Chapter 66: A Little Too Close

"Creeeak..."

The bedroom door slowly swung open, the old hinges protesting with a soft groan that broke the quiet of the apartment.

Jason, who had been sitting comfortably on the couch, looked up. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

And for a moment, he simply stared.

Sabrina stepped into the living room.

She had completely changed out of her workout clothes.

The woman who had walked into the bedroom a few minutes earlier as a confident fitness coach now looked remarkably different. There was still the same strength in her posture, the same self-assurance in her eyes, but the casual outfit softened her appearance, giving her a youthful, almost playful charm.

She wore a light pink T-shirt with a small cartoon bear printed across the front and a simple pleated skirt that swayed gently around her knees as she walked.

Her long hair had been pulled into a high ponytail, with a few loose strands framing her face.

She stopped a few feet from the couch.

Then she tilted her head and smiled.

"So?"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"How do I look?"

She gave a small twirl, letting the skirt swing naturally around her.

"Well? Does this outfit meet your standards, Stinky Little Brother?"

Jason’s eyebrows lifted.

He had expected her to change.

He hadn’t expected her to come out looking like this.

There was something unexpectedly charming about the contrast. Sabrina was a strong, confident woman who could handle herself in the gym, yet standing barefoot in her living room with her ponytail bouncing behind her, she suddenly seemed much more relaxed and playful.

Jason smiled.

"Beautiful."

The answer came so quickly that Sabrina blinked.

He leaned back against the couch.

"Seriously. You told me you couldn’t compete with the girls at school, but I think you were seriously underselling yourself."

Sabrina’s smile widened.

Jason continued, completely unbothered.

"If you walked onto campus dressed like this, you’d have people turning around to look."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

He gave her an approving nod.

"And if you stood next to the most popular girl on campus and asked me who I’d rather spend the evening with?"

Sabrina raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

"You."

Her heart skipped.

Jason said it so naturally that she couldn’t immediately tell whether he was teasing her.

"If I had to make that choice a thousand times," he added, "I’d still pick you."

Sabrina’s cheeks warmed.

She quickly looked away so he wouldn’t notice.

Does he really mean that?

She knew Jason liked teasing her.

She also knew he had a way of saying things that could leave a woman wondering whether he was joking or being completely sincere.

But she couldn’t deny that hearing him praise her felt wonderful.

Every woman liked being told she was beautiful.

Especially when the compliment came from someone she secretly cared about.

Sabrina crossed her arms and tried to hide her smile.

"Careful, Stinky Little Brother. If you keep talking like that, I might start believing you."

Jason placed a hand over his chest.

"I wouldn’t lie about something like that."

She laughed softly.

Then Jason suddenly remembered something.

He was still a college freshman.

Classes would be starting again soon.

For some reason, the thought made him laugh internally.

I’m a freshman, sitting in a beautiful woman’s apartment, and somehow I’ve already got more money than most people my age could imagine.

Life had taken a strange turn.

He remembered that there was even a famously beautiful girl at school, someone whose family was rumored to be extremely wealthy. She rarely stayed in the dorms, and she’d supposedly been driven home every evening in a luxury car.

Jason shook his head.

His life was becoming more complicated by the day.

Sabrina noticed his distracted expression and narrowed her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing important."

She gave him a suspicious look.

"Liar."

Jason chuckled.

Sabrina stepped closer and lightly smacked his arm.

"You’re getting pretty confident, aren’t you?"

"I’m just being honest."

"Honest?"

She tilted her head.

"Then tell me something else."

Jason looked at her.

Sabrina’s lips curled into a teasing smile.

"You keep saying you’re choosing between all these beautiful women. What if you don’t have to choose?"

Jason spread his hands.

"I don’t see a problem with that."

Sabrina stared at him.

Then she burst out laughing.

"You really are shameless."

"I’m just considering all my options."

"Unbelievable."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop smiling.

The playful conversation made the room feel warmer.

There was no awkward silence anymore.

No distance.

Just two people enjoying each other’s company.

Sabrina pointed at him.

"Don’t get too confident, Skinny."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Skinny?"

"You heard me."

She gave him a challenging look.

"Just one of me is enough to keep you busy. You think you can handle more?"

Jason straightened immediately.

"Of course I can."

His tone was so serious that Sabrina nearly laughed again.

Jason leaned back with a confident grin.

"You’re underestimating me, Sister Sabrina."

Sabrina’s face turned pink.

"Okay, okay!"

She waved him off.

"I’m not arguing with you anymore."

She turned toward the kitchen before he could say anything else.

"Come on. You’re hungry, aren’t you?"

Jason followed her.

"I said I’d help."

"I know."

"And I’m serious."

Sabrina smiled.

"I believe you."

---

The kitchen was small but comfortable.

The faint scent of earlier cooking still lingered in the air, mixing with the clean smell of freshly washed vegetables.

Sabrina opened a cabinet and pulled out an apron.

It was pale blue with tiny floral patterns scattered across the fabric.

She tied it around her waist, then pushed her sleeves up slightly.

The transformation was almost amusing.

A few minutes ago, she had been teasing Jason on the couch.

Now she was completely focused on preparing dinner.

She rinsed vegetables beneath the faucet, her movements practiced and efficient.

Jason stood beside her and helped with whatever she handed him.

For a while, neither of them said much.

The only sounds were the running water, the occasional clink of utensils, and the rhythmic tap of Sabrina’s knife against the cutting board.

Jason glanced at her.

There was something unexpectedly comforting about seeing her like this.

At the gym, Sabrina was energetic and confident.

Here, in her own kitchen, she was different.

Relaxed.

Warm.

Domestic in the best sense of the word.

She wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

She was simply taking care of someone she cared about.

And somehow, that made her even more attractive.

Sabrina caught him looking.

She turned her head.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You were staring."

Jason smiled.

"I was just thinking that you’re pretty good at this."

"At cooking?"

"At making a place feel like home."

Sabrina froze for half a second.

The compliment had caught her off guard.

She quickly lowered her gaze and continued chopping.

"You’re really good at saying things that make people happy."

"Only when I mean them."

That answer made her smile.

She shook her head and continued preparing the ingredients.

Then, after a moment, she looked over at him.

"Since you’re helping me tonight, tell me something."

"What?"

"What kind of food do you usually like?"

Her voice was warm and curious.

"I want to make something you’ll actually enjoy."

Jason looked at the ingredients spread across the counter.

Then he smiled.

"Anything you make is probably going to taste good."

Sabrina glanced at him.

"Nice answer."

She pointed her knife toward him playfully.

"But I’m still waiting for a real answer."

Jason laughed.

"All right. I’ll tell you."

And just like that, the two of them continued preparing dinner together, the quiet little kitchen slowly filling with the warmth of conversation, laughter, and the unmistakable feeling that neither of them was in any hurry for the night to end.