“You mean so much to me, too,” Fernanda said, her voice a warm contrast to its usual icy edge. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her forehead against his shoulder. “You’re different from everyone else. You hold a special place in my heart.”

Her words, gentle and tender, filled the quiet space between them, a stark departure from her typical cool demeanor.

In the stillness of the car, Cristian could feel the effect of her voice, each word striking a chord deep within him.

His subtle tactic had worked.

Every word he had spoken was carefully chosen, designed to coax these sweet affirmations from her.

Her words, sweet and soothing, felt like a warm drizzle of honey, a sensation Cristian cherished deeply.

The exhaustion from his day, the weight of life’s challenges, all seemed to melt away with her simple, comforting words. She was the balm his heart needed.

A sudden urge to kiss her gripped him.

Cristian’s hand instinctively moved, but the sharp sound of knocking broke his focus.

Expecting it to be a waiter from the restaurant, Cristian lowered the window.

Instead, he was greeted by the familiar faces of Martin and Judie.

“Hey, Cristian! Are you here for dinner too?” Judie’s voice was cheerful as she smiled at him. “We saw your car when we were leaving, but you hadn’t stepped out for a while.”

Fernanda, nestled in Cristian’s arms, tensed instantly at the sound of Judie’s voice.

“So, you have a girlfriend now!” Judie exclaimed with a playful grin, noticing the girl leaning against him. “When did this happen? You never told us about such a big development. Come on, introduce us to your girlfriend!”

Cristian could feel the tension radiating from Fernanda. With a gentle touch, he patted her back, straightened his posture, and positioned himself in such a way that his body acted as a shield.

“Hello, Aunt Judie and Uncle Martin,” he greeted warmly, flashing a friendly smile. His voice was soft and reassuring as he turned towards Martin and Judie, his gaze full of sincerity. “She’s my girlfriend, yes, but she’s a little on the shy side. Meeting new family can make her nervous. How about I bring her over next time, and we can have a proper introduction then?”

Judie’s smile didn’t waver; in fact, it only seemed to deepen with curiosity. Her eyes twinkled as she raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t she Ms. Becker?” she asked, referring to Jordyn.

“No,” Cristian replied. “She’s someone very special to me.”

Martin placed a hand around Judie’s shoulders and, with a small chuckle, said, “Ah, she’s shy, I see. Another time will be just fine. No need to worry—there will be plenty of chances to meet. Now, let’s not disrupt their time together. It’s time for us to go.”

“I know, I know!” Judie waved her hand playfully. “Next time, Cristian, you must bring her along.”

.

.

.