The conversation didn’t die down after that.
If anything, Zack’s ability to stir things up only made it livelier. And Ethan didn’t know whether to be happy or unhappy about this development.
Julia, practically bouncing in her seat, kept asking more questions about Ethan’s house. "Is it really that big?" she asked, eyes shining with curiosity.
Zack nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Oh, you have no idea. I stepped in there once and almost got lost. I thought I was in some kind of movie — huge halls, high ceilings, fancy furniture. But it’s so quiet, I swear I could hear my own heartbeat."
Julia gasped. "Is it haunted?"
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Ethan shot Zack a glare, but the man only grinned.
"Who knows? Maybe the ghost of a lonely rich guy roams the halls, waiting for someone to finally hire a bunny-eared maid to keep him company."
Ethan groaned, rubbing his temple. "Zack…"
Claire, who had been mostly listening, tilted her head. "Bunny-eared maid?"
Zack smirked. "Oh, that’s just Ethan’s little fantasy."
Ethan shot him a sharp look, but Zack just laughed, raising his hands in surrender.
"Kidding, kidding… mostly."
Their mother sighed but smiled at their antics. "Well, I do agree that the house is too big for just one person. If you don’t want full-time staff, at least hire someone to help with cleaning. Otherwise, it’ll fall apart before you even realize it."
Ethan took a slow breath. Truthfully, he had been considering it more seriously.
The idea of hiring a few staff members wasn’t bad, especially with Julia and Claire coming over.
He had more than enough space, and it wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it.
"I’ll think about it," he finally muttered.
Julia clapped her hands. "Yay! So that means we can visit?"
Ethan glanced at her, then at Claire, who was watching him expectantly.
"…Fine," he relented. "You two can come today. I’ll pick you up later."
Julia cheered, throwing her arms in the air, while Claire just smiled.
Zack leaned back with a knowing grin. "See? Progress."
Ethan rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.
Just as he thought the conversation was finally shifting to something else, Zack suddenly smirked.
"Oh, by the way, Ethan… don’t forget about that little date you owe."
Ethan stiffened slightly.
Claire and Julia’s attention immediately snapped to him, their curiosity piqued.
"A date?" Claire asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Big brother has a girlfriend?" Julia added, gasping dramatically.
Ethan groaned. "Zack…"
Zack ignored him and instead leaned forward, his grin widening. "Oh, it’s not just any girl. It’s Vanessa Carter."
Their mother perked up at the name. "Vanessa Carter? You mean the Vanessa Carter?"
Claire’s brows furrowed. "You mean the pro racer?"
Julia gasped again. "She’s famous!"
Ethan sighed. "It wasn’t a date. We raced."
Ethan had barely finished speaking before Zack leaned forward, slapping the table with a dramatic gasp.
"Oh, come on, Ethan. Don’t sell yourself short," Zack grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. "You didn’t just race Vanessa Carter. You beat her."
Silence.
Claire blinked. "Wait… you beat Vanessa Carter?"
Julia’s jaw dropped. "The Vanessa Carter? The super-fast lady on TV?"
Ethan sighed, already regretting not keeping Zack’s mouth shut. "It wasn’t a big deal."
Zack let out a loud laugh. "Not a big deal? Dude, she’s a legend! People pay to watch her race. And you, my friend, smoked her like it was nothing."
Claire crossed her arms, looking at Ethan suspiciously. "You never told us you could race like that."
"I don’t." Ethan shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "I just… drove."
His mother, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "You’ve always been a good driver, but street racing? That’s dangerous, Ethan."
Zack chuckled. "Not when he’s the one behind the wheel. Trust me, Mrs. Grey, your son is a natural."
Ethan shot Zack a glare. "You’re not helping."
Zack ignored him. "Anyway, after Ethan left Vanessa eating his dust, somebody — " He wiggled his eyebrows at Ethan. " — suggested that since he won, they should go on a date."
Claire’s eyes widened. Julia gasped. Their mother looked mildly intrigued.
Ethan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Zack."
Zack leaned in, smirking. "And the best part? She agreed."
Julia practically jumped out of her seat. "Big brother has a girlfriend?!"
Ethan shot Zack a warning look, but Zack only grinned wider. "Not yet, but give it time."
Claire smirked slightly. "Vanessa Carter, huh? Not bad."
Ethan sighed. "It’s not a date. It’s just — "
"A totally romantic outing between two people who clearly have insane chemistry?" Zack finished for him, grinning like he had just uncovered Ethan’s deepest secret.
Ethan let out a slow breath, willing himself to stay calm. "It’s not like that."
Julia, still buzzing with excitement, leaned forward. "But she’s so cool! And pretty! And she drives really fast!"
Claire smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "I have to admit, Ethan, I didn’t think you were the type to go for someone like Vanessa Carter."
"I don’t," Ethan insisted.
Zack snorted. "Tell that to her. She looked very interested when she agreed to the date."
Julia gasped dramatically. "She agreed? That means she likes you!"
Ethan groaned, sinking further into his seat. He could already see where this was going.
Their mother, though more composed than the others, watched him with quiet curiosity. "She agreed to go out with you?"
Ethan hesitated. "…Technically, yes."
That was all Julia needed to hear. She practically bounced in her seat.
"So when are you taking her on the date? What are you going to wear? Where are you going? Oh! You should bring flowers! Girls like flowers!"
Zack grinned. "You hear that, Ethan? Your little sister is already your personal romance coach."
Ethan shot him a flat look. "If you don’t shut up, I’m taking you out of my will."
Zack burst out laughing. "Joke’s on you, I was never in it."
Claire chuckled but looked at Ethan expectantly. "So, seriously. Where are you taking her?"
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temple. "I haven’t thought about it."
Zack scoffed. "Dude. You beat Vanessa Carter in a race. You can’t just take her to some basic dinner or coffee shop. You need something bold."
Julia gasped again, practically bouncing. "Another race! You have to challenge her again!"
Ethan shook his head. "No."
Zack smirked. "Why? Afraid you’ll lose this time?"
Ethan narrowed his eyes at him. "I won’t lose."
Claire laughed. "Then what’s the problem?"
Ethan exhaled, looking at them all. "Because I wasn’t planning on making this a big deal. I just wanted to race, that’s all."
Zack leaned back, smirking. "Yeah, well, too bad. It’s a big deal now."
Julia clapped her hands. "Can we meet her? Please?"
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "No."
Julia pouted. "Why not?"
"Because you’d just do exactly what you’re doing right now — except worse."
Claire snickered. "He’s not wrong."
Their mother, still watching the conversation unfold, finally shook her head with a smile. "Well, whatever you decide, just be careful. And be a gentleman."
Ethan sighed. "I always am."
Zack smirked. "We’ll see about that."
Julia hummed to herself, still excited. "I can’t wait to tell my friends that my brother is dating a famous racer!"
Ethan groaned again, but he knew there was no way out of this now.
Zack grinned. "Hey, at least you’re not boring anymore."
Ethan shot him a look. "Get out."
Zack just laughed.