Chapter 482

I thought about how he still hadn’t replied to my last message, and his suit jacket was still with me. I had no way to give it back.

With Ryan coming over soon, I was just relieved I’d brought the jacket to the office. At least there wouldn’t be any slip-ups.

“So, what do you want to eat? My treat,” I said, quickly changing the subject.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed playfully. “I’m not really craving anything, but I’m just tagging along with you tonight. Wherever you take me, I’ll follow.”

“Oh? Is that so?” He was being so sweet and agreeable–it was honestly impossible to say no to him.

Ryan gave me those innocent, puppy-dog eyes. “Yep, you’re stuck with me now.”

I took him to a private kitchen near my office–a reservation-only spot that doesn’t do walk-ins. It’s super chill and quiet, with plenty of delicious dishes to choose from.

Ryan had clearly never been here before. I booked us a private booth by the window, and as he sat down, he smiled softly at me. “Vic, being with you just puts me completely at ease.”

I was bending over to pour him some coffee, and he just sat there with his hands propping up his face, gazing up at me.

I paused for a moment, looking at him gently. “Your standards are way too low, you know that?”

“Before I met you, any warmth from others just felt fake to me–not real at all,” Ryan said, looking all pitiful.

My heart tightened a little. Ryan really seemed like someone who’d never gotten enough love in his life.

Some people say that missing a mother’s love is like a slow bleed on your soul.

You might seem perfectly fine, but just one offhand remark or a nasty look can make you doubt yourself completely.

Some people are even more extreme–they desperately want to be noticed, but deep down, they’re terrified of anyone truly seeing through them.

I reached out and softly brushed his hair. “Don’t overthink it. Just focus on being yourself.”

Ryan nodded, a trace of affection in his eyes. “With you, I don’t have to hide my vulnerability.”

I let out a gentle laugh. “You’re not fragile at all. You’re already a real man who stands tall.”

“Really?” Ryan grinned like he’d just been rewarded. “Then I’ll get even stronger. I’ll protect you.”

My heart sped up. His sweet words were pure music to my ears–I could listen to him all night.

“You don’t have to. I can be strong on my own,” I said, shaking my head.

Ryan didn’t seem disappointed at all. He reached out, took my hand, and pressed a soft kiss to my fingers. “I know. You’ve always been strong, and I love that about you.”

As I set the coffee pot down, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my waist, pulling me in. The next thing I knew, I was in Ryan’s lap, and he pressed me back against him.

My hair, loose and unbound, tumbled over his arm.

The chandelier’s light spilled down over us as I held my breath, staring up at him.

Ryan looked at me like I was a piece of art, his fingers playfully pinching my cheek. “Let me stay over tonight, okay?”

His face, now so close, had a striking, almost razor-sharp beauty that made me swallow hard.

He caught me swallowing, and his lips curled into a teasing smile.

Then he leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Let’s save that for later,”

When dinner was served, I couldn’t settle down. Truth is, I’d always been finding reasons not to let things progress with Ryan.

But now, none of my excuses could hold up anymore.

Now, I had no excuse–he’d come all the way from Braylin.

“What are you thinking about?” Ryan called out to me from across the table, his voice light and clear.

I looked up at him.

Ryan smiled. “You’ve been lost in thought ever since I pulled you into my lap.”

I gave him an awkward smile. “Nah, I grabbed something to eat earlier, so I’m not really hungry right now.”

Ryan arched his brow, giving me a teasing look. “Let me guess–you’re already thinking up another excuse to dodge me tonight, aren’t you?”