Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

121. His Scent, Addictive

As I walked through the door, I noticed Ryan wasn't alone. Beside him stood a man who seemed a little older than us, his presence calm and collected. Ryan gestured towards him with a casual nod and said, "Sarah, meet Aditya."

I offered a polite smile, "Hi, Aditya."

He returned the greeting with a brief smile of his own. After a few minutes of small talk, we all quietly retreated to our respective rooms.

Back in the room, I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling oddly out of place. Ryan must have picked up on it because he looked over, eyebrows raised, and asked, "You seem off. What's going on?"

I forced a small smile and shook my head. "It's nothing," I replied, hoping he'd drop it.

Without pushing further, he disappeared into the washroom. When he returned, he was dressed in his usual relaxed outfit -- tees and tracks -- and seemed completely at ease. Meanwhile, I was still in my day clothes, stiff and uncomfortable.

Unable to ignore it any longer, I stretched out on the bed, sighing. Ryan glanced over and frowned slightly. "Are you seriously going to sleep in those? They must be pretty rank by now."

I threw a pillow at him, half-joking but mostly annoyed at my situation. "Yeah, well, they probably are. But I'm stuck with them, got no choice."

He didn't say anything for a moment, but then walked to the closet. I heard the soft rustle of clothes before he tossed a hoodie and a pair of joggers onto the bed beside me. "Here," he said, his tone casual but firm. "Change into these. You'll be more comfortable."

I blinked, hesitated, glancing at the clothes. Picking up the hoodie and joggers, I slipped into the washroom to change. Atleast something is better than nothing.

After changing, I couldn't help but instinctively sniff the clothes Ryan had given me. There was something comforting about them. Stepping back into the room, I glanced at him, still absorbed in his phone. "Are these really yours?" I asked, more curious than before.

Without looking up, he nodded slightly. "Yeah, they're mine. I don't wear other people's clothes. I usually leave some here whenever I visit, just in case."

I sniffed again, curious. There was a sweet, subtle scent to them -- something different, yet strangely addictive. I couldn't quite place it, but I found myself wanting to inhale the scent again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ryan shift. Leaning back against the headboard, he wore a knowing grin. He had clearly noticed my actions. "Do you like it?" he asked, voice low with amusement.

Caught off guard, I raised my head quickly, meeting his eyes. "Huh?"

His eyebrow arched, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The scent," he said slowly, his grin widening as he spoke. "Do you like it?"

I was completely caught off guard, my heart skipping a beat at his teasing words. Blinking rapidly, trying to mask the nervousness rising inside me, I forced my voice to stay firm. "Nope. It stinks," I shot back, though it didn't sound as convincing as I hoped.

The hoodie was far too big for me, the sleeves hanging comically over my hands. Without thinking, I started swaying my arms, making the oversized fabric flutter like a ghost. "Boo," I joked, waving it in front of him.

Ryan looked up from his phone, his expression deadpan before he grabbed a pillow and threw it at me, hard. "Stop it!" he groaned, rolling his eyes as he turned his attention back to his phone.

Laughing, I tossed the pillow aside, glancing around the room. My eyes landed on the couch, and I gestured toward it. "You sleep on the couch, please," I said, half-serious but hoping he'd agree.

He put his phone down, giving me a look, one eyebrow raised in challenge. "Why? Let's just sleep on the bed -- both of us," he said, his voice casual, but there was an undertone that made my heart skip again.

I blinked at him, my mind racing at his suggestion, unsure how to respond.

His teasing grin widened as he asked, "Are you getting butterflies at the thought of sharing the bed?"

I narrowed my eyes, determined not to let him see through me. "Why? Do you get them?" I shot back, trying to sound as unfazed as possible.

He smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Do you really think you can sleep?"

I composed myself, summoning confidence. "Do you think I can't?" I replied defiantly. "Fine, then I'll just sleep right here."

With that, I lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket over myself on one side, fully prepared to prove him wrong.

Ryan, however, just chuckled softly and got up, heading toward the couch. He took another blanket and settled himself down there. I lifted my head, watching him as he made himself comfortable.

"It's not that I can't share the bed," he said, glancing over at me. "It's just that I'm a gentleman."

I let out a sigh of relief, the tension easing in my chest.