Chapter 151 An Unexpected Family Invitation

Chapter 151 An Unexpected Family Invitation
Chris: POV

I opened my bleary eyes to find a weight on my chest. 

Patrick was draped over me, his muscular arm wrapped possessively around my waist. 

Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow over his sleeping form. 

His usually perfect hair was adorably mussed.

"Hey, wake up. Weren't you saying we should move to your place? Help me pack my stuff," I urged, trying to ignore how good his warm body felt against mine.

Patrick opened his eyes, sleepy mischief dancing in them as he leaned down to place a light kiss on my lips. 

"Want to go another round?" His voice was deliciously deep from sleep.

I rolled my eyes and pushed him away, fighting the temptation to give in. 

"Not now. Come help me pack."

We spent the entire morning sorting through my belongings, boxing up essentials and frequently-worn clothes. 

Patrick watched me pack with a surprisingly small amount of luggage, his eyebrows raising at my minimal possessions. 

By afternoon, we'd transported everything to Patrick's luxury apartment.

"Wow," I said as I walked into Patrick's place, looking around appreciatively. 

The afternoon sun streamed through the massive windows, highlighting the pristine white furniture and gleaming hardwood floors. 

"This is even better than I remembered."

Patrick smiled as he watched me explore like a curious child, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his broad chest, a look of satisfaction on his face. 

When I finally settled in, curling up on his ridiculously comfortable leather sofa, I pulled out my phone and texted Jane:

[Some mystery person sent me lingerie last night. With fox ears and a fox tail. Works great though.]

I quickly sent another message: [Jane, I've sent you plenty of sexy gifts, but last night was my first time experiencing one myself. Not bad.]

Jane responded almost immediately: [That set was from me; consider it my return gift.]

Surprised, I typed back: [Why didn't you sign it?]

Jane: [I forgot]

I sent an eye-rolling emoji and set my phone down, turning to watch Patrick busy in the kitchen. 

He moved with unexpected grace for such a large man, his movements efficient and precise as he prepared coffee.

"I want to take you to a nice restaurant tonight," he said, handing me a steaming mug. 

"To celebrate your moving in."

That evening, we arrived at Luciano's, an upscale Italian restaurant in Manhattan. 

The warm lighting cast a romantic glow over the white tablecloths, and the air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of garlic and fresh herbs. 

A pianist played softly in the corner, adding to the intimate atmosphere. 

We'd barely been seated when Patrick's expression changed to something resembling discomfort, his shoulders tensing slightly.

"What's wrong?" I asked, setting down the leather-bound menu.

"My brother's here," Patrick said quietly, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. 

"He's seen us."

Sure enough, a younger man who resembled Patrick but with a more animated face was heading our way, wearing an excited smile that brightened his entire face. 

He navigated between the tables with energetic strides, drawing glances from nearby diners.

"Patrick! What a coincidence!" He enthusiastically clapped Patrick's shoulder before turning curious eyes to me, gaze sweeping over me with undisguised interest. 

"And this is...?"

"Christina Parker, my girlfriend," Patrick introduced briefly, his tone clipped. 

"Chris, this is my brother Andrew."

"Finally meeting you!" Andrew grasped my hand with both of his, his eyes sparkling with gossip and a warmth that Patrick's often lacked. 

"My brother almost never mentions girlfriends, so you must be special."

Patrick shot his brother a warning look, his eyes narrowing dangerously, but Andrew had already pulled up a chair, scraping it noisily across the floor before plopping down, clearly not planning to leave anytime soon.

"You know," Andrew said, leaning toward me conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a stage whisper that could probably be heard three tables away, "my brother only had one girlfriend before, and he never got over her. Always pining for his ex until he met you. Grandpa was worried he'd die alone!"

I laughed awkwardly, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. 

"That ex was also me."

Andrew's eyes widened in shock, his mouth forming a perfect 'O' before he recovered, pasting on a smile that didn't quite hide his embarrassment. 

"Well, that's great! Proves it's true love!" He turned to Patrick, bouncing slightly in his seat like an excited puppy. 

"Grandpa's been worried you'd never find someone. When's the wedding?"

I immediately tensed, my body going rigid. 

The word 'wedding' hit me like a bucket of ice water, and I felt my throat constrict. 

Patrick noticed, his hand immediately covering mine on the table, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my skin.

"Enough, Andrew. Stop talking nonsense," he said firmly, his voice taking on a dangerous edge I hadn't heard before.

"I'm just asking," Andrew raised his hands in surrender, his grin undiminished by Patrick's glare. 

"If our family know you are in a relationship, they'll be over the moon. They'll definitely be dying to meet your girlfriend."

Patrick firmly dismissed his brother with a look that could have frozen hell, and Andrew finally left.

"I'm sorry," Patrick apologized once Andrew was gone, his expression softening as he looked at me. 

"My brother can be tactless sometimes. He means well, but he has no filter."

I managed a weak smile, still feeling slightly nauseated at the mention of marriage. 

"It's fine."

"We won't have any marriage pressure from my family," Patrick said gently, taking my hand between both of his, his touch warm and reassuring. 

"I know you're sensitive about that. I've made it clear to them."

Just then, Patrick's phone chimed twice. 

He glanced at it and his brow furrowed, a muscle in his jaw twitching.

"What is it?" I asked, sensing his tension.

"My brother sent our dinner photo to the family group chat," Patrick said grimly, showing me the screen where a candid photo of us showed me laughing at something Patrick had said. 

"My grandfather saw it and wants me to bring you to meet the family."

Patrick cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. 

"Shit."

Seeing my immediate panic—I'm sure all the color drained from my face—he quickly grabbed both my hands, his grip strong and steady. 

"Don't worry, Grandpa promised no marriage pressure. He's just old and worried about me. My grandmother died young, and he's always been concerned about me being alone."

Patrick's voice softened, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that made my heart skip. 

"We'll just have dinner, okay? Nobody will force us into marriage. Even if they bring it up, we make the final decision, right? I can't force you if you don't want to."

He continued persuading me, his thumb brushing across my knuckles in a way that was oddly calming. 

"Your friend Jane would support you too. She'd defend you."

I still looked hesitant, my teeth worrying my bottom lip.

"How about this—you mentioned having a sister, right? Let her come along for the family dinner. If anything happens, we can clear things up, and your sister will know we're not scammers, okay?"

I bit my lip harder, considering his suggestion. 

The idea of having backup was appealing, but meeting Patrick's family was still terrifying. 

I looked into his earnest eyes and found myself unable to say no to the hope I saw there.

"Fine," I finally conceded, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"But you promise your grandfather won't push the marriage issue?"

"Promise," Patrick said, relief washing over his features like a sunrise. 

"It'll just be a normal family dinner."

As I reluctantly agreed, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being drawn into something much bigger than a simple family meal.