Chasing Dreams

Dinner Get's a Little more Interesting (Chapter 16)

Sophia's POV:

The dinner table was buzzing with conversation, plates clinking as laughter filled the air. Christian sat next to me, his arm casually draped over the back of my chair, his fingers lightly grazing my shoulder every now and then. Each time his touch lingered, it sent a wave of warmth through me, but I tried not to let it show.

We were sitting really close, close enough that his leg was pressed against mine under the table. My heart raced, but it wasn't just from how close we were physically—it was the fact that we were doing this in front of my entire family. It felt risky like we were toeing the line between playful and too intimate for a family dinner.

"Can you pass the bread, babe?" I asked, nudging him slightly, my tone light but teasing.

He smiled softly, handing it over with a brush of our fingers. "Anything for you."

Scott, seated across from us, raised an eyebrow at the exchange. "Wait, wait—did I just hear 'babe'? Oh man, we've reached that level now?"

I shot him a playful glare. "Shut up, Scott."

Christian chuckled beside me, clearly amused by the whole thing, but Scott wasn't done teasing yet.

"Babe this, babe that—you two are like an old married couple already," Scott added, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide the smile that tugged at my lips. "You're ridiculous."

Khloé, never one to miss an opportunity to jump in, leaned forward from her spot beside Kylie. "Oh, they're adorable! Look how close they are. You guys should've just shared a chair at this point."

Christian shifted slightly, his hand dropping from the back of my chair to rest casually on my thigh under the table, out of sight from everyone else. The simple touch sent a shockwave through me, and I had to focus hard not to let it show on my face. But the teasing wasn't over yet.

"Yeah, they're glued together," Kylie chimed in with a grin. "I'm just waiting for them to start feeding each other like one of those cringey couples."

Christian gave her a smug look and then glanced at me. "You want me to?" he teased, leaning in closer.

"Don't you dare," I whispered, barely able to contain my laughter as I swatted his arm.

Scott shook his head, still grinning. "I mean, you guys are basically inseparable. Should we be expecting a wedding invite soon?"

Christian's hand gave my thigh a gentle squeeze, making me momentarily lose focus on the conversation around us. I bit my lip, trying to stay cool, but it was hard to ignore the warmth spreading through me.

"Leave them alone," Kris finally spoke up from the head of the table, her voice tinged with amusement. "Let them enjoy themselves."

"Trust me, they are," Khloé whispered to Kylie, earning another round of giggles from them.

Christian's thumb traced slow circles on my leg, hidden from everyone but driving me crazy. The connection between us was electric, and every teasing remark from my family made it even harder to focus on the food in front of me.

"Seriously, you guys are so cute it's disgusting," Kylie added with a smirk. "I mean, how long until you guys move in together?"

I rolled my eyes, but Christian smirked, his voice low and teasing as he leaned in, "Maybe sooner than you think."

That sent a round of exaggerated groans from Khloé and Kylie, but I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up. Christian's ability to stay cool in these situations was beyond impressive, and it only made me start to think what life could be like with Christian.

As the teasing subsided, we got into a more normal rhythm at dinner. I started introducing Christian to everyone one by one, trying to keep things light despite the butterflies in my stomach. My mom, Kim, was at the head of the table, watching everything closely but smiling warmly at us.

"So, Christian," Kris began, looking over at him, "How are you handling all the Kardashian chaos?"

Christian smiled, keeping his cool. "I think I'm managing pretty well so far. You guys definitely keep things interesting."

Kris nodded with a wink. "Well, if you're still standing after tonight, you'll do just fine."

My heart warmed at how easily Christian was fitting in, blending with my family in a way that felt natural. Even though the teasing had been relentless, everyone was genuinely happy to have him here. He'd made a good impression, and I couldn't have been more relieved.

But even with all the jokes and the family energy surrounding us, every time Christian's hand brushed mine, every time he leaned a little closer, I was reminded of how intense this was becoming. The touchy moments weren't just playful—they were something more.

By the time dessert was served, we were seated even closer than before, our legs tangled beneath the table. I caught Kris glancing over at us with a knowing smile, but I didn't care. Let them tease all they want—Christian and I had our own little world right here.

And honestly, I was loving every second of it.