Chapter 170: PDA Should Be Illegal[June’s POV]
"Honestly, thank god you’re here," Ian said, running a hand through his hair like he’d been holding it together all night. "You heard from Dom yet? I texted you, and the twins..."
Ren shook his head, pulling out his phone like maybe the screen would have an answer this time. "Nothing. He hasn’t replied my text. He’s ghosting again. What’s up? Is he okay?"
That was my cue. Yep. Perfect time to bounce.
I was already stepping back when Ian’s hand shot out and closed around my wrist.
"Uh-uh," he said, not even looking at me. "You’re staying. You came with me, you’re my responsibility."
My chest pulled tight. Responsibility? Who talks like that?
Ian turned back to Ren, his grip was still warm on my wrist. "Diane called, said he left home few hours ago. Hasn’t eaten, hasn’t said a word since yesterday."
Ren cursed under his breath, flexing his jaw. "Shit... that’s bad. It’s eating him alive. We should go find him."
"No!" The word flew out of my mouth way too fast. Both their heads snapped toward me.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. What did I just do?
Their eyes were on me, waiting for an explanation, and suddenly my lungs forgot how to work.
I froze, my heart started racing.
I can’t just let them go barging in on Dom right now. Please forgive me, but I have to be selfish with this one.
The one person Dom might need right now is Ash. He’s the only one who really knows how to sit with someone’s pain without making it worse.
He knows how to touch someone’s shoulder in a way that says, I’m here, without a single word.
So yeah. My best friend gets this one.
Let him be the one at Dom’s side tonight. Let him be the one Dom leans on. Let him be there for his boyfriend.
I forced a shaky smile, pretending to be fascinated by the row of black lingerie on the shelf. "I mean... maybe he just wants to be alone for a while..." I trailed off, giving Ian a side eye.
Ian’s kept staring at me, then his eyes softened, like he’d pieced it together. "Ohh, I understand. If Dom needs space, crowding him right now won’t help. Besides... he’ll be back for the funeral tomorrow."
Ren tilted his head, still watching me, but he smiled a little. "Yeah. I get it."
I hesitated, blinking. "Wait... it’s tomorrow?"
They both nodded at the same time.
Ren let out this long sigh, heavy enough I felt it in my own chest. "Yeah. No way he’d miss it. He’ll show up. He has to."
Ian’s voice dropped, like he was trying to anchor us both. "Exactly. Let’s give him tonight. We’ll check on him after the service, if he doesn’t come to us first."
Ren looked down at his hands. "Grief’s a weird thing. It doesn’t knock, it just barges in, takes up space in your chest, and dares you to breathe around it." He paused, lifting his eyes to us. "But... sometimes, remembering the light makes the shadows easier to carry."
Of course he had to say something like that. Ugh. Stupid poetic Ren with his stupid poetic words that made my stomach twist.
Ian glanced at me, then back at Ren, smiling a little. "That’s good. Similar to what Juney told me earlier."
What did I tell him earlier?!
"She said when you start feeling crushed, think about the good times instead of drowning in the bad ones. Hold on to that instead." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
Oh my god, why was he giving me credit in front of Ren like that?
Ren looked over at me too, looking impressed. "That’s... actually beautiful." His voice dropped lower. "Memories can hurt, but they can heal too. Like... candles in the dark, right? One memory, one spark, keeps you from going out completely."
My throat tightened.
Ian smirked at me, this proud little grin that made my chest ache.
"She’s smart like that. That’s one thing I really like about her.....she sees the light in the middle of the mess."
LIKE?? About me?? Out loud??? In public?
PDA?? I didn’t sign up for this.
I wanted to crawl into the floor tiles.
Ren smirked at Ian. "Then you better not mess it up. She’s too sweet for your chaos."
Ian raised his hands like he was swearing. "Not this time. I promise."
The air between them softened then. Ren stepped in and pulled Ian into a hug.
The kind where they both patted each other’s backs like they didn’t want to let go but were too cool to admit it.
"Be good, okay?" Ian murmured.
Ren smiled faintly. "You too. And... take care of Jellybean." He nodded toward me.
"Always." Ian smirked.
Ren chuckled. "Don’t screw it up."
"Wouldn’t dream of it," Ian said.
And just like that, Ren slipped away down the aisle, leaving me alone with Ian’s eyes still on me.
The second he was gone, Ian grabbed a lacy lingerie set off the rack.
I blinked. "Um... what exactly am we supposed to use that for?"
He didn’t even hesitate. "You’d wear them for me when we start dating. It turns me on."
My jaw dropped. "Why would I care if it turns you on?" I snorted, snatching it from him. "Also newsflash, I haven’t agreed to date you."
He just smirked, looking annoyingly calm. "I know. That’s why I said when we start dating. I’ll keep it till the day you say yes."
I rolled my eyes. "Delulu."
He grinned like I’d just complimented him. "Also, you’re coming with me as my plus one to the funeral tomorrow."
I turned my head toward him. "Who even takes a plus one to a funeral?" I side-eyed him.
"I’d need you to comfort me when I start to cry," he said, like he already planned ut.
I scoffed. "Oh my God. Not the emotional blackmail again."
He just shrugged. "I know right?" Then he grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the clothing section. "Come on. Let’s get an outfit for you to wear."
"Why do I need an outfit? It’s not even my funeral."
Ian glanced back at me, totally unfazed. "Exactly. That’s why you can’t show up looking like you just rolled out of bed. You’ll embarrass me."
I gawked at him. "Embarrass you?"
He smirked. "Yeah. You should look good, when I start crying, and pass me tissues."
I gasped, smacking his arm with the lingerie set still in my hand. "You’re the worst."
He caught my wrist mid-swing, leaning down so close I could see the flecks of gold in his stupid eyes. "Nah. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you."
I forgot how to breathe. Then I yanked my hand free and tossed the lingerie at his chest. "Choke on it."
He laughed, actually catching it, then tossed it right back in the cart like he hadn’t just dropped the smoothest line ever. "Pick a dress, Jellybean. Black. Elegant. And something that’ll make everyone wonder how I managed to get you on my arm."
I pretended to gag, but my cheeks were betraying me.