hapter 278
Oh… I get it! I totally get it!” Jean clapped her hands in realization, her excitement growing.
nable to resist prying further, she asked, “So, who made the first move?”
immediately recalled Soren’s words–how he claimed I’d taken advantage of him while drunk, kissing him that ight and even complimenting his soft lips.
ly mind raced, and I instinctively turned to him, commanding, “Not a word! This conversation ends now!”
oren stayed silent, but the amused glint in his eyes deepened.
ean, sharp as ever, caught on within seconds and lit up with sheer delight. “I can’t believe this, Taylor! You two ave already gotten so far, yet you’ve never said a word to me!”
No, nothing happened! It was a misunderstanding, an accident!” I protested.
hen, realizing it had all started because of her birthday party idea, I quickly shifted the blame: “You’re one to talk This is all your fault!”
My fault?! I didn’t play matchmaker. You two were the ones who got into each other yourselves.”
If it weren’t for you that night…” I almost blurted out but stopped myself just in time.
¡I’d said it aloud, Jean would have realized that the night of my birthday party was when Soren and I had truly rossed the line.
he’d also figure out that he had stayed over to take care of me while I was drunk, and there would be no stopping er excitement then. After all, anyone would assume something had happened if a man and a woman spent the ight alone together.
evealing my thoughts would only have made things harder to explain.
can’s curiosity skyrocketed at my abrupt silence. She leaned in eagerly. “What about that night? Go on! Don’t ave us in suspense!”
Nothing! Let’s eat! I’m starving!”
Come on! Don’t leave us hanging here!”
Then hang and suffer,” I declared, grinning as I refused to say another word.
‘e playfully bickered while Soren watched silently, amusement evident in his eyes.
eanwhile, Cherry practically had her face on the table as she laughed at us.
ven after lunch, I refused to satisfy Jean’s curiosity. She tried to dig out more details about my “kiss” with Soreir it my lips remained sealed.
an stayed behind at her restaurant, Cherry headed back to the office, and Soren drove me home.
he lively atmosphere from lunch vanished the moment we were alone in the back of his car. The air between us irned romantic yet awkward.
assumed Soren would try something new to convince me to be in a relationship now that I was officially single. he thought made me both nervous and excited.
Chapter 278
+25 BONUS
The quiet inside the car grew stifling, and I became increasingly restless. To hide my unease, I turned to look out the window, pretending to admire the passing scenery.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Soren watching me.
I wasn’t sure if he was looking at my face or the same scenery I was pretending to be fascinated by, but after a while, I felt a familiar warmth wrap around my hand.
The sudden sensation made me instinctively pull away, my fingers twitching in retreat.
“You seem to have drifted off. Is something wrong? You seemed pretty happy back at lunch,” Soren murmured, his grip tightening slightly so I couldn’t escape.
I immediately recalled his earlier remark–that holding hands would silently acknowledge our relationship–and instinctively tried to free myself by twisting my fingers in his grasp.
“Nothing, I was just… feeling a little sleepy because I ate too much.“.
As I spoke, I managed to slip my hand away and casually tucked my hair behind my ear, trying to appear natural.
Soren watched me with a faint smile as if he could see through my antics. Then, with a quiet chuckle, he teased, ” Looks like someone’s retreating into her shell again.”
My face instantly burned at his playful jab.
