The Girl Next Door

23. Meeting the Grandparents

Alex's POV

The parking lot was quiet except for the occasional hum of car engines and the faint chatter of students heading home. Astrid slid into the passenger seat of my car as I adjusted the rearview mirror, trying to focus on the road ahead and not the fact that this was about to get real.

"See you guys later at Geoff's house," Matt called out, waving as he and the guys headed off.

I nodded, but my mind was already racing as I started the car. The drive to the airport wasn't long, but it felt endless. The closer we got, the more my nerves started to creep in.

Astrid must've noticed because she glanced over at me and smirked.

Astrid: "Relax, Alex. They're not going to bite."

Alex: gripping the steering wheel a little tighter "Easy for you to say. You're not the one pretending to be someone's boyfriend in front of their family."

She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Just be yourself. They're going to love you."

Somehow, her confidence didn't make me feel better.

When we finally pulled up to the arrivals area, I spotted them instantly. Her grandparents were hard to miss—her grandmother had Astrid's sharp features and piercing blue eyes, while her grandfather had the kind of presence that could fill a room without saying a word.

As they walked toward us with smiles on their faces, I took a deep breath, willing myself to play the part convincingly.

Astrid's Grandmother: brightly, opening her arms "Oh, Astrid! And you must be Alex!"

Before I could even react, her grandmother pulled me into a warm hug. She smelled faintly of lavender, and her enthusiasm caught me off guard in the best way.

Alex: awkwardly but sincerely "It's nice to meet you."

Her grandfather, on the other hand, was more reserved. He offered me a firm handshake, his grip strong but not overbearing. His eyes studied me for a second too long, like he was sizing me up, and I couldn't help but wonder if I passed whatever unspoken test he'd just given me.

Astrid's Grandfather: gruffly but kindly "Good to meet you, Alex."

Astrid's voice broke the tension as she stepped in to grab her grandmother's suitcase.

Astrid: "Come on, let's get your things in the car. It's been a long flight, hasn't it?"

Her grandmother smiled at her, brushing a strand of hair out of Astrid's face.

Astrid's Grandmother: "It's always a long flight at our age, dear. But we're so happy to be here—and to finally meet your Alex."

Your Alex. The words lingered in the air, and I didn't dare look at Astrid, afraid my expression might give away the fact that this whole thing was fake.

Astrid: with a small laugh "Yep, here he is. Told you he's real."

I forced a chuckle, opening the trunk and helping with the bags. As I loaded their luggage, I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping into uncharted territory. Astrid's grandparents seemed sweet—maybe even too sweet—but something told me they were sharper than they let on.

As we all piled back into the car, Astrid's grandmother leaned forward from the back seat, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Astrid's Grandmother: "So, Alex, how long have you and Astrid been together?"

Here we go. The charade was officially starting. I glanced at Astrid, hoping she'd take the lead, but she just raised an eyebrow at me, as if to say, Your turn.

Alex: forcing a confident smile "Uh, a few months now."

Astrid's grandmother's smile widened, and her grandfather gave a small grunt of approval.

Astrid's Grandmother: "Well, you must be very special. Our Astrid doesn't bring just anyone into her life."

Astrid shot me a quick look, her cheeks faintly pink, and for a second, I forgot this wasn't real.

As I drove them toward their hotel, I couldn't help but think that this was going to be a lot harder than I'd expected. Because the way her grandparents looked at me—with genuine warmth and hope—made me want to be the guy they thought I was. Even if it was all just an act.

*****

The car ride to the hotel was unexpectedly... fun.

Astrid's grandmother had this energy about her—sharp, witty, and endlessly curious. She asked me questions about school, my interests, even my favorite food, all while teasing Astrid with stories from her childhood.

Astrid's Grandmother: laughing "Did Astrid ever tell you about the time she tried to bake cookies for the school bake sale? Let's just say, the fire alarm got a lot more attention than her cookies did."

Astrid: groaning, hiding her face in her hands "Grandma, please. That was years ago."

Alex: grinning "I don't know, Astrid. Sounds like a story I need to hear."

Astrid's grandmother winked at me in the rearview mirror, clearly enjoying herself. Her lightheartedness filled the car, making the conversation flow easily.

Her grandfather, on the other hand, was a man of few words. He sat silently, his gaze occasionally shifting to the window, only chiming in when necessary. But when he did speak, his words carried weight.

Astrid's Grandfather: calmly "So, Alex, what are your plans after high school?"

His voice wasn't harsh, but it had an edge that made me sit up a little straighter.

Alex: thinking quickly "I'm planning on going to college, probably studying engineering. I've always been interested in how things work."

He nodded slowly, his expression unreadable.

Astrid's Grandfather: "Good. A man should have direction."

That was all he said before returning to his quiet observation, but I couldn't help feeling like I'd passed another unspoken test.

Astrid caught my eye and gave me a small smile, her way of saying You're doing fine. It helped more than I cared to admit.

When we finally pulled up to the hotel, I parked the car and hopped out to help with their luggage.

Astrid's Grandmother: smiling warmly as she stepped out of the car "Thank you, Alex. You've been such a gentleman. Astrid's lucky to have you."

Her words caught me off guard. I glanced at Astrid, who was busy grabbing her bag from the trunk, avoiding my gaze.

Alex: with a polite smile "I'm the lucky one. Your granddaughter's pretty amazing."

The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I felt a faint heat creeping up my neck.

Astrid's grandmother just beamed, clearly pleased, while her grandfather gave me a small nod of approval.

Astrid's Grandmother: "We'll see you both tomorrow, then. And thank you again, Alex."

As they headed inside the hotel, Astrid and I stood by the car for a moment, watching them go.

Astrid: quietly, glancing at me "You didn't have to say that."

Alex: shrugging, meeting her eyes "It wasn't a lie."

She looked at me for a second, something unspoken passing between us, before she smiled softly and climbed into the car.

The drive back to Geoff's party was quieter, but the weight of what had just happened lingered. It wasn't just the act anymore. Somewhere in the mix of witty banter and meaningful glances, it felt like something real was starting to take shape.