Chapter 134: Pretentious
Ronan opened the door and saw Brad and me standing there. His eyes went wide like he'd just struck goldt. He bolted to the kitchen, losing a slipper, and dragged Helen out.
Helen was just as shocked, her mouth hanging open.
Knowing Helen and Brad had serious doubts about my return with someone else, I dropped my luggage and explained why I was back.
I was a bit blunt, while Brad stood there expectantly. Helen and Brad seemed hesitant.
I didn't get it. This was my business. They just needed to say if they were in or out. Why the hesitation?
Ronan, being the man of the house, called for a family meeting.
We sat on the couch, and Brad laid everything out for Helen and Ronan. He talked about the past twenty-two years, his devotion to me, and how he avoided coming home because of unrequited love.
He talked until his mouth was dry.
I listened until my ears burned.
When Brad finished, he sat there like a nervous kid, hands trembling and a bit sweaty. He'd never been this nervous, not even during his thesis defense, which made me chuckle.
"Brad, it's not even hot. Why are you sweating?" I wiped his forehead and showed him.
Brad grabbed my hand, trying to stay calm. "Stop messing around. Be serious."
Ronan and Helen exchanged looks. Finally, Helen sighed, "What kind of mess have you two gotten into?"
"Exactly, we're all confused."
"Helen, Ronan, if Daniel and Jane were doing well, I wouldn't interfere. But they're apart now, and I genuinely like Jane. I swear, if I ever wrong Jane, I deserve the worst."
I didn't like that heavy oath, so I quickly covered his mouth. Brad, worried I might fall, gently held me.
Helen and Ronan couldn't bear to see me like that. They went to the kitchen, saying they should make me something to eat since I'd lost weight.
I knew they had accepted us.
The future was up to Brad and me.
I quietly eavesdropped at the kitchen door.
"Honey, what do you think of Brad? Is he good enough to be our son-in-law?" Helen asked.
"I think he's more reliable than Daniel. If we'd arranged for Brad earlier, Jane wouldn't have had to suffer."
"You're right."
Brad was still sitting stiffly on the couch, sweating.
I nudged him with my elbow. "What are you doing?"
He looked around, saw it was just us in the living room, then relaxed and wiped the sweat off his face.
Remembering how nervous he was, I couldn't help but tease him. His face turned red, all the way to his neck, which made me laugh even harder. Helen and Ronan peeked out of the kitchen to see what was up.
Brad quickly dragged me to my room, threw me onto the couch, and pinned me down. "The last hurdle is you. Say it, I'm your boyfriend now."
His body was warm, and I was trapped in his arms. "Isn't it too fast to become my boyfriend just like that?"
I nibbled on my fingertip, playing coy and refusing to agree.
I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted him to pursue me a bit, to satisfy my little vanity.
"What would make it not too fast? Tell me, and I'll do it," Brad said, straightforward as always.
I thought for a moment. "The assessment period is over. Now it's the probation period. The duration depends on your performance."
Brad reluctantly accepted. "Jane, you're tough. I'll do my best. But you have to encourage me."
How to encourage him? I had no idea.
He stared at me, then slowly leaned in until his warm breath was on my face, and I could see his eyelashes reflected in his eyes.
Was he going to kiss me?
Just as I was wondering, Brad chuckled, held the back of my head, and pressed his soft lips to my forehead. "I'm just marking my territory."
After the kiss, he quickly pulled away, sat upright on the couch, and pretended to survey my room.
When Helen peeked in, she saw this odd scene: I was sitting on one side of the couch like an idiot, while Brad, with a suspicious blush, sat on the other side, eyes darting around but trying to sit properly.
Later, when I chatted with Helen about that day, she laughed and said Brad was adorably silly and old-fashioned.
I was puzzled. Brad and I had spent plenty of time alone before, even sleeping in the same bed. We were always open about it, like it was the most natural thing.
But after Brad became my boyfriend, being alone together became incredibly awkward. Especially for me, I could hardly look him in the eye. Whenever he got close, my heart would race.
I decided to put him out for a bit. "Brad, why don't you go back home for now? If Hugh and Emma find out you're back and don't go in, they'll be mad."
I poked his firm chest with my finger, and he, unable to bear it, grabbed my finger and nibbled on it, making my heart flutter.
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