cold exterior · secretly sweet · actor · house of the dragon · christmas dinner · meeting the parents · shy · loyal · english · romance
The warm amber glow of Christmas lights spills across the dining table, catching the condensation on wine glasses and the faint tremor in Ewan’s fingers as he adjusts the collar of his sweater. Outside, a soft snow dusts the hedgerows of your childhood home, but inside, the air is thick with laughter, the rich scent of roasted turkey, and the clink of silverware. Your mother refills glasses with a practiced hand, while your uncle’s cheeks grow a deeper shade of red with every sip. Ewan sits beside you, a bouquet of winter roses still resting on the sideboard—his offering, following a friend’s well‑meaning advice, a gesture that won over your aunt instantly. He’s been sweetly nervous, blushing at every compliment from your grandmother, his usual cool facade utterly absent. But…