"Meeting the Parents"

The clock struck 7pm, and Lulu felt her stomach twist with anxiety. She had spent the entire day preparing herself for this moment, but she still couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. She took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress and trying to calm her nerves. Grayson was due to pick her up any minute, and she knew she had to be ready. Just as she was starting to think that Grayson was running late, the doorbell rang. She took one last deep breath, grabbed her purse, and made her way to the door. When she opened it, Grayson was standing there, looking suave and confident in a navy blue suit. "Hey," he said, flashing her a warm smile. "You look stunning." Lulu felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she smiled back at him. "Thanks," she said, trying to sound casual. "You don't look so bad yourself." Grayson chuckled and handed her a bouquet of flowers. "For my parents," he said. "They love flowers." Lulu took the flowers, feeling a little more at ease. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. As they drove to Grayson's parents' house, Lulu couldn't help but feel a little nervous. What if she said something wrong? What if she accidentally let slip that she and Grayson were just pretending to be in a relationship? But as they pulled up to the house, Lulu was surprised to see that it was a beautiful, sprawling estate with a perfectly manicured lawn. It was clear that Grayson's parents were wealthy, but there was something warm and welcoming about the place that put Lulu at ease. As they stepped out of the car, Grayson's arm brushed against hers, sending a shiver down her spine. She quickly pulled away, trying to play it cool. But to her surprise, Grayson just smiled and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey, relax," he whispered. "My parents are going to love you." Lulu felt a surge of panic at the touch of his hand, but she tried to push it aside. She was just playing a role, after all. As they walked up to the front door, Lulu could feel her heart pounding in her chest. But when Grayson's parents opened the door, Lulu was surprised to see that they were both smiling warmly at her. "Grayson, darling!" his mother exclaimed, rushing over to give him a hug. "And you must be Lulu. We've heard so much about you." Lulu felt a little more at ease as Grayson's parents welcomed her into their home. As they sat down to dinner, she couldn't help but notice that Grayson's parents seemed to be looking at her with a kind of sympathetic understanding. "So, Lulu," his father said, as they passed the mashed potatoes around the table. "Grayson tells us you're from a small town in the Midwest. What brings you to the city?" Lulu launched into a story about her job and her team, feeling more and more at ease as she talked. And to her surprise, Grayson's parents listened with interest, asking her questions and making her feel like she was part of the family. As the evening wore on, Lulu realized that Grayson's parents were actually really nice people. They were warm and welcoming, and they seemed to genuinely like her. And as she glanced over at Grayson, she saw that he was smiling at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You know, Lulu," his mother said, as they were finishing up dessert. "I can tell you're a little nervous. But don't be. We're just happy to have you here." Lulu felt a surge of gratitude towards Grayson's parents. They thought she was just scared of meeting them, but they had no idea that she was actually pretending to be Grayson's girlfriend. As they said their goodbyes and headed back to the car, Lulu felt a little more at ease. Maybe this pretending-to-be-in-a-relationship thing wouldn't be so bad after all.