FALLING FOR THE LYCAN BIKER: MY BESTFRIEND BROTHER

Chapter 71: GOOD. AT LEAST I WASN’T THE ONLY ONE.

Chapter 72

Ren

My head felt like someone had packed it with wet cement. The fever still simmered under my skin, but it wasn’t the roaring fire from before.

Lumi’s mouth was on mine, soft and sure, and for a second everything else faded. Her hair brushed my face, smelling like whatever shampoo she used...something clean and a little sweet.

I tasted salt on her lips from the tears she’d cried earlier, and it hit me all over again how real this was. How much I’d spilled out while the meds stripped me raw.

I pulled back just enough to breathe, my hand still tangled in her hair.

"Lumi," I said, my voice cracking.

She didn’t answer with words. She just shifted closer on the narrow bed, her body fitting against mine like she belonged there. Her leg slid over mine, and I felt the warmth of her through our clothes.

My heart hammered so hard I was sure she could feel it. I wanted to say more, to take it all back or double down, but my brain was too foggy.

Instead I kissed her again, slower this time, trying to show her what I couldn’t quite line up into sentences. That I meant every stupid, desperate word I’d said.

She made this little sound in the back of her throat, half sigh, half something else, and her fingers tightened on my shirt.

For a minute the room disappeared. It was just her hands on me, her breath mixing with mine, the faint creak of the bed under us.

My palm found the curve of her waist under her shirt, skin warm and smooth, and I traced it like I was memorizing the shape. I was still burning up, but this felt dangerous in a whole new way.

Then she eased back, pressing her forehead to mine.

"You need to rest," she whispered. Her breath fanned across my lips. "The fever’s not done with you yet."

I wanted to argue. Wanted to pull her back down and forget the world. But my eyelids were already getting heavy, the medicine dragging at me like anchors.

"Don’t go," I muttered, the same words I’d choked out earlier. Pathetic, maybe, but true.

"I’m not." She brushed damp hair off my forehead, her touch cool and steady. "I’m right here. Close your eyes, Ren." I obeyed her.

The last thing I felt was her settling beside me, one arm draped lightly across my chest like she was keeping me tethered.

....

I woke up slowly, like I was surfacing from deep water.

My mouth tasted bitter. The fever had dipped... I didn’t feel like I was cooking from the inside anymore, but my body ached like I’d been hit by a truck.

I turned my head and there she was, sitting in the chair by the window again, knees pulled up, watching me.

Lumi. Hair a little messy now, eyes soft but tired. She looked like she hadn’t moved far.

"Hey," I said, pushing up on one elbow. The room tilted for a second, then steadied.

She smiled, small and real. "You were out for about an hour. How do you feel?"

"Like shit. But better than before." I rubbed a hand over my face, stubble rough under my palm.

Everything from earlier crashed back in, the words I’d said to her, the kiss, her crying. My stomach twisted.

"Lumi, about what I said..." She stood up before I could finish, crossing to the bed.

"We’ll talk later. Right now I need to pick up Theo from kindergarten. It’s almost time." I sat up fully, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The floor was cold under my socks.

"Okay. I can manage here if you..."

"You’re coming with me." She said it simple, like it was already decided. No room for debate in her tone.

I blinked at her. "What?"

She was already moving, grabbing my hoodie from the chair and tossing it to me. "Get your shoes. We’re not late yet, but traffic’s always a mess this time of day."

I caught the hoodie, staring at it like it might explain things. My brain was still catching up.

"Lumi, I’m not exactly in shape to play chauffeur. You don’t have to drag me along. I’ll be fine here, I can take care of myself."

She stopped in the doorway, hand on the frame, and looked back at me. There was something fierce in her eyes, the same look she’d had when she’d made me eat the toast and eggs earlier.

"I’m not leaving you alone right now. You were shaking in your sleep, talking nonsense. I’m not risking it. Come on."

I wanted to push back. Part of me, he part that still had some pride...wanted to tell her I wasn’t some invalid she had to babysit.

But the bigger part, the one that had just poured his guts out while fever-drunk, didn’t want her walking out that door without me. Not yet.

"Fine," I muttered, pulling the hoodie on. It smelled like her place now, or maybe I was imagining it. My legs felt shaky when I stood, but I locked my knees and followed her out.

The drive to the kindergarten was quiet at first. Lumi’s car was clean, with a couple of Theo’s toys scattered in the back seat...a plastic dinosaur and a crumpled drawing.

She drove with both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, but I caught her glancing over every few minutes.

"You don’t have to keep checking on me," I said, leaning my head against the window. The glass was cool against my temple. "I’m not about to pass out."

"I know." A small smile tugged at her mouth. "Just making sure."

We pulled up outside the low brick building with kids spilling out the doors, parents clustering around.

She went in alone to pick him up. When he saw me, I couldn’t believe he still remembered me.

On the drive back to her place...because apparently that’s where we were going now... Lumi’s hand brushed my knee for a second as she changed lanes. Brief, but enough to send heat crawling up my neck that had nothing to do with the fever.

When we got to her apartment, she picked him up and took him inside, while I walked behind slowly. Lumi closed the door behind us and turned the lock.

The place smelled like home, more warmer than my apartment.

"Ren, you can crash on the couch for now," she said, already steering Theo toward the kitchen for a snack. "I’ll make something light for dinner. You need more than eggs in you." I stood there in the hallway, confused all over again.

"Wait. I thought you were just dropping me back or something. I can call a ride home." She didn’t even look up from slicing an apple for Theo.

"You’re staying here tonight. With us. I’ll take care of you properly, and you won’t be alone if the fever spikes again." I opened my mouth, closed it.

She was moving around the kitchen like it was settled, pulling out pots, checking the fridge. No hesitation. Just that quiet certainty that made my chest tighten.

"Lumi, hold on." I stepped closer, keeping my voice low so Theo wouldn’t catch it all. "I can’t stay here. Not like this."

She set the knife down and turned to face me fully. Her eyes were steady, but there was something vulnerable underneath.

"Why not? You need looking after. I’m not sending you back to that empty apartment to sweat through another night alone."

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration mixing with the leftover fog in my head. I was glad Theo was in his room, because the words were piling up in my throat again.

"Because I just told you I’m in love with you," I said, low and rough.

"Because every time you touch me or look at me like that, it gets harder to remember all the reasons this is complicated. I can’t just crash on your couch and pretend I don’t feel any of that. I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself or my mouth shut. Not when I feel like this."

She stepped closer, close enough that I could see the faint freckles across her nose, the way her pulse jumped in her throat.

"Ren..."

"I mean it," I pushed on, because if I stopped I might not say it.

"I’ve been fighting this for months, keeping my distance, telling myself it was just a crush or whatever. But few hours ago, it all came out, and now you’re here, taking care of me like it’s nothing, bringing me into your home with your kid.

I want this...God, I want it so bad it scares me. But I can’t stay here and act normal. I’ll end up saying more stupid shit or doing something we both might regret when the fever’s gone and reality hits."

Lumi reached up and cupped my face with one hand. Her palm cool against my cheek.

"I heard every word you said. And I’m not running from it. I’m scared too. This isn’t simple. But right now? You’re sick. Theo likes you. And I don’t want you alone. So you’re staying. End of discussion. We’ll figure the rest out tomorrow, when you’re not burning up."

She didn’t give me space to argue. Just turned back to the stove like the matter was closed, but I saw the slight tremble in her shoulders. She was nervous too. Good. At least I wasn’t the only one.