Lucian froze for a moment, caught off guard. “She…” he began, his words faltering as he tried to find the right description.
“She’s a princess,” he said finally, his tone flat. Then, after a beat, he added with a small chuckle, “Just… a little psycho, though.”
Jimmy’s grin widened, his curiosity piqued. “A princess, huh?” he repeated, one brow arching in surprise. “Why don’t I know this? When did you start hanging out with royalty?”
From the backseat, Garry perked up, his excitement evident as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the tops of their seats. “Wait, wait,” he interjected, his voice animated. “So… what’s the deal between you two?”
“Nothing,” Lucian replied quickly, a little too quickly, earning himself skeptical looks from both men.
Jimmy, now fully alert, leaned back slightly in his seat as memories from their past life flickered in his mind. Celestia… That brutal menace of a princess? The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He hadn’t recognized her at first, but now it made sense the way she carried herself, the sharpness in her eyes. It all clicked. No wonder she felt familiar.
“How do you know her?” Jimmy asked, his tone more serious now as he shot a sideways glance at Lucian.
Lucian hesitated, his fingers fidgeting slightly before he forced a casual tone. “We… met online,” he said, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Didn’t know each other’s real identities back then. But apparently, she found out and decided to show up today.”
Jimmy raised an eyebrow but said nothing, taking another sip of his coffee as he mulled over Lucian’s words.
“So… why’d she want to meet you?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual as he kept his eyes on the road.
Lucian rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “Ehhh… well…” he began, trailing off as he searched for the right words.
Jimmy shot him a pointed look. “Spit it out already, or I’m throwing you out of my darling,” he said, tapping the steering wheel for emphasis. “And you can walk your ass home.”
Lucian groaned, slumping slightly in his seat. “She… asked me to marry her,” he admitted finally, his voice quiet and filled with embarrassment.
Jimmy froze mid-sip, lowering his cup slowly as his eyebrows shot up. From the backseat, Garry erupted.
“She WHAT?” Garry practically shouted, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “What a macho move! I accept her as my sister-in-law!”
Lucian turned in his seat, his glare sharp enough to cut steel. “Garry, you want me to make that ugly mug of yours even uglier?” he growled, cracking his knuckles ominously.
Garry, unfazed, leaned back in his seat with a mocking grin. “Don’t be shy now,” he said, giving Lucian an exaggerated thumbs-up. “Ah, so sweet. If it were me, I’d have said yes immediately!”
“You mother…” Lucian started, turning in his head back to lunge at Garry.
Before he could do anything, Jimmy’s voice cut through, cold and sharp. “Don’t.”
Lucian froze mid-movement, turning to see Jimmy’s dead-serious expression as he glanced at both of them. “My car is not getting scratched because of you two idiots. Sit still, or I’ll kick you both out right here.”
Lucian let out a disgruntled huff, slumping back into his seat. Garry clicked his tongue in mock disappointment but kept his grin intact.
Jimmy turned his focus back to the road, his voice calm but pointed. “Let me guess,” he said, taking another sip of coffee. “You rejected her.”
Lucian said nothing, his gaze drifting out the window. His silence spoke volumes.
Jimmy shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Of course, you did,” he said, his tone half-amused, half-exasperated.
From the backseat, Garry whistled low. “Man… you really do live on the edge, don’t you?”
Jimmy placed his coffee in the cupholder and rubbed a hand over his face. “You idiot,” he muttered, though his voice lacked real heat.
Lucian ignored them both, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. Finally, Jimmy broke the silence.
“So… who was it that picked you up?” he asked, his tone now more curious than critical.
Lucian sighed, his voice quiet. “Her brother,” he said simply.
Garry let out a low whistle, leaning forward again. “Damn. That’s intense.”
Jimmy rubbed his temple, letting out a soft groan as he pieced everything together. This idiot really is in deep, he thought, but he said nothing, the weight of the situation sinking in.
Lucian leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. “I’ll figure it out,” he muttered to himself, though the words felt more like a reassurance than a plan.
Jimmy’s question broke the silence in the car, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. “So,” he said, his eyes still on the road as his hand rested lightly on the steering wheel, “what did he want to talk to you about?”
Lucian remained quiet for a moment, staring out the window as the scenery blurred by.
Before he could answer, Garry leaned forward from the backseat, his excitement palpable. “I know, I know!” he exclaimed, his grin widening. “Let me guess he was worried about his precious sister hanging out with our Lucian. Or maybe,” he added, his tone turning dramatic, “he’s like one of those villains in movies. You know, the ones who can’t handle a…”
Jimmy didn’t even glance back. With a single look sharp, cold, and unyielding cast through the rearview mirror, Garry froze mid-sentence. His mouth snapped shut, and he slumped back into his seat with a muttered, “Okay, I’ll shut up.”
Jimmy sighed, shaking his head as he returned his attention to the road. “And?” he asked, his tone even as he reached for his coffee. “What did he say?”
Lucian hesitated, his expression unreadable. “He said…” He paused, his fingers tapping idly against the car door as his voice turned quieter. “He’s going to marry Avey.”
The words hung in the air like a bomb that hadn’t yet exploded.
Jimmy took a sip of his coffee just as Lucian’s words registered. His eyes widened, and with a loud, panicked gasp, he spit out the coffee he had just swallowed out the open window, thankfully sparing his precious car.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!” Jimmy doubled over slightly, one hand on the wheel as he struggled to catch his breath. His other hand slapped at his chest as though trying to reset his internal systems.
“Damn it,” he muttered between coughs, his voice hoarse. He blinked several times, finally straightening as he let out a breathless, “What the hell did you just say?”
Lucian turned slightly, his expression still calm, though his lips twitched faintly at Jimmy’s overreaction. “He’s going to marry Avey,” Lucian repeated, his tone indifferent, as though he were commenting on the weather.
Jimmy let out a soft groan, leaning his head against the window for a moment before resuming his focus on the road. “Wow…” he said finally, his voice trailing off. He looked like he wanted to say more but couldn’t quite find the words.
Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly as he realized something was missing. “Wait…” he murmured. “Why’s it so quiet back there?”
Curiosity tugged at him, and he turned his head to glance at the backseat.
What he saw made him sigh.
Garry was frozen in place, his mouth hanging wide open in utter shock. His eyes were round, his expression so over-the-top that it could’ve been comedic if it weren’t so ridiculous.
Lucian groaned, shaking his head in exasperation. “What did I even expect from him?” he muttered under his breath, turning back to face the front.
Jimmy, who had finally regained his composure, glanced at Garry through the rearview mirror and smirked faintly. “That, you ohk right?” he quipped, his voice carrying a faint trace of amusement.
Lucian slumping slightly against the window. “Yeah,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “I am alright.”
—-