My Husband Canceled My Birthday Dinner So His Friends Could Watch the Game at Our House — He Regretted It

MY HUSBAND CANCELED MY BIRTHDAY DINNER SO HIS FRIENDS COULD WATCH THE GAME AT OUR HOUSE

This year, I planned my own birthday dinner.
Not a restaurant—I didn’t want to force my husband into effort. Just a quiet evening at home: candles, his favorite roast chicken, soft music, a beautifully set table, and a cake I baked from scratch.

I even bought a new dress. Curled my hair. Put on perfume.
I just wanted to be seen in a “my husband actually notices me” way.

By 6:30, everything was perfect.
The food was warm. I was smiling.

And then the front door opened.

In walked my husband, laughing with three of his buddies, arms full of beer and pizza.
No “Happy Birthday.” No flowers. Not even a glance at the candles.

He looked at the table I spent hours preparing, paused, and said,
“Oh—right. This was tonight? Yeah, we’ll have to reschedule. The guys are here to watch the game.”

He then turned on some loud basketball game.
They all sat down and started helping themselves to the dinner I made—my birthday dinner!

I stood there, watching my effort disappear onto paper plates and between loud bites and half-hearted jokes.

But I didn’t cry. I didn’t yell.
I just smiled and said,
“Wait—I made something really special for tonight. Just give me five minutes.”

They nodded, mouths full, expecting cake or maybe some extra fancy dish.

What they got instead?

I walked back into the kitchen, took a deep breath, and carefully slid the cake I had baked into a box.
I packed up the rest of the dinner—the roast chicken, the sides, even the wine I’d chilled—and placed it all into a bag.

Then I walked back into the living room.
They barely noticed. The game was on full blast.
My husband glanced at me, confused, and said, “What are you doing?”

I smiled again, but this time there was steel in it.

“I’m taking my dinner somewhere it will be appreciated.”

He laughed like I was joking. But I wasn’t.
I walked out the front door—dress, heels, perfume and all—carrying everything I had made with love.

I drove to my sister’s house.
She opened the door, saw me standing there with dinner and cake, and without asking a single question, said,
“Set the table. I’ll pour the wine.”

That night, I laughed. I ate. I was seen.
I blew out the candles while someone actually sang to me.

And my husband?
He spent the night with his buddies and a cheap pizza, wondering where I went.
Wondering, maybe for the first time, what it means to truly show up for someone.