Chapter 33: The Weight Of A Title
James stared at Lily for a moment, a slight smirk tugging at his lips as she spoke. Without a word, he reached over and gently pinched her cheeks, catching her off guard. She blinked in surprise, her mouth falling open, momentarily stunned. Before she could say anything, he got to his seat, and began eating his breakfast, as though the cheek pinch had been the most natural thing in the world.
Lily sat frozen, speechless for a few moments, her surprise plain on her face. What just happened? James wasn’t usually this playful, and the sudden shift in his behavior threw her off balance. Slowly, she composed herself, trying to shake off her initial shock. She picked up her fork and quietly began eating alongside him, her mind spinning with questions. Why had he done that? Was he teasing her?
James casually handed her the plate of pancakes without looking at her, focused entirely on his food. She hesitated before taking a bite, still watching him out of the corner of her eye. When the taste hit her tongue, her eyes widened in delight.
"Wow, Mr. Cutesy, you’re actually a really good cook!" she exclaimed, the playfulness creeping back into her voice. She leaned forward slightly, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "Seems like I’ll be coming over here more often to eat."
James’ expression didn’t change, remaining calm and detached as he responded, "No, we shouldn’t be doing this. I only did it because it was an emergency..."
His voice trailed off, the sudden seriousness catching Lily by surprise. The playful air between them dissolved in an instant. The sharpness in his tone stung her more than she expected, and she blinked, taken aback. Why did his opinion matter so much to her? It wasn’t like she was trying to push herself onto him, but now she wondered if she had crossed some invisible line. She swallowed, keeping a smile on her face despite the unease growing in her chest.
She decided not to push it. For a moment, she considered teasing him again, making light of his sudden shift in mood. But the words stuck in her throat, and instead, she forced herself to stay quiet.
After finishing her breakfast, Lily stood up and began to gather the plates. She moved slower than usual, trying to act casual and not betray how his words had affected her.
"Thank you, Mr. Cutesy," she said, trying to keep her tone light and cheerful. "I’ll be going now. My mom is probably waiting for me, and I’ve already stayed longer than I should. Thanks again for everything." She let out a nervous laugh, hoping it would smooth over the awkwardness she felt.