Never Trust Tinder

“What’s so bad about them that we couldn’t have visited sooner?” I ask as my boyfriend sighs from the driver’s seat for the umpteenth time. 

“Listen, I’m doing this for you. Please don’t expect to be seeing my family anytime soon again after this visit, okay?” He rubs his face in irritation. 

I frown and turn to face out the window. I watch the golden stalks of grain pass by in blurs. The car ride from Minnesota to Texas hasn’t exactly been the most enjoyable experience. I’d been pestering my boyfriend, Daniel, about spending Christmas with his family for a few weeks now, however, he has been very adamant about keeping me away from them. 

Daniel and I met on Tinder, we went out for drinks and hit it off, been together ever since. I have noticed he is very touchy about the subject of family, being sure to spare me the details if I ask him questions about his siblings and parents. 

Some of my best memories are from Christmas morning with my family, the smell of pancakes my mom made drifting from the kitchen, and my dad preparing the digital camera to catch my siblings and I’s reactions to the presents under the tree. We always would tear the wrapping paper off the presents and run immediately outside after to have a snowball fight as a family. 

“We’re here.” My thoughts are broken by my boyfriend’s voice. 

We pull into the driveway, a long strip of gravel with bushes and flowers lining the path. There are several minivans parked out front and kids donning snow pants playing in the front yard. 

I expected a lot worse with the way my boyfriend was dreading and stressing over our one-night stay the entire car ride, however, the house is massive and beautiful. 

We approach the front door and it swings open before Daniel can even lift a hand to knock. 

“Here we go,” he grumbles. I open my mouth to scold him when a cheery woman bursts out from the confines of the home. 

“Daniel? What on Earth are you doing here?” She exclaims in surprise, “You haven’t been home for Christmas in years!”

“Hi mom,” Daniel says tentatively. 

“And who is this?” Her eyes shift over to me and I can see the joy brimming in them.

“Oh, I’m Lacy, Daniel’s-”

“Best friend. Lacy and I are good friends from college,” He refuses to meet my eyes when I glance at him with confusion. If his mom notices my confusion she doesn’t say anything. 

“Oh! Well, the more the merrier,” She flashes me an ecstatic smile, however, the disappointment in her eyes is evident. 

We head inside and I am immediately met with a familiar, cheerful sight. There are loads of presents sitting wrapped under the tree, stockings hung over the fireplace. Children run around playing tag and the adults sit around a table in the corner of the dimly lit room. The fire is crackling and the scent of gingerbread smells overwhelmingly sweet. Daniel clearly comes from a family of money. 

“You have a gorgeous home,” I say to Daniel’s mom. 

“Thank you, dear. Do you bake?” She asks. 

“I do from time to time,” 

“Oh, wonderful! I was just about to gather up all the ladies to decorate some cookies,” She latches onto my arm and drags me towards the kitchen. I turn and shoot Daniel a look over my shoulder, taking in his strangely anxious expression. 

We turn around a few corners until we reach the kitchen. When we enter the large, open-concept kitchen, Daniel’s mom is sure to introduce me, quite enthusiastically, to the other ladies. 

“This is Lacy everyone. She came with Daniel,” Daniel’s mom finishes with a knowing look on her face. 

“Danny brought a girl home for Christmas?” One of the ladies, who looks like the female version of Daniel, pipes up in a surprised tone. She had a very large, pregnant belly.

“Ooh I can see why Danny likes you, you’re beautiful,” The shortest lady on the right remarks with a smirk. 

“Are you Daniel’s girlfriend?” The one on the left asks, her body language tense. 

“Oh, uh, no. Just close friends,” I give her a tight-lipped smile. She visibly relaxes, however still looks suspicious. 

“I’m Teresa,” The one that looks like Daniel introduces herself, “I’m Danny’s favorite sister that I’m sure he’s told you all about,” she teasingly grins. 

“Hi, I’m Nora,” The short one says, “I’m married to Daniel’s older brother, Jack.”

“It’s nice to meet you all,” I eye the lady on the left slightly.

“I’m Jenna, Daniel’s other sister-in-law,” She finally introduces herself after a very awkward and uncomfortable silence. I notice Teresa and Nora shoot each other a look of confusion at the cold introduction. 

“So, I heard we are decorating cookies?”

We decorated cookies for the next couple of hours, and I got on great with Teresa and Nora, but Jenna was silent most of the time, only chiming in here and there. I came to learn the kids running around were a combination of Jenna’s and Nora’s, and that Teresa was expecting her first at the beginning of January. 

I met Daniel’s two brothers at dinner, which was quite pleasant. I was still bothered by the fact that Daniel refused to acknowledge me as his girlfriend to any of his family, though. 

I walk over to Daniel’s room and knock on the door, seeing as we couldn’t sleep in the same room because we were “just friends.” 

“Come in,” He remarks quietly. I enter, being sure to shut the door silently behind me. He lifts his head from looking down, “Oh, it’s you.”

“Who else would it have been?” I look at him quizzically.

“I don’t know, maybe my mom?” He says, looking very uncomfortable. I stare at him a moment before getting back to the point of the conversation.

“Your family is very welcoming,” I test the waters, “However, I don’t think Jenna likes me very much.” 

“Oh. Normally she likes everyone she meets,” He doesn’t look me in the eyes. I wait a minute to see if he will elaborate but am met with silence. I decided to probe a little more.

“Why won’t you introduce me as your girlfriend?” 

“I didn’t want you to be overwhelmed by my mother.”

“Bullshit. Your mom is one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. What’s the real reason?” I feel a clawing need to get to the bottom of his strange behavior growing in my gut. 

“You know I love you, right?” I furrow my brows.

“Yeah,” I trail off, taking note of his deflection. 

“So why do you need other people to know? Do you need someone else to validate my love for you?” He turns the question back onto me.

“What? This isn’t about whether you love me enough or not, it’s about why you won’t call us for what we are,” I divert my gaze, suddenly feeling small, “I don’t feel very loved when you aren’t truthful about our relationship.”

“I’m sorry you feel this way, Lacy. I love you, I do,” He trails off, “We’re leaving tomorrow afternoon anyways so it’s not a big deal.” 

“Okay, I guess so,” I frown. He brings me in for a hug and a goodnight kiss and I leave his room. I don’t understand why he’s been acting so suspiciously since we arrived. I decide to sleep on it, after all, he is right, we are leaving tomorrow.

I wake up bright and early to the pitter-patter of little feet on hard floors. The smell of pancakes floods my nose and I am hit with a sense of nostalgia and comfort. I get ready for the day and head downstairs.

The kids are sitting under the tree, ripping open gifts. The moms and dads have their phones out, snapping videos and pictures. 

“There you are,” Daniel’s mom rushes over to greet me, “good morning! How’d you sleep?”

“I slept great, the bed was very comfortable,” I lie. I slept horribly, tossing and turning all night. I couldn’t quit thinking of Daniel’s strange behavior. 

“That’s great! We’re just about to start breakfast. Have a seat,” She guides me over to a chair next to Daniel’s with a knowing look on her face. 

The adults make small talk for a while and the kids play outside. 

“Where did you say you lived again, Lacy? In an apartment like Daniel or on campus?” Teresa asks politely. 

“She lives on campus,” Daniel butts in. I shoot him a dirty look.

“I think she can answer for herself, Danny,” Nora giggles with a slightly scolding undertone in her voice.

“No, actually,” I stand up from my chair. I glance at Daniel, who dons a very confused and slightly panicked expression. “There’s something we need to tell you.” 

“What are you talking about,” Daniel says nervously, standing up to join me. 

“Daniel and I live together because we are dating and he’s been lying,” I saw all in one breath. I notice Daniel freeze beside me as I take in all the shocked and confused faces of his family.

“What?” Teresa questions, looking at Daniel for confirmation.

“It’s true,” He sighs and glares at me. “We’re dating.”

“Wha- Danny? Why would you keep this from me?” Daniel’s mom asks, shocked, with a hurt look on her face. 

“I-” Daniel starts to give some dumb excuse.

“You’re dating her?” Jenna stands up and sounds infuriated. The room is deadly silent from the revelation of our relationship still, the silent bubble of anger growing larger by the minute, a huge explosion drawing near.

“Well, yes,” Daniel starts, “But it’s not like-”

“It’s not like that? Is that what you were going to say?” I interrupt, fuming.

“I would’ve liked to have known you had a girlfriend before you invited me to your room last night,” Jenna very angrily interjects.

“What,” I feel my face pale.

“You slept with my wife?” Daniel’s oldest brother stands up abruptly, shaking the whole table and making plates rattle. He leans over the table, trying to get as close to Daniel as he can. 

“On multiple occasions,” Jenna answers, trying to throw Daniel as far under the bus he is now trapped under as she can. 

“What?” Daniel’s mom stands up, “Daniel, how long has this been going on?”

He throws a guilty glance in my direction, “It started before I met Lacy. I stopped after I started dating her.” 

“Evidently that didn’t last long,” I scoff in disbelief. 

“Lacy, I’m really sorry. It was a mistake, I didn’t mean for it to happen,” Daniel turns his attention to me and pleads.

“Oh, so I was just a mistake?” Jenna growls. 

“Cut the crap. You’re a real fucking piece of work, asshole,” Teresa scowls. “Spare your dignity, don’t try to beg for her back.” 

“We need to talk,” Daniel’s brother drags Jenna into another room.

The adults are still sitting in silence, distinct shouts echoing from the other room. I can’t even bring myself to look at Daniel. It’s pretty hard to look at your boyfriend with anything but hatred after learning he had an affair with his sister-in-law. 

“I think it’s time for us to go,” I tell Daniel’s mom. She nods solemnly, escorting Daniel out with a glare. 

We pull out of the driveway, and I watch the kids play outside, remembering my own Christmases. They never crashed and burned like this one. I draft a text to my sister, who was unknowingly gaining a new roommate tonight. 

The entire ride home is dead silent. We get to our apartment and I head inside to pack my stuff. Daniel says nothing. 

Right as I am about to leave he stops me.

“Lacy, I’m so sorry. You can come back tomorrow and we can talk this out. Please don’t walk out on me,” He pleads with me, tears brimming his eyes.

It’s hard for me to look him in the eyes when I say, “Have a happy Christmas, Daniel.”

I hear him break down as I leave the apartment we share for the last time. Never using Tinder again.