JAMESWe ate quietly, but something unsettled stirred beneath the surface. The energy between us felt too polite, too careful. Like we were both afraid of the moment, afraid of saying the wrong thing.I watched her lift her fork to her lips, her movements slow and neat. My fingers drifted around the base of my glass, tracing the condensation without thinking.The food was good. Warm. Comforting. I had already said so a couple of times, probably too many. But no matter how many compliments I offered, they felt shallow next to what I actually wanted to say.I glanced at Sofie. She offered a small smile, hesitant and shy, like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to give it. Something about it caught me off guard.My chest tightened. A breath hitched in my throat. Just say it. Stop holding back and say what’s real.“You know,” I began, quieter than I meant to, “it’s kind of nice, talking like this. Actually talking.”She looked up. Met my eyes. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t look a
Last Updated : 2025-06-05 Read more