Ash’s POV
"Sorry!" Diane gasped, spinning around so fast she nearly hit her head on the wall, slamming the door shut behind her
Then...
I buried my face in Dominic’s shoulder. "Kill ."
"I think I just died," he groaned.
I scrambled upright, my body was still stiff and warm from the closeness with Dominic. He stood too, awkwardly adjusting his hoodie.
He dragged a hand through his hair, straightened his hoodie and groaned. "Great."
"Wish goodluck." He sighed, then he went for it, and opened the door again.
"Heyy, Diane," he said, forcing a smile, like she hadn’t just seen him in the middle of a mont that was either going to be a kiss....or sothing way worse.
"Hey, baby brother," she said sweetly, but her brow arched in that I know what I saw and you owe an explanation kind of way.
Dom laughed awkwardly. "I... didn’t know you’d be back today?"
"Oh you didn’t. I literally said I’d be back this weekend," she shot back. "I sent you tons of ssages. You didn’t reply to any."
"Oh. Sorry," Dominic muttered. "I was... busy. And I had a fever."
Diane tilted her head, smiling sarcastically. "Oh, I bet you were very busy. And the fever....is it still in the room with us? Because it looked like it had its tongue down your throat."
I bit my lower lip, nervously and sunk into the chair like it could swallow whole.
Was Diane going to tell soone?
Was she mad?
Was I ruining Dom’s relationship with his sister just by being here?
"He ca to take care of ," Dom said quickly. "Since I’m alone and all. And you wouldn’t want your precious baby brother to die, would you?"
"Aww," Diane cooed in that overly sweet way only older sisters could. "Of course not, Dom. But next ti, try not to die half-naked with a cute guy in the room."
We both chuckled, nervously. The kind of laugh that says please don’t ask follow-up questions.
Dominic opened his mouth to speak, but Diane cut in. "Okay, so... you’re not gonna get mad, but soone’s here with . Saw her at the airport and..."
She didn’t get to finish.
A shriek cut through the air.
"DOMMYBEAR!"
Before I could blink, soone bounced on Dominic, nearly knocking him into the doorfra. She wrapped her arms around him.
I scoffed.
Okay... what the hell?
My mouth dried up.
My hands gripped the sides of the chair.
Who the actual hell was this?
Okay, soone just stole my bitch.
She clung to him like a possessive girlfriend. Her fingers were wrapped behind his neck like she’d done this a lot.
"Oh my god, Nari?" Dom gasped, trying to pry her arms loose. "What are you doing here?"
Her hands were still glued to him. "I missed you so much!" she said, turning to , like she just noticed I was there.
I squinted.
"Nari?" I asked.
"As in Nari Han?"
I stared at her. "Ian’s sister? The model? The K-pop queen with 17 million followers and a dedicated skincare line?"
She glanced at .. Then turned back to Dominic like I didn’t exist.
"I thought you’d miss too," she pouted dramatically, stepping back just enough to scoff at him.
"Aren’t you supposed to be on tour in Paris or Korea or sothing?"
"I had a few days off," she smiled. "And I wanted to surprise you!
Diane cleared her throat, already backing out of the room.
"Well. I’ll leave you guys to it," she said, dropping the takeout bag on the table. But before leaving, she threw one last ’we’re talking later’ look, whispered "good luck", and slipped out the door with that sa smirk.
"I saw Diane at the airport," Nari said, flipping her hair. "Ian ca to pick up and Yuri, but I ditched them and followed her instead. I couldn’t wait to see you, Dommybear. But you’ve been ghosting , and it hurts, y’know?"
Why was he ghosting her?
Is there a real relationship?
Do they have history or sothing?
I cleared my throat, desperate to stand, sit, or teleport....anything but this. "Uh... I guess that’s my cue. I’ll get going now."
Nari turned to as if noticing for the first ti again. Her gaze narrowed, that judgy look.
"And.....who’s this?" she asked, pointing her perfectly manicured finger. "Is he a new maid?"
Dominic sputtered. "W-What? No, he’s....."
"I’m Ash," I cut in, trying to keep my voice neutral. "Dom was sick, so I ca to help."
"Oh." She smiled sweetly.. "So... a caretaker."
She stepped forward, and held my hands. "That’s cute. How nurturing of you."
Then she turned to Dominic, pressing her hand against his chest. "Guess you don’t have to worry about him anymore."
Her fingers trailed up his abs. "He’s got soone to rub his chest and feed him soup now."
Okay. ssage received.
She turned back to . "Hope you gave him his ds... and didn’t wear yourself out doing it."
Dominic laughed nervously. I didn’t cos nothing was funny.
Inside, I was boiling. With anger, confusion, jealousy, Insecurity.
Was she seriously marking her territory... on soone that ghosted her?
And why did that sting?
Why did her arms around him make my stomach twist?
Why did I suddenly feel like the outsider... again?
I glanced at Dominic, still shirtless, still standing there looking nervous.
"I, uh... should go," I said again, this ti backing up with my dignity dragging behind .
Nari’s eyes sparkled.
"Don’t be shy, Ashy," she said, smiling at . "You can stay. I don’t mind. As long as you’re comfortable."
Ashy?
The fuck?
Did she just call Ashy?
No. Nah. Nuh-uh.
I get it....she calls Dominic....Dommybear, which sounds corny asf, but her calling Ashy? That’s not a nickna. That’s an insult disguised as affection. And I’m not going to take that because she’s a celebrity.
I didn’t wait for more cringe to fall out of her glossy lips. I was already at the door.
"I should go," I said the third ti, already halfway out. "I already overstayed."
She literally wanted to stay and watch her rub coconut oil on Dominic’s abs.
Nah. I’m good.
"Wait!" Dominic said behind . "Let drop you off."
I didn’t turn around. I didn’t trust my face.
"You’re sick. You can’t drive." I shook my head quickly. "You should rest."
"Yes, Domdom, don’t drive while you’re sick," She clung to his arm like she wanted to enter his skin. "You shouldn’t be doing anything stressful."
I almost rolled my eyes.
Okay. We get it. You win. Clap clap. I’m not in a competition with you.
"I’ll just... see him to the door then," Dom offered again, trying to gently peel her off, but she hugged his arm tighter.
"I’ll be fine," i reassured him, but it wasn’t the kind of fine anyone would believe. It was the kind that said when you had no choice but to play along.
He didn’t push it.
Just leaned a little toward and whispered behind her, "I’ll call you, okay?"
I nodded, too fast, and walked out before I said sothing stupid like ’Don’t bother.’
The door clicked shut behind .
I leaned against the wall for a second and dragged in a shaky breath.
I didn’t cry.
But my lungs trembled
God, why does this feel like a breakup?
He’s not even mine.
He’s never been mine.
So why does it hurt like he was?
So why did it hurt like hell to walk away like that?
I exhaled.
"God," I muttered, dragging a hand down my face. "Why does this always happen?"
I kept walking. One breathe at a ti.
I stepped off the stairs slowly, my head was spinning. Maybe I could just ghost him. Or start ignoring. Or.....
"Hey!"
I jumped. A voice called out.
"You’re Ash Rivera, right?"
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