Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Chapter 29:

Huey hesitated, the invitation to switch seats hanging in the air. “No need,” he said, brushing off the offer.

There were discussions to be had, gaming strategies to dissect with his friends along the journey.

His friends caught the brief uncertainty in his voice. “Bryan, who’s this?”

Huey felt a pang of concern over his image. Would introducing Eileen as his girlfriend now complicate things, given her proximity to Bryan?

Before Huey could decide how to reply to the question, Eileen said, “I’m his friend.” She acknowledged Huey’s companions with a tilt of her head.

As Huey’s eyes inadvertently met Bryan’s, the faint amusement on Bryan’s face sent a ripple of discomfort through Huey.

Clearing his throat, Huey corrected himself with slight emphasis, “She’s my girlfriend!”

His friends turned in unison towards Eileen, greeting her with a collective, “Hi!”

Eileen’s response was muted as Bryan’s gaze fixed on her. Her casual attire contrasted with her serene, almost youthful features, painting a starkly different picture from the high-powered assistant she was at work.

Bryan’s expression shifted to a knowing smirk. “Eileen, they’re talking to you,” he said.

Caught in the moment, Eileen offered a nervous chuckle. “Well, it looks like we’re all set to go. Let’s just sit down.”

The questioning glances and nudges from Huey’s friends continued, asking Huey when he had found such a beautiful girlfriend.

More stories at g𝓪lnov𝒆𝓵𝓼․𝑐𝓸m Amidst the soft curiosity, Eileen’s cheeks warmed under Bryan’s steady, piercing look. Somehow, she felt an intentional weight behind it.

Huey managed a brief dismissal of his inquisitive friends, darting between Eileen and Bryan, reading the room’s undercurrents.

The bus hummed to life, the drawn sunshades muting the daylight and enveloping the interior in a subdued glow. Bryan’s figure shielded Eileen from Huey’s view, casting her in his shadow.

Retreating to his digital world, Huey scanned his messages with Ax, feeling the one-sided weight of their recent exchanges. The silent stretches between their chats had been punctuated only by a brief reply from Ax regarding the upcoming competition.

With a surge of hope, Huey had invited Ax to the competition in Lakédale, but Ax had only asked about the specifics of their trip without confirming whether he would come. Huey couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect.

The journey on the bus, punctuated by brief stops, culminated in their arrival at the idyllic Lakédale under the cloak of evening calm. Feeling the stiffness of the long ride, Eileen stood up from her seat to find Bryan already handling their luggage. Without a word, she trailed behind him to get off the bus.

Huey’s voice reached her, “Eileen, I have a competition the day after tomorrow. Will you come?”

As she stepped off the bus, Eileen caught sight of Bryan proceeding directly to the exit. “I might,” she answered hastily, her mind already racing through her tasks.

“Then,” Huey replied, a protective note threading through his next words, “remember, if trouble finds you, just let me know. I’ll be there for you.”

His offer left Eileen momentarily taken aback, a silent question of its origin hanging in the air.

Catching up to Bryan, Eileen noticed he had summoned a cab and was loading their bags. His comment to her was casual, almost indifferent. “No need to be so attached to him. It’s not like you won’t see each other again.”

Though Eileen found his remark strange, she was used to his unpredictable behavior. She got into the cab with him, and they headed straight to the hotel.

Upon arrival, they approached the hotel’s front desk to secure accommodations. Huey and his crew, in a twist of fate, arrived just moments later. The small town’s charm had apparently funneled them to the same lodging. “What are the odds?” Huey murmured, a hint of irritation in his voice.

The receptionist, upon seeing Bryan and Eileen together, made an assumption. “Would the presidential suite suit you and your wife?”

Bryan nonchalantly sought Eileen’s input with a glance. Before Eileen could formulate a response, Huey, ever protective, interjected, “They’ll need separate rooms.”

“They’re not a couple!”

The receptionist paused, taken aback by Huey’s forwardness. No clarification came from Bryan or Eileen. Eileen, her cheeks warmed by the moment, silently affirmed they were indeed not an item.

The receptionist offered an apologetic smile. “My apologies. Let me see what else we have.”

After a brief dance of her fingers on the keyboard, she looked up. “Other than the presidential suite, there are only the two rooms reserved for Mr. Baker.”

Caught off guard by the predicament, Huey was momentarily at a loss for words. He had secured the rooms ahead of time, not anticipating this turn of events. But he didn’t want Eileen and Bryan to share a room.

Bryan’s voice cut through the tension. “The suite has two bedrooms. I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Baker. It’s not like Eileen and I haven’t shared a suite before for work trips,” he said, his tone even.

Huey’s discomfort was palpable. Eileen’s face creased with worry as she sensed the judgmental eyes of Huey’s friends on her. How would this scene be construed by them?

Bryan urged Eileen to speed up the check-in process.

“Do you mind?”

With a hesitant hand, Eileen reached into her bag to retrieve his wallet but was abruptly stopped by Huey’s firm grasp.

“Now, don’t—” Huey’s protest was sharp, his grip tight.

“What’s the issue?” Bryan interjected, a challenge in his tone. “You want to settle our bill?” He dismissed the offer with a casual wave of his hand. “No need. I’ve got this covered.”

Huey retrieved the card from Eileen’s grasp and presented it to the receptionist, finalizing the transaction himself. The receptionist’s lips gave a slight quirk; his audacious actions seemed too bold. Still, his demeanor carried an undeniable allure.

The check-in process was swift, and Bryan was soon leading the way with the room key and luggage in tow, signaling for Eileen to come along.

Eileen offered Huey a reassuring smile. “Let’s catch up another time; it’s been a long day,” she said before joining Bryan in the elevator.

As the elevator doors slid shut, Bryan’s glance toward Huey was a mix of acknowledgment and challenge. Huey’s response was not so subtle—a frustrated kick against the luggage.

A friend’s voice broke through his brooding. “Boss, is she really your girlfriend?”

“I’ll fill you in soon. Let’s just get settled for now,” Huey said, his tone heavy with unvoiced thoughts.

The rest of the group moved ahead with the check-in process, entering the elevator afterward.

The friend, sensing the tension, ventured a word of caution. “Boss, if she’s not your girlfriend, it might be wise for you to step back. They look like a perfect match. Besides, that man looks intimidating.”

Huey locked eyes with his friend, his pride stung. “Am I not intimidating?” he challenged.

The friend pondered, choosing his words carefully. “You have a different presence—less imposing than his.”

The comparison left Huey motionless, caught in a moment of self-reflection.

In her hotel room, Eileen arranged her belongings. As she finished, Bryan’s presence at the doorway was unmistakable.

“Mind giving a hand with this?” Bryan asked, nodding at his suitcase. “What’s the plan for dinner? Are we going out or ordering in?”

Eileen weighed her words before speaking. “Are you planning to sleep in my room?”

Bryan’s silence was an answer in itself, his eyes never leaving hers.

Deciding not to dwell on it, Eileen helped him unpack, setting his things aside. “Let’s just order room service. It’s been a long day,” she suggested, fatigue evident. “Don’t you need some rest as well?”

Bryan entered her room, making the space feel smaller with his mere presence. “Doing something relaxing would help me sleep,” he said.

Eileen understood what he meant and let out a resigned sigh.

Following their meal, Eileen didn’t waste any time refreshing herself with a quick shower, looking forward to a moment of relaxation. Bryan, however, had a different idea. Post-shower, with his hair damp, he joined her in the room.

Eileen let out a sigh of tiredness, a softness in her voice that was typical of her.

Bryan watched her for a moment, something shifting within him as he gently brushed her hair back from her face, his touch careful.

“It’s alright; you can just sit back and enjoy,” he whispered, his lips briefly meeting her forehead in a comforting gesture.

The care in his actions prompted Eileen to lean into the comfort, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability under his care.

A stray droplet from his hair landed on her skin, prompting a gentle touch as he brushed it away. Just as things were getting intimate between them, someone rang the doorbell.

The doorbell’s chime caused a pause in their closeness, drawing Bryan’s gaze back into focus as Eileen, still enveloped in a haze of relaxation, became more aware of her surroundings.

“There’s someone at the door?” Eileen asked. With a gentle nudge against Bryan, she suggested, “You should get that.”

But Bryan didn’t move, absorbing her warmth, then said in a raspy voice, “You sure about that?”

Eileen’s attire was in disarray, a silent testament to the comfort of their moments just passed. Recognizing her state, Eileen’s cheeks bloomed with color.

With an abrupt shift, Bryan rose, donned the robe discarded on the floor, and strode toward the door.

Huey was outside the door, his expression clouding at Bryan’s appearance. “Where’s Eileen?” he asked, a crease of concern marking his brow.

Bryan met his question with a cool inquiry of his own. “Do you need her for something?”

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