An Unpredictable Dinner

That weekend, Charlie was pacing back and forth in his living room, his nerves on edge as he waited for Nick's arrival. He had warned Nick about his family, but he wasn't sure if he had prepared him enough. As he heard the doorbell ring, Charlie's heart skipped a beat. He quickly ran downstairs, but it was too late. His sister Sarah had already opened the door and was standing face to face with Nick. "Well, well, well," Sarah said, her eyes scanning Nick from head to toe. "You must be Nick. Aren't you handsome?" She trailed her fingers up his arm, making Nick's eyes narrow. Nick pushed her hand away, his expression firm. "Back off, I'm taken," he said, his voice low and even. Charlie was surprised. He had never expected Nick to be so direct, but a small part of him was relieved. He knew that his sister could be relentless when she wanted something, and he was glad that Nick had set boundaries from the start. Sarah raised an eyebrow, undeterred by Nick's rejection. "Is that my baby over there?" she asked, her eyes flicking to Charlie. Charlie smiled and ran over to Nick, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him for standing up to his sister. Nick lifted him in his arms and spun him around, making Charlie laugh. "Hello, sweetheart," Nick said, his eyes locked on Charlie's. "I'm so glad to be here." Charlie's mom appeared from the kitchen, a warm smile on her face. "Welcome, Nick! Come on in, dinner is almost ready." As they made their way to the dining room, Charlie couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. He knew that his family could be unpredictable, and with his sister involved, it was bound to be an interesting evening. But with Nick by his side, he felt more confident, and he was ready to face whatever came their way. As they sat down at the table, Sarah raised an eyebrow at Nick. "So, Nick, what do you do for a living?" she asked, her voice dripping with curiosity. Nick launched into a story about his job, and Charlie listened with a smile, feeling grateful for the distraction. But as the evening wore on, Charlie couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated. His sister was still fixated on Nick, and he knew that she wouldn't give up easily. And then there was his mom, who seemed to be enjoying the drama a bit too much. Charlie just hoped that Nick could handle the chaos that was his family.