My Best Friend Never Grew Past Age Eight, and No One Believed He’d Find Love — But I Did

were cautious.

They loved me, but they worried I had confused loyalty with romance.

My mother was worse.

At our engagement dinner, she pulled me into the kitchen and shut the door.

“You cannot be serious,” she said.

“I am.”

“You are sacrificing your youth for a childhood joke.”

“This has nothing to do with the pact.”

“You almost continue reading …