Lyndsey's POV:

Niall and I finally pulled into the driveway of his house just outside his hometown of Mullingar, Westmeath. The moment the engine shut off, we both climbed out of the car.

My body felt stiff from hours of travel. I bent forward to touch my toes, stretching my aching back and legs.

"I am so over traveling," I groaned. "I honestly don't know how you do this all the time."

Niall chuckled as he popped open the trunk and started pulling out the luggage.

"You get used to it," he said casually. "Eventually."

"I refuse to believe that."

He laughed again, handing me the handle of one of the suitcases.

Once everything was out of the car, I wheeled the suitcases toward the front door while Niall carried several bags in his arms. We dropped everything in the entrance hallway.

I paused and looked around.

The house was bigger than I had imagined. Open, quiet, warm in a way that made it feel lived-in. Sunlight streamed through large windows, and there was a faint smell of wood and something sweet—maybe candles or baking.

It felt... like home.

It was also very different from anything I was used to.

Niall grabbed the bags again and started up the stairs.

I followed behind him, leaving the suitcases behind because there was absolutely no chance I was dragging those up myself.

"So..." I said cautiously. "When are we meeting your parents?"

Niall glanced back at me with a small grin.

"Funny you should ask. They're actually coming over in a few hours. They live nearby."

I froze for a moment on the stairs.

A few hours?

I hadn't expected that. Not today.

"Oh," I said, trying to sound calm even though my stomach suddenly tightened. "That's... soon."

"Don't worry," Niall said easily. "They're excited to meet you."

That somehow made me both relieved and more nervous at the same time.

We reached the end of the hallway.

"Here we are," he said, pushing open a door and dropping the bags onto the floor.

I looked around the room. It was clearly his. Comfortable, a little messy in places, with photos on the dresser and a guitar leaning against the wall.

"We?" I asked slowly. "I'm staying in here with you?"

"Of course."

I hesitated.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? With your parents coming over and everything?"

Niall walked toward me and gently wrapped his arms around me. I rested my hands on his forearms, feeling the warmth of him grounding my nerves.

"It's completely fine," he said softly. "But if you'd feel more comfortable staying in a guest room, that's okay too."

He tilted his head toward the hallway.

"Just make sure it's the one next door."

I laughed quietly.

"Thank you, Niall."

He leaned down and kissed me quickly before heading back downstairs for the suitcases.

As he disappeared down the hallway, I took a deep breath.

Meeting the parents.

No pressure.

***

By the time we were settled, it was about five in the afternoon. Niall and I sat on the couch in the living room with mugs of tea warming our hands.

The house had grown quiet again.

Too quiet.

I tried to act relaxed, but my mind kept wandering.

What if they don't like me?
What if I say something weird?

Just as I started overthinking everything, I heard voices coming from the entryway.

I looked at Niall.

He immediately recognized them.

"That would be my parents," he said as he stood up.

My heart skipped.

I quickly set my tea down on the coffee table and stood up, smoothing my shirt and fixing my hair.

Okay. Be normal.

Footsteps approached.

Niall walked back into the room with his parents beside him.

His father was tall, broad-shouldered, with kind eyes and the same smile Niall had. There was something calm and steady about him.

His mother, on the other hand, had a lively energy the moment she entered the room. Her eyes lit up as she looked at me.

"Mother, Father—this is Lyndsey," Niall said.

I stepped forward and offered my hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both."

His father shook my hand first.

"Pleasure to meet you as well," he said warmly. His voice was calm but thoughtful. "Niall has told us quite a bit about you."

My nerves eased slightly.

Then his mother stepped forward and shook my hand with enthusiasm.

"Oh, you're even prettier than he described," she said with a bright smile.

I felt my cheeks warm.

"You look very comfortable, dear," she added, eyeing my outfit with interest. "I wish I could pull something like that off."

I laughed.

"Thank you! It's the perfect travel outfit. Honestly, though, I bet you could absolutely pull it off."

I gestured lightly toward her.

"We should go shopping sometime so we can find you one."

Her eyes lit up.

"Oh now that sounds like a wonderful idea."

His father chuckled from beside her.

"She never says no to a good shopping trip."

She nudged him playfully.

"That's because you're the one who benefits from it too."

Niall laughed quietly beside me.

The tension I'd been holding finally started to melt away.

We all took our seats—Niall and I back on the couch while his parents sat across from us.

His father leaned back slightly, folding his hands together.

"So Lyndsey," he said with genuine curiosity, "tell us about yourself. What do you enjoy doing when Niall isn't dragging you around the world?"

I glanced at Niall with a teasing smile.

"Oh, you mean when I'm recovering from the travel?"

Everyone laughed.

The conversation flowed easily after that. Questions turned into stories, stories turned into laughter, and before I knew it, the room felt warm and familiar.

At one point I caught Niall glancing at me with a small smile.

And for the first time since arriving, I realized something.

I wasn't nervous anymore.

I was exactly where I was supposed to be.