Walk home

Mallory

Saturday afternoons usually dragged on, but today had been different. After spending hours with Serena and Eden, I found myself heading to the garage to find my dad and ask him to drive me home. The walk from the town center felt too long, and I was ready to collapse into the comfort of my bed with a book.

I pushed open the garage door and immediately heard the hum of machinery. My dad's voice echoed across the space, and I saw him bent over a car, hands covered in grease.

"Dad?" I called out, stepping further into the workshop.

He looked up briefly, distracted by something he was working on. "Hey, kiddo. What's up?"

I crossed my arms, leaning against one of the nearby tool benches. "Can you drive me home? I've had enough of hanging around with Serena and Eden today."

He looked at the clock on the wall and sighed. "I've got a few more things to finish up here. It's going to be a while."

I frowned. "I can't wait. Do you want me to walk home or something?"

He shook his head, clearly distracted. "No, I'll get Kian to walk you."

I blinked. "Kian?"

"Yeah, Kian's not doing much right now," he said, not really thinking about it. "He can walk you home while I finish up here."

I stared at him, shocked. "Dad, really?"

He shrugged, focusing back on the car. "You're not a little kid anymore, you can handle it. Kian! Get over here!" he called, looking over his shoulder at him.

Kian, who'd been working on a car across the room, didn't hesitate. He wiped his hands on a rag and walked over to us. "What's up?"

"Walk Mallory home," my dad said, still not looking up from his work.

I wanted to argue, but I knew it was pointless. Dad wasn't going to change his mind. "I'll be fine, just hurry up," I muttered, half-expecting Kian to make some sarcastic remark.

"Sure thing," Kian said with a shrug, his usual smirk on his face.

I sighed and glanced at my dad, who was already back to working on the car. There was no way out of this.

Kian stepped toward me, hands in his pockets, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Lead the way, princess," he said with a wink.

I rolled my eyes, trying not to let the nickname get under my skin. "Don't call me that," I muttered, turning on my heel and starting to walk.

He fell into step beside me, his presence as loud as ever. I could feel his gaze on me as we walked, the silence between us only amplifying his casual proximity.

"So, what's with the grumpy face?" he asked, glancing over at me.

"I'm not grumpy," I retorted, crossing my arms tighter over my chest. It wasn't even about being grumpy; I just didn't know how to deal with him.

"Uh-huh. Sure." He gave a teasing smirk. "You look like you could use some cheering up. Maybe I can help with that."

I shot him a glare, but it only seemed to amuse him more. "You think you're funny, don't you?" I muttered.

"Funny? Oh, I'm hilarious," Kian said, his tone light and playful. "But if you're not laughing yet, don't worry—I'm just getting started."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes again, but this time I had to fight back a small smile. Why did he have to make it so hard to stay annoyed with him?

"So, what's your plan after this?" Kian asked, his hands still casually stuffed in his jacket pockets. "Gonna just hang out at home, or are you going to do something more exciting than that?"

I shrugged, glancing sideways at him. "Probably just stay home. It's not like I have anything else to do."

"Boring," Kian teased, nudging my arm lightly with his. "You should come out with me sometime, we'll make it fun. I know all the good spots."

I couldn't help but shake my head. "I'm not exactly looking for a good time with you, Kian."

"Oh, I'm not that bad," he said, his voice suddenly a little quieter. "Well, maybe a little, but you could use some adventure in your life."

I felt a small knot form in my stomach, unsure of what to make of his words. Was he serious? Or was this just his usual flirting?

"You've got a pretty big ego for someone who's just walking me home," I remarked, hoping to break the tension that was growing between us.

Kian laughed. "I'll admit, I do. But you know what? I think I'm worth it."

I glanced at him, unsure of how to respond. His self-assuredness, the way he carried himself, made it hard to tell if he was just being himself or if he was genuinely interested.

When we reached the end of my street, I paused. "This is it," I said, pointing to my house a few houses down.

Kian stopped beside me, looking over at my house with a smirk. "Nice place. Guess I'll just leave you to your peaceful little life here, huh?"

I couldn't help but laugh despite myself. "Yeah, you should probably go back to whatever you were doing before. Not sure how much longer I can handle your charm."

"Aw, come on," he said, stepping closer. "I'm just getting started with the charm. You sure you don't want me to walk you inside? Keep you company?"

I took a step back, shaking my head. "You're a real piece of work, Kian."

He grinned, looking completely unfazed. "You like it."

I raised an eyebrow, but there was no denying that something in his tone had me second-guessing. He was right about one thing—there was something about him I couldn't shake, even though I didn't want to admit it.

"See you later, Lynch," he said, his voice softer now.

I nodded, turning toward my front door. As I fumbled for my keys, I glanced over my shoulder. Kian was already walking back toward the garage, but I couldn't help but watch him for a moment longer.

For some reason, the thought of him stuck in my mind long after I'd gotten inside.

What was it about Kian that was starting to get under my skin?