Chapter Fifty-Two – Bro-zoned.
When Damien came back, he met Arya sprawled on her bed. She wore big clothes that made her look like a stuffed toy.
He smiled, getting close to her. “Are you that tired?”
He wasn’t expecting her to jump from the bed with a grin. “I literally walked under the rain today so yeah, I’m exhausted!”
She fell back on the bed and began stretching. “Ha… I feel better after a hot bath and my sister dropped by today.”
Damien took off his coat, with his eyes till on Arya. “Hmmm, I met her. Did she tell you her experience being kidnapped?”
Arya shook her head. “Nope. I didn’t ask because I wanted her to register it as a bad memory. Selena and Connor said it’d be better that way.”
Damien nodded in agreement. If Anna didn’t want to bother her sister about her injury then it was good call.
Since Arya knew she was the target, she could become scared so it’s good to not let her know.
“I’d get you the best treatment, I promise, Anna.” He muttered to himself before leaving to the bathroom.
When he was gone, Arya smirked to herself.
“Okay! That went smoothly.” She said to herself.
Her earlier conversation with her sister replayed in her head.
After her question, “Why do everyone, whose opinion matter to me, try to dash my feelings for Seth? Can’t anyone support my happiness?” her sister had a change of heart.
Anna’s relationship with Jim wasn’t liked by their father and Aunt Jenna either but Anna went along with it because he was her happiness.
She became guilty seeing her sister in a marriage with a man she didn’t love and wouldn’t be able to feel happy with.
“Okay, I’d compromise. You don’t love Damien but you do for Seth. If you can get Seth to love you back by the time the contract is over, fine and good. If not, stay with Damien.”
Arya’s face had brightened up like three hundred candles on hearing that. “Really! You’d have to help me, you know. I covered for you when you use to sneak out to see Jim!”
The reminder made Anna mentally face palm. “Fine, fine. I’d give a tip. When Seth liked me, I was a free spirited, smiling girl. You are not like that, maybe try being that way.”
Arya clasped her fingers together. “Okay! Smile more, check!”
Anna smiled and added. “Also, for Damien, try to treat him like your older brother. I can’t tell you to avoid him so see him like the older brother you always wanted. You’d feel better.”
The idea sounded amazing to Arya and she nodded vehemently. She’d be putting it into action immediately. Damien might not notice the change.
She’d complement him, laugh with him but with a totally different energy. It will also give her room to recommend girls to him. “He’s been officially bro-zoned.” She chuckled.
When Damien left the bathroom, he noticed Arya didn’t bother turn in case he wasn’t dressed. He was dressed and did it more for himself than her. The weather was becoming cold.
“Waiting for dinner?” he asked her.
“Certainly. I don’t know how to order or I would have.” She sighed, with her eyes glued to her phone.
Damien bent his head sideways. She was being rather conversational than usual. He appreciated it.
“What would you want to have then?” he took out the menu he was earlier given. “They have quite a number…”
He trailed off being stunned by Arya jumping on his bed and coming close to him. She looked into the menu. “Ahh, rice and chicken soup. I wonder how theirs will taste.”
For a minute, his cheeks flushed red by her closeness. Didn’t she always try to avoid him? Why was she being too close? It’s not like he disliked it anyway.
“Y-Yeah, rice and chicken soup. Good pick.” He left the bed where she was still seated, admiring the other meal. “I’d go out and get it for us. Wait here.”
Arya raised a thumb up. “Sure! Thanks!”
He smiled before leaving. His smile faded but not completely. If she was accepting him finally then it was good but he’d surely have to brace himself for her sudden closeness.
When Arya was sure he was gone, she chuckled. “He definitely froze when I came that close. I shouldn’t do that. Anna is usually scared when I jump on her bed too.”
She kicked her legs in the air, while on her bed. “I’d be the spoilt little sister of Sir Damien to him, but be the wife of Sir Damien to his family. They might not notice the difference.”
There was a knock on the door and she jumped down from the bed. “Yes?”
The door opened and a tired Connor strolled in. “Arya, you wouldn’t believe what happened to me today.” He fell on her bed, with his hair still quite wet. Arya frowned.
“What? What happened now? Did you get rejected again?” And how could he just casually stroll into her room?
Connor leaped from the bed. “Hey! I’m still sensitive about that rejection.” He fell back on the bed. “I ordered wrongly.”
His shoulders slumped as he announced that but he got annoyed at not getting a reaction from Arya. “I said I ordered wrongly. Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Because it’s not a big deal. Why are you making it sound like a big deal? I order wrong all the time but then I eat it.” She replied defensively.
Connor wanted to argue more but she waved him off. “If you want, you can eat with Damien and I. We are having chicken soup and rice, okay?”
The boy closed his mouth and nodded grumpily.
Arya smiled. He totally gave off a little brother energy.
And as his older brother figure was now her older brother, she’d showcase her big sister energy more prominent. Selena did say they were family after all.
Connor fell back on the bed, rubbing his wet hair on her mattress. On impulse, Arya threw Damien’s pillow on him. “Stop soaking my bed or I’d break your head off!”
It tallied with when Damien was bringing the food in. He was glad the pillow had landed on Connor before he came in.
Connor rose from the bed. “Ouch! So what? Just change the mattress. If my hair stays wet for long, I’d get sick.”
“Does it sound like my problem, huh?” Arya rose another pillow and Connor ducked.
Damien placed the food on a table far from them. Watching them, he could tell they were both hungry or else, they wouldn’t be so pissed.
“Thankfully, I ordered three. I thought Arya might need another plate.” He said to their hearing.
Arya sighed. “I would have but let the poor child, who can’t order properly, have it.” She taunted.
“Well, my brother bought it not you.” Connor taunted back, making her throw yet another pillow.
Damien chuckled, watching their banter.