Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 232: Cooking Is the Quiet Kind of Art That Feeds You

Ren’s hand was on my back, rubbing small circles, as I coughed out what was left of my dignity.

"Breathe, Juney," he said softly, still patting my back.

His voice calm in that annoying way that made even more flustered.

I nodded, coughing between laughs. "I’m fine... I just choked on air or sothing."

"You sure?"

"Mm-hmm," I squeaked, avoiding eye contact.

Then his gaze shifted, and before I could process, he said, "Hold still."

And of course, my dumb brain froze.

He reached forward, thumb hovering near my mouth. "You’ve got sauce, here."

Before I could grab a napkin, he lifted the edge of his shirt, up his stomach, and started wiping it off. With his shirt.

I gasped.

My eyes went straight to his pale skik...his abs, the little trail of hair, the way his wrist flexed...And down his...

Nope. Absolutely not.

I jumped up so fast the chair made this loud screech sound against the floor.

"Woa...what are you doing?!" he laughed.

"I...I sauce!...You can’t just...use your shirt like that! That’s..uhm unhygienic!" I blurted out, pointing at his stained shirt.

He raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. "You’re panicking over hygiene now?"

"Yes.. I an no. I just..." I waved my hands in the air. "Also boundaries! Hygiene boundaries!"

He nodded slowly, still smiling. "Right. Hygiene boundaries."

God, he was so calm about it, which made it ten tis worse.

And of course, that’s exactly when the door opened.

"I’m back!" Ian’s voice, followed by the sound of grocery bags rustling.

Shit!

Ren stepped back instantly, looking suspiciously relaxed.

I stood there awkwardly, still clutching the fork like it was a weapon.

Ian walked in, took one look at us, and stopped.

His eyes flicked from .... in his shirt, ssy hair, flushed cheeks... to Ren’s stained shirt.

"What... happened here?"

Ren glanced at , then back at Ian. "Oh...uh, nothing dramatic. She choked a little on water. I was just helping her breathe."

Helping breathe. Sure. By wiping my face with his shirt.

Ian frowned, clearly not buying it but trying to piece it together. "You... helped her breathe?"

"Yeah," Ren said smoothly, smiling like he rehearsed it. "You know, basic first aid."

Now he was being weird. He’s so bad at pretending.

Ian raised a brow.

"Right. You a doctor now?"

Ren chuckled. "Only on weekends."

They locked eyes for a second...long enough for to want to disappear.

I clapped my hands together, fake laughing way too loudly.

"Okayyy, um, great! Everyone’s alive, no one’s choking, yay! I’m just gonna..uh go upstairs and change. Into sothing that’s not... this."

I said awkwardly, then darted up the stairs before anyone could say another word.

The last thing I heard before my door shut was Ian’s voice.

"You sure nothing else happened?"

And Ren’s soft laugh in reply.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?"

I slamd the door behind and just stood there.

What the hell just happened.

Ren wiped my mouth. With his shirt.

His actual shirt. That he was wearing. On his body. I saw his skin.. his abs, his...

Oh my God. Don’t even think about it.

"Why did I just stand there and allow him?" I muttered to myself, pacing around the room.

He touched my face. He touched my lips. Technically beside them, but still!

And his eyes...ugh, his stupid, soft, calm eyes that make it feel like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

I think Ian noticed with how awkward Rem was acting.

No no no. He’s gonna think I cheated on him, or sothing or that Ren kissed , or

Oh my god what if he thinks I kissed Ren.

I groaned into the pillow, kicking my legs like a feral toddler. "I hate my life."

I tried to calm down. Deep breaths.

It’s fine, June. You’re fine. Nothing happened. It’s not like Ren did it on purpose.

Except... the way he smiled after.

Like he knew what he was doing.

And then...

A knock.

I jumped up imdiately.

Another knock. "June?"

Ian.

Crap. Crap. Crap.

I scrambled to the mirror....my hair’s a ss, face flushed, Ian’s shirt barely hanging off my shoulder. Why do I look like I just committed emotional adultery?

The door creaked open before I could answer.

Ian stepped in, one hand still on the doorknob.

He looked... calm.

Too calm.

The kind of calm that’s dangerous.

"Hey," he said, softly. "You ran up here pretty fast."

"Yeah, um just needed air," I said, laughing nervously.

He tilted his head slightly, closing the door behind him.

"Hmmm..."

Oh no. He’s doing that quiet, jealous tone.

I swallowed.

He stepped closer, just a bit.

"Did sothing happen?"

"No," I blurted out too quickly. "Nothing!"

He just watched . Eyes was trailing down to the hem of his shirt that barely covered my thighs, then back up to my face.

"June," he said slowly, "is there sothing you wanna tell ?"

My whole body stiffened.

"Nothing happened," I repeated. "You’re just being paranoid. I basically went downstairs to get an apple ’cause I was hungry."

Ian raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. I see. But where’s the apple?"

Oh no.

Shit.

Stupid, stupid June. I forgot the damn apple downstairs.

"I, uh..." I blinked like an idiot. "I ate it?"

"Without bringing it up?" he asked, pretending to think.

"I ate it downstairs. Ugh."

He squinted at .

Then, to my utter relief, he just smirked. "It’s fine. I bought Chinese."

He lifted up a takeout bag. "Sorry breakfast didn’t co early."

Oh my God. He’s smiling. Phew! He’s not mad.

Thank you, universe.

I smiled. "I’m starving."

He grinned.

We sat on the edge of the bed as I opened the containers. The sll hit instantly....warm, sweet, peppery. My stomach literally growled.

But the second I took a bite, my brain betrayed .

Because all I could think about was Ren’s food.

That savory, spicy, hoy taste that still lingered on my tongue.

Why do I even rember the taste....June, get your head together.

Ian watched chew. "You like it?"

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, it’s really good."

"You know," he grinned, "you look kinda hot in that shirt."

"It’s literally your shirt."

"Yeah," he grinned, leaning back a little. "That’s the point. Fits you better though."

I forced a laugh. "You’re only saying that because you’re narcissistic."

He shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not."

His fingers tapped the edge of my thigh.

Do not make eye contact, June.

I shoveled another forkful of noodles into my mouth. "So, uh, what did you get from the store?"

He raised a brow. "So clothes for you, snacks, boring stuff."

Then, quieter, "Didn’t think you’d look that good just wearing my shirt though."

"Ian." My voice ca out halfway between a warning and a squeak.

"What? I’m complinting you."

His fingers brushed my thigh again.

My brain was sowhere else entirely...flashing back to Ren’s touch, then Ian’s hand now, then sitting here.

I realized I didn’t even know what I felt anymore.

I like Ian. I really do.

But the second Ren looked at earlier, my heart skipped like it forgot who it belonged to.

I poked at my food, pretending not to think too much.

I’m so screwed.

Then, out of nowhere, Ian said quietly,

"If Ren’s hitting on you, just let know."

My fork froze halfway to my mouth.

What?!

I looked up too fast.

"What do you an hitting on ?"

I forced a small laugh, but my voice cracked halfway through.

Ian gave that look... the kind that said, don’t play dumb, June.

"You know what I an," he said softly. "He looks at you a certain way sotis."

"He’s just being nice," I muttered. "Ren’s like that."

"Maybe," Ian sighed. "Maybe I’m just overthinking it. But still...just promise you’ll tell , okay? If he ever... crosses a line."

My chest felt tight.

"Yeah," I whispered. "I promise."

Was I actually going to tell him? Yeah... probably not.

Ian leaned back on the bed, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. For a few seconds, it was quiet....just the hum of the fan and my brain trying not to replay Ren’s stupid smile again.

Then he spoke.

"Dom said sothing earlier about taking Ash to the hospital. What’s going on? He looked worried."

I looked up, surprised. "Oh, you don’t know?"

He shook his head.

I sighed, setting down the fork. "Ash’s mom’s in the hospital. She had surgery few weeks ago. We’re hoping she wakes up soon."

Ian sat up imdiately. "Wait! Seriously?"

"Yeah." My voice wavered a little. "She’s been sick for a while... a few years, I think. It got worse after his dad passed."

He went still for a mont. "His dad passed?"

The guilt in his tone made my chest tighten.

"Yeah," I said softly. "It’s been rough for him."

Ian ran a hand through his hair. "Shit. I didn’t know he’s been going through all that."

"Yeah," I murmured. "He’s been holding it together for Alia."

He looked at . "So he has only Alia?"

"Yeah," I said, forcing a small smile. "And . And Dom now."

Ian sighed. "Damn. No wonder Dom’s been acting like a guard dog lately."

I nodded, picking at the edge of the takeout box. "Yeah. They both kind of... need each other."

He humd quietly in response.

Ian’s voice broke through the quiet again.

"Hey," he said softly. "You okay?"

I blinked fast, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just... thinking about him."

He nodded, watching quietly. "You’re a good friend, Juney."

If only you knew what kind of friend I’ve been today.

I laughed faintly, though it ca out a little sad.