James’ POV
I looked at Thea with a forced smile. “Sure, I can do that,” I said, trying to hide the nervousness that suddenly crept in. But, deep down, I was hesitant. I felt like I wanted to keep this relationship the way it was, without having to get involved in anything more serious. I enjoyed spending time with her—dinner, movies, late-night talks—but meeting her parents? That felt like a big step I wasn’t ready to take.
We continued to wait for our orders, but my mind wandered, trying to find an excuse to avoid Thea’s sudden invitation. But Thea’s expectant gaze kept haunting me. I knew she was serious about this, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.
After what felt like hours, our food finally arrived. The food looked delicious, as expected. We started eating, and Thea looked so ha
