The Girl Next Door

26. Hand-Holding

It was just a normal lunch with her grandparents.

We talked about her childhood, her grandparents sharing stories about when she was younger, and Astrid seemed both amused and slightly embarrassed by some of them.

They even pulled out some old photos on her phone, showing pictures of Astrid as a kid, laughing at how she looked in some of them. Astrid groaned playfully, but I could tell she appreciated the memories.

Then they turned their attention to me, asking about my mom. I hesitated for a moment before answering. "She works as a nurse at a local hospital nearby," I said, trying to keep it simple. "Long hours, but she loves what she does."

Her grandparents nodded, and her grandmother smiled warmly. "Sounds like a very dedicated woman."

I nodded, offering a small smile. "She is."

Then they asked about my father.

To be honest, I didn't really want to talk about him. He left my mom and me when I was just a baby, and I never really had much to say about him. But I figured it was only fair to share a bit, especially since they were being so kind.

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "My mom... she doesn't really talk about him much. But from what she's said, he wasn't around for long. Left when I was young, and that was that."

There was a brief silence, and I could feel Astrid's gaze on me. She didn't say anything, but I appreciated her not pressing.

Her grandmother gave me a soft look. "It's tough when things like that happen. But it sounds like your mom did a great job raising you."

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. "She did. She really did."

Changing the topic, her grandfather leaned forward, a curious glint in his eye. "So, I hear you play football?"

That was a much easier subject for me. I straightened up, a little more confident. "Yeah, I'm actually the captain of the team," I said, feeling a sense of pride in my voice.

Her grandfather's eyebrows raised with interest. "Captain, huh? That's impressive. How's the season going?"

I grinned, glad for the distraction. "We're doing pretty well, actually. It's been a tough season, but we're hanging in there."

Astrid's grandmother chimed in, "I bet you've got some great stories from the field."

"Definitely," I said, feeling the conversation flow easily now. "There's always something crazy happening during the games. Last week, we pulled off a last-minute win. It was intense."

Her grandfather nodded, clearly enjoying the conversation. "Sounds like a real thrill. I bet your teammates look up to you."

I shrugged modestly. "I try my best to keep the team together. It's all about the chemistry."

We continued talking about football for a while, and it felt good to talk about something I actually enjoyed. The atmosphere was light, and I could tell her grandparents were genuinely interested in getting to know me better.

After lunch, her grandparents called it a day, both of them standing up and stretching. Her grandmother turned to Astrid with a smile. "We should plan another day like this. You two should have more time together, get to know each other better," she said, giving us both a knowing look.

I couldn't help but feel a small knot of guilt twist in my stomach. They were so kind, so invested in making sure we spent time together, but the reality was we weren't really a couple. It was all for show.

Astrid noticed my change in expression and gave me a quick, reassuring glance. But even with her silent support, the guilt lingered, heavier than before.