THAT'S HIS BROTHER?
Huh?
THE ONE WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE TWO DAYS AGO?
What?
THE ONE FROM KOREA?
How?
HOW DID I NOT PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER?
Hunter Kim... is a Steele?
I feel like death.
Mother Nature, why me?
I lifted my head, suspicion all over my face.
"Ranger, you're absolutely one hundred percent sure that's the brother you were talking about?
Not just making some crack about me 'drooling'?"
"Never thought I'd see the day Emily Johnson admitted a guy was hot.
And the best part? He's my brother.
I will never let you live this down."
Did I just give Ranger leverage to blackmail me?
I'm my own greatest enemy.
"I hate you."
"Aww, I love you too," he taunted.
Ranger carried me to the juice bar like I was a sack of potatoes—still slung over his shoulder, mocking me every chance he got.
"Want his number? I could give it to you.
Come over to my place so you can stare harder.
Mom won't mind. You practically live at our house anyway."
"Shut up," I elbowed his chin.
He deserved it.
Ivy looked up from her drink and glared.
"I saw everything.
Em, are you purposely trying to embarrass this friend group?"
I frowned.
"What do you people want from me?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe you could've reacted differently.
Then I could've had eye candy too.
But nooo—you just decided to walk away and lie in the grass like... I don't know... some kind of lawn angel."
"That's literally the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"Girl, you got lucky and chose to throw it away.
If I were in your position? The things I would've done..."
"I'm right here, babe," Ranger muttered.
"Yes, and I mean—you're hot, but you are not Hunter Kim level hot."
"See? Even your girlfriend is doing it too."
"Shut up.
At least she's brutally honest. That's why she's mine."
Ivy blushed and melted into Ranger's arms.
"Ivy, you do know Hunter Kim is Ranger's brother, right?
I mean, he probably told you—since you're his girlfriend.
And he officially retired me as his best friend."
Ivy paused.
Processing...
"Oh.
Oh?
OHHHHHH!!
WHAT?!"
She suddenly flipped her gaze to meet Ranger's.
For a sec I thought her head was gonna fly off.
Then came the glare of the century.
It held everything from offense to a billion curse words.
Ranger stiffened and slowly put me down—careful not to drop me or the emotional bomb named Ivy will go off.
The second my feet hit the ground, there was a sharp whoosh—and he was gone. Vanished. Like he'd just yeeted himself out of a horror movie.
Who could blame him. Ivy was the scariest pocket sized person on earth when she was angry. Like a designer Chihuahua.
I am going to kill him.
Resurrect him
and kill him again
Then bury his soul in a perfume glass.
She announced and stormed off in the direction of her boyfriend who fled like a run-away bride.
I stood there for a sec making my feet familiar with the ground and turned the opposite direction.
Well it was nice knowing him. Where can I get some chips around here.
Maybe Marco has some--He always had chips for some reason.
Three billion hours later
The school day finally concluded after the various nasty stares and cheers I got from Hunters fan club.
Me accidentally kicking Leon in the family jewels--at my first ever karate class and the heated glances from Kaden.
What a day.
Wait, hold on. How haven't I seen Ranger or Ivy since after their "stage play" this morning.
I pulled out my phone and called Ranger.
His phone was off.
Then Ivy.
She didn't pick up and sent me a text.
I'm at Chill Haus ( our fav ice cream parlor)
Okay cool I'll be there soon. I replied not knowing what that little devil has set me up for.
When I got to chill Haus, I was directed to a seat and Leigh( our fav waitress) told me Ivy will be right here she just went into the bathroom.
I sat there staring at my phone screen hoping Ranger would call when a tap on the table drew my attention.
I looked up and froze.
I'm legit sure that if I didn't have caramel skin I'd be as red as a tomato right now.
Why did he keep having this effect on me.
Kaden what are you doing here? I said my voice higher than a whistle, trying to conceal the shock and excitement. How embarrassing.
Hold up
I'm excited? What the fuck.
"Hey goldfish"
he said in that flirtatious tone melting my knee caps.
Ivy--You lying pink teacup dog. This is clearly a set up.
What--it's not like I did anything wrong when I called her anniversary week pointless.
It was pure fact.
I cried internally--what is wrong with my friends.
For a while Kaden didn't speak and stared directly into my soul.
The silence wasn't awkward though. It was… loaded. Like he knew I was trying not to melt into the seat. Like he was waiting for me to break first.
Add a spotlight and I'd be in an interrogation chamber.
For about 100 years I looked anywhere but his face-- I couldn't risk looking into those eyes.
I didn't wanna turn to pudding and make a giant fool of myself--so I kept looking at the ceiling until I counted all the imaginary lines on it.
Then I looked over to that random guy in the back who had a toupee on his head.
Bro wasn't fooling anyone. I see you, Mr. Gru.
Finally, he said, "You know, for someone who always has a comeback, you go suspiciously quiet around me."
His voice was soft—casual, perfect for seduction..... Huh? Who said that? It clearly wasn't me.
Right?
I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe I'm just planning your death in my head,--you should see it, it has fireworks, pink cobras and a mariachi band".
He grinned. "pink cobras? Well that's something you don't hear everyday"
"They're dyed so they become extra deadly" I replied aggressively shoving Ice cream in my mouth--almost missing.
I almost put it in my nose
"Plotting my death isnt so bad either, at least you're thinking about me" he rested his elbows on the table.
Well there was no winning against this guy. He was just too smug.
I snorted, despite myself. Then immediately rolled my eyes and shoved another spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. "Please."
Kaden smirked wider. "You just laughed. Admit it."
"Laughed? No. That was a sneeze."
"You sneeze like a dying dolphin?"
"It's a rare condition, only smart people have it--I don't expect you to understand.
He leaned forward just slightly, tilting his head. "You're right I don't understand because i'm too distracted by the ice cream on your lip."
I blinked.
Ice cream
on my lip?
What does he think this is? a teen drama scene where he wipes my lip then there's romantic tension?
"If you're messing with me I'll kick your ass--i know karate"
"Easy there tiger I'm not--want me to tell you where?" he asked, still watching me with that annoying half-smile.
"Fine. Where?"
"Left side."
I wiped. He shook his head.
"Right side."
I wiped again.
"Nope," he said, completely unfazed. "Still there."
I set my spoon down and narrowed my eyes. "Seriously?"
Should I launch it at his eye? It's not like he was helping at all.
"I'll wipe it," he said in that tone. Painfully cliche.
But hey! for the first time I wasn't complaining.
He grabbed a napkin and stood up.
Walked around the table.
And then bent down beside me.
I turned slightly to face him, waiting for him to dab my face with the tissue.l and teleport back to his seat.
Officially submitting to the power of CLICHÉ
Instead?
He leaned in, brushed his thumb across my cheek—and placed the softest, most intentional kiss right on my lips.
My brain shrunk to the size of a grape.
My soul broke it's neck and got hospitalized
My mouth forgot it belonged to me.
I died instantly.
THE END
Here lies Emily Johnson--who once lived a life of aura farming.
Loving sister
Loyal-ish friend
And above all pain in the ass.
Died: After that tragic incident
Cause: Kaden Ambrose
The tragic incident in question: The peck on the lips carrying billions of lightning bolts
Danger level: Infinite
Weapon rank: Lethal
I think I broke my brain.
He pulled back slowly, placed the napkin on the table like he'd actually used it, and said, "All clean."
I blinked up at him, still processing what just happened while my heart pummeled on my ribs like they owed it money.
Brr brr
My phone vibrated and I saw Rangers contact.
I lifted it to my ear after picking up, my mind blank.
A tumble weed rolled by in my mind space and that's when he dropped the bombshell.
"I'm alive, thanks for asking--Oh and mom says tomorrow is dinner night...guess who you're sitting next to? Yes you're sitting next to my brother Hunter. Y'know the guy you called hot"
Reality smacked me hard.
Well life clearly has it out for me
I should've just stayed dead after the kiss
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