!”
Summer smiled, a little shyly. “Yes, it’s lovely to meet you both.”
Simon extended his hand to Summer. “We’ve heard so much about you. Yn can’t stop talking.”
“Dad,” Yn muttered, feeling her cheeks heat up. But she couldn’t help but grin.
Summer laughed, shaking Simon’s hand. “Hopefully, all good things?”
“Only the best,” Simon replied, gesturing for them to sit down. “We’re just happy to meet the person making our daughter so happy.”
As they settled into their seats, the conversation flowed easily. Yn watched, feeling a rush of relief as her parents and Summer hit it off. Catherine asked about Summer’s modeling career, her interests, and how she and Yn had met, all the while wearing a look of approval that made Yn’s heart swell.
“I have to say,” Simon started, a warm smile on his face, “it’s good to see Yn with someone who understands the pressures of being in the spotlight. I think you two will balance each other out.”
Summer smiled, reaching over to take Yn’s hand briefly. “That’s what I love about us. We push each other to be better, but we’re also there when things get tough.”
Yn squeezed Summer’s hand, grateful for the reassurance. Her parents didn’t miss the gesture, and they both exchanged approving looks.
The rest of lunch was filled with laughter, stories, and easy conversation. When it finally came time to leave, Catherine gave Summer a hug. “You’re always welcome with us, Summer.”
“Thank you,” Summer replied, looking genuinely touched. “That means a lot.”
As they walked out, Simon gave Yn a small nudge. “You’ve got a good one there. Don’t mess it up.”
Yn chuckled, nudging him back. “I’ll do my best.”
---
Later that evening, Yn was scrolling through her phone when a message from Katie popped up.
Katie: Hey! Drinks tonight?
Yn bit her lip, glancing over at Summer, who was flipping through a magazine on the couch.
“I think Katie’s inviting me out for drinks tonight,” Yn said. “I’ll probably skip, though.”
Just as she was about to type her response, another message came through.
Katie: Bring Summer! Would be great to meet her properly.
Yn showed Summer the message. “Looks like you’re invited, too. Want to go?”
Summer looked up, grinning. “Sounds fun! Let’s do it.”
Yn replied to Katie’s message, confirming they’d be there, and soon enough, they were getting ready for the night. A little while later, they walked into the bar, where Katie, Leah, and a few other teammates were already waiting.
“Yn! Summer!” Katie called out, waving them over with a big grin. “There they are!”
Leah raised her glass in a toast. “About time we got to meet the famous Summer.”
“Famous?” Summer chuckled as she took a seat next to Yn. “I think that’s Yn you’re talking about.”
Katie grinned, raising her eyebrows. “Yn just might be, but we’re talking about you, model extraordinaire.”
Yn laughed, rolling her eyes. “You’re all ridiculous.”
As the night went on, the group settled into a fun rhythm. Katie and Leah kept the energy up, swapping stories and joking around, and Summer fit right in, laughing along and sharing her own funny experiences.
“So, Summer,” Katie asked with a mischievous smile, “what’s it like dating Yn? Does she ever turn off the intense footballer vibe?”
Yn groaned, covering her face. “Please don’t embarrass me.”
Summer laughed, glancing over at Yn with a fond look. “She’s actually a huge softie once you get to know her. Don’t let the serious game face fool you.”
Katie and Leah burst out laughing, and Yn just shook her head, though she couldn’t help but smile at Summer’s answer.
“You heard it here first,” Leah joked, raising her glass. “Cheers to Yn’s soft side!”
As the night went on, Yn found herself relaxing more and more. She loved seeing her teammates bond with Summer, and she could tell Summer was enjoying it too.
After a while, Leah nudged Yn with a grin. “You know, Yn, you and Summer make a pretty great team.”
Yn smiled, glancing at Summer, who was laughing with Katie about some story. “Yeah… I think so too.”
When it was time to head out, they all shared hugs and made plans to meet up again soon.
Katie gave Yn a smirk as they were saying goodbye. “You two better come out with us more often. Summer’s officially one of us now.”
Yn grinned, looking over at Summer, who seemed just as happy as she was. “I think we can make that happen.”
As they walked out, Yn felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She had her team, her family, and now, someone who really understood her by her side. And for the first time in a while, everything felt right.
