Chapter 173: Stay Away From My Stupid Brother[June’s POV]
WAIT. Did I just say till we get home???
His head tilted like he just processed my words. "So... you’re saying I can....when we get home?" He grinned like a maniac.
"In your dreams," I shot back, rolling my eyes.
"Exactly where you’ll be," he said, chuckling as he started the car.
Ugh. Menace. Actual menace.
I tried to distract myself by staring at his hands on the wheel.
Which turned out to be a Huge mistake. The way his veins flexed as he turned it, the sharpness of his jawline from the side, that one stupid white streak of hair falling perfectly across his forehead...
God, he was disgustingly attractive.
"You’re thinking about me," he said suddenly, not even a question.
I snapped my gaze forward. "Why would I think about you?"
He smirked without looking away from the road. "I don’t know, maybe because of the way you keep staring at me....like you want to devour me?"
I almost choked. "You’re delusional. The only thing I wanna devour right now is food." I clutched my stomach dramatically.
He hummed. "I already told the maids to prepare dinner. But if you can’t wait, I’ll pull over at a restaurant."
"No, no," I said quickly. "It’s just a ten-minute drive. I can wait."
He nodded, then, without hesitation, like it was the most casual thing in the world he decided to say, "So... can I eat you after dinner?"
I swear my soul actually left my body.
My eyes widened so fast I almost choked. "What did you just say?"
He smirked wider, keeping his eyes on the road. "You heard me."
My jaw dropped. "Ian, gross!"
"Relax," he said, chuckling. "I’m talking about dessert."
"Dessert my ass," I muttered, smacking his arm. "You’re such a perv."
He grinned, and whispered, "Only for you, Juney."
...And now I’m convinced I need holy water.
We walked through the giant fancy doors
, and boom the butler guy was already standing there.
"Welcome back, young master," he said with a bow. "The room has been prepared."
Before I could even process that, Ian slid in smoothly. "Actually, June’s my girlfriend now. So... she’s always welcome here, anytime."
The butler didn’t even blink. Just nodded, smiled politely at me, and said, "Welcome, Miss June."
Like... what the actual hell is happening???
I swear my whole face went red.
Girlfriend. He just dropped the word so casually.
I tried to play it cool, but inside? Chaos. Absolute chaos.
He can’t just say that out loud like it’s a fact. He didn’t even ask me! I haven’t agreed to date him!
And yet... the way it sounded out loud. The butler’s smile. The way Ian said it so confidently, like it was already decided...
Oh my god. Am I actually blushing right now??
I avoided Ian’s eyes as we walked in, because if I looked at him, I knew that smug grin would be there.
Ian pushed the door open.
"And... this is your room," he said, stepping aside.
I widened my eyes. "Woaaw!"
"Yeah," he shrugged, dropping the shopping bags on the bed. "Butler set it up already. Fresh sheets, toiletries, everything. Basically, you’re a VIP guest here now."
I walked in slowly, my eyes kept darting everywhere. The room was insanely nice like a five star hotel. Big fluffy duvet, that soft vanilla scent, even a vase of white roses was on the bedside table.
"Wow..." I whispered. "This is... a whole princess suite."
Behind me, Ian smirked. "Of course. Nothing less for my babygirl."
I spun around so fast I almost tripped. "IAN!"
He just leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking way too pleased with himself.
"I told you to stop saying that!" I hissed.
He tilted his head, all smug. "You’re still blushing every time though."
"I am not...." I touched my cheeks and yep. Hot. Freaking lava hot. Damn it.
He chuckled, walking closer, lowering his voice like we were sharing some big secret. "Relax, June. It’s just a word. But if you want... we can make it official."
"Make yourself comfortable," Ian said, tossing his keys on the dresser. "I’m gonna grab a shower, then I’ll bring dinner up for you. You don’t even have to come downstairs."
I just stared at him. Like hun excuse me??
Did he just...? Dinner brought to me? In bed?
What is this, Bridgerton?
I smiled without meaning to.
He paused at the door, gave me that smirk like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. "Thanks for staying over. I’m glad you did."
...Okay, why did my stomach just flip??
He opened the door, glancing back once. "I’ll be back in like 30 minutes."
Then he disappeared down the hall.
The second he was gone, I threw myself face first onto the giant fluffy bed.
"Oh my God." My voice was muffled against the duvet.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling.
Who is this man??? One minute he’s being the usual cocky flirt, the next he’s soft and sweet like some perfect boyfriend. And I’m here melting like butter.
Like... is this what all his sneaky link girls get, or is it just me? Why does it feel different?
I grabbed a pillow, hugging it tight. "Get a grip, June. You’re not his girlfriend. He’s just... Ian."
But then my eyes landed on the shopping bags he carried for me, the room he had prepared, the way he said he was glad I stayed.
My cheeks burned all over again.
"Damn it..." I whispered. "What if I’m actually falling for him?"
I was sprawled on the bed, phone in hand, sending what had to be the 50th text to Ash.
Me: I’ve not heard from you. Please tell me you’ve seen Dominic. I’m starting to get worried.
The bubble sent, no reply yet.
Before I could even spiral about whether Ash was going to reply or not, there was a knock at the door.
My heart jumped. Already?
"Damn, he showers fast," I muttered under my breath, jumping up from the bed.
I smoothed my hair, trying to act normal, and swung the door open.
And froze.
"Already? That was fast." I half-smiled, half-panicked, because damn, Ian really didn’t waste time in the shower.
"Hey."
I blinked. "Oh... hey." I smiled, but inside my brain was like, wait wait wait...this is not Ian.
It was her. One of the Han sisters. The one that just started attending Blackwell. I’d seen her maybe twice, and one of those times she slammed a door on my face.
And here she was, standing in the doorway in black joggers that hung loose on her hips, a black tank top showing off her lean arms, and a black choker necklace with little silver spikes sitting against her throat that screamed do not fuck with me.
Her hair was chopped short, messy, falling across her forehead like she’d cut it herself with kitchen scissors and didn’t care.
She looked like someone who’d stomp me into the floor for breathing too loud.
And she was smiling.
She had teeth. Who knew?
I blinked. "Uh... hey." I tried to match the smile, but it came out crooked.
Her smile widened a little, but her whole energy still screamed I bite people for fun.
"I’m Yuri," she said.
"I’m June," I replied.
"I know," she nodded, removing her hands from her pocket.
Okay... creepy much.
Then she tilted her head, squinting slightly. "You’re the girl that wanted to clean my room the other day, right? I’ve also seen you around."
"Ohh... okayyy." I dragged the word, because what else was I supposed to say? This was awkward as hell.
The silence stretched. That awkward silence. My palms were sweating in the door handle.
Then out of nowhere she hit me with:
"I like you."
My brain glitched. Like me? Like me LIKE me?
"...Okayyy?" It came out high-pitched, nervous-laugh awkward.
She shook her head fast. "Not like that. Just you seem like a nice person. So I want to advise you."
Oh God. Advice. Nothing good ever starts with "I want to advise you."
I plastered on a fake half-smile. "Okayyy..."
She glanced down the hall, then back at me. "Stay away from my stupid brother. He brings different girls over and you’re going to get hurt."
"Oh, it’s not like that," I said immediately, too defensive, way too fast.
Her eyebrow arched like she didn’t believe a single word. "I see. I don’t know if you’re into him. Don’t be deceived by his physical appearance. He’s a stupid person."
And just like that, she nodded once, turned, and started walking down the hallway.
Didn’t even wait for me to answer.
I stood frozen in the doorway,
watching her disappear, still gripping the handle with my sweaty palm.
"...What the hell just happened."
My chest was still tight.
Stay away? Different girls? Stupid brother?
Why did it sting so much because I know she might be right?