Awkward moment..
VIOLET
âWait, hold on, youâre living with RYAN JENKINS?â Ashley practically screamed as we sat in the school cafeteria the next day. Her eyes were wide with disbelief, and she was clutching her tray as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
âJeez you're yellingâ I said, trying to hush her down while my cheeks flamed with embarrassment. Ashley's volume was drawing curious glances from other students but she didn't care
âI need to process thisâ she exhaled. âThe man your mom wants to marry is Ryan's dad and you'll be leaving with Ryan fucking Jenkins??â
She stared at me,her eyes wide as if Iâd hit a huge jackpot.
âIt's kind of hard to believe. He's my new stepbrother apparentlyâ
âYou're so lucky Vi, that's like something straight out of a movie. Honestly if I had a brother like Ryan,I wouldn't ever leave the house againâ
I couldnât blame her for her reaction. Iâd been just as stunned the previous night when I discovered that Ryan was my stepbrother. It explained why his dad had seemed vaguely familiarâhe was like a carbon copy of Ryan, except for their hair color.. I mentally slapped myself for not realizing earlier
âTell me everything. How was it like being in close proximity with him? Did you like catch a glimpse of the body? Did he talk to youâ Ashley leaned closer,her eyes widened dreamily. I was relieved she finally brought her voice down.
âHe's like the most withdrawn person I've ever met. He didn't say a word to me. Barely acknowledged my presence. He didn't seem pleased with the arrangement either. He's probably too wrapped in his own world to give two shits about meâ
I said,a knot forming in my stomach.
âItâll get better,â Ashley said, though her eyes still sparkled with excitement. âI still canât believe this. Sleepovers are going to be so much more fun with you now!â
I was about to respond when a ripple of chatter erupted through the cafeteria. I looked up to see Ryan entering with his supposed girlfriend, Evelyn. They took a seat at a table across the room, and the usual buzz of admiration followed him.
Girls began to gawk at Ryan, their eyes devouring him like he was a juicy piece of gossip. I scoffed in disgust. Seriously?
Every girl in school would kill to be in my shoes, living with the infamous Ryan Jenkins, but honestly, I had mixed feelings about it. I would have preferred having a different stepbrother, one who didn't make my life so complicated.
âWow,â Ashley breathed, her gaze fixed on Ryan. âYouâre really staying with this demigod. Iâd do anything to be in your position, trust me.â
I rolled my eyes. âNow you're being extremely dramaticâ
Just then, Ryan's gaze drifted in my direction, and for a brief moment, our eyes met. He quickly looked away, his expression cold and indifferent. Irritation swelled up inside me. Why was he acting like I was the worst thing in his world? As if he's the only one whose life got affected like mine didn't just take a drastic turn too
A voice broke me out of my trance.
âHey, is this seat taken?â
I turned to see a guy standing beside our table. He had tousled dark hair, bright blue eyes, and an easy smile that made him instantly approachable. His face was cute, with a hint of boyish charm that softened his otherwise serious demeanor.
Ashley looked up, her eyes widening with a mixture of curiosity and interest. âOh, hi! No, itâs not taken.â
The guy nodded, sliding into the seat next to me.
âThanks. Iâm Luke. Iâm in your grade, but we havenât really talked before.â
I raised an eyebrow, trying to place him. âOh, hey. Iâve seen you around. I didnât know you were in our grade.â
Luke chuckled softly. âYeah, Iâm kind of a quiet one. Just thought Iâd introduce myself and maybe sit with you guys if thatâs alright.â
Ashley shot me a look that clearly said âThis guy seems nice enough.â
I shrugged, a bit surprised by the sudden turn of events. âSure, you can sit with us.â
Luke settled in, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we ate. Ashley, ever the social butterfly, eventually broke it with her usual ease. âSo, Luke, whatâs your story? What do you do when youâre not being mysterious?â
Luke smiled, his eyes lighting up. âNot much, really. Just focusing on school and hobbies. I like reading and playing guitar. You guys?â
Ashleyâs enthusiasm quickly took over as she launched into a conversation about her latest interests and school activities. Luke listened intently, nodding and chiming in where he could. It was clear he was more relaxed as the conversation went on.
From what I gathered, Luke was genuinely kind and easy to talk to. His quiet nature wasnât off-putting; instead, it seemed like he was just reserved. As the lunch period went on, I found myself feeling a bit better about the day. Lukeâs presence, while unexpected, was a pleasant distraction from the turmoil of my new living situation.
Once lunch was over, we gathered our things and headed to class. The day seemed to fly by with Like fitting in well
When the final bell rang, I felt a sense of relief. I'd be going home. But my heart sank at the thought. Home was no longer the place it once was; it was now with an extremely hot Playboy who didnât even seem to notice I existed.
We said our goodbyes to Luke, who promised to catch up with us soon. Ashley and I didn't walk to the same bus stop; I had to head in another direction now. I waved goodbye to her, and she called out, asking me to promise I'd bring up a conversation with Ryan soon.
I nodded, though I wasnât sure how Iâd manage that. It was sunny, and I regretted not putting on sunscreen before leaving the house. A car suddenly screeched to a halt beside me, nearly hitting me
âWhat theâŠâ The words caught in my throat when the window rolled down, revealing Ryanâs icy face
âGet inâ He commanded, his tone as cold and authoritative as his expression. I muttered a low cuss under my breath.
âWhy would you want to help me?â
âHelping you is the last thing Iâd do, little mouse,â Ryan replied, his eyes narrowing with chilling detachment.
Little mouse? Really?
âWhy are you helping me then?âI shot back, struggling to keep my voice steady. Ryan's demeanor was unsettling, making me shiver despite the warmth of the day.
âBeats me. Why don't you ask my dad?â
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. My mom must have informed Max about my migraines and inability to drive, and he probably instructed Ryan to handle my transportation. My mouth dropped open as I processed the fact that Ryan might be driving me until my probation ended.
âNow get in. Donât make me repeat myself.â
Reluctantly, I slid into the front seat and fastened the seatbelt. The scent of a strong, masculine cologne filled the carâa blend of something sharp and alluring. This was the first time I was this close to Ryan, and he looked even more attractive up close. I turned my gaze outside the window, preferring to watch the trees and houses pass by rather than endure the uncomfortable silence between us.
âWait for me at that spot every day. Donât make me come looking for you.â
It dawned on me that he probably didnât want anyone to see us together. The realization stung, but I shrugged it off. It was probably for the best. If anyone found out I was living with Ryan, Iâd have every girl in school gunning for me.
The rest of the ride was eerily quiet and tense. I was relieved when Ryan finally pulled up to their house.
I tried to unfasten the seat belt but it seemed stuck. I wriggled and tugged, but it wouldnât budge.
âIâm stuck here,â I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Ryanâs eyes flicked from me to the seatbelt. He muttered something under his breathâwords I couldnât catch, but the displeasure in his tone was clear.
He moved over to my side of the car, his movements deliberate and cool. His hand reached out, slightly brushing mine as he worked on the seatbelt. For a moment, the proximity of his touch was electrifying. Ryanâs gaze remained focused on the buckle, his expression a mix of concentration and annoyance.
He fiddled with the belt for a while before finally stopping. Releasing a slow breath, he turned to me, his face mere inches from mine. It was then I noticed the flicker of blue in his eyes, giving them a mesmerizing green-blue hue. His lips, so pink and slightly parted, were unnervingly close.
âThere you go,â he said, his voice clipped.
I hurriedly unbuckled myself and scrambled out of the car, desperate to escape the tension. I let out a long breath I hadnât realized I was holding. This whole arrangement was proving to be incredibly difficult. The feeling I had in the car was unlike anything Iâd ever experienced before. And when his hand brushed against mine,it sent a spark through my body.
One thing was clear: I needed to avoid Ryan as much as possible. Otherwise, Iâd risk losing my heart to him, and that was a dangerous game I wasnât willing to play.