YURI

CHAPTER NINE

I came home and noticed a strange car was parked in my parking spot, so sleek and polished I wonder who it belonged to so I parked somewhere else and went inside the house. Then I notice mom, Kirby, a stranger with his back turned to me, and Danielle seated on his laps.

I called out, “Mom…”

“Hey, baby,” she replied warmly.

“Hello, Kirby.”

Danielle quickly hopped off the stranger’s lap and ran to me for a tight hug. “Hey, kiddo,” I smiled, patting her head before she darted back to her seat.

I walked over to mom and Kirby, kissing them both on the cheek, but my attention kept drifting—uninvited—toward the man seated across from them. He wasn’t just handsome; he had that kind of presence that made the air feel… heavier. Dark hair slightly tousled, jawline sharp enough to cut glass, and eyes that seemed to be studying me as much as I was studying him.

His posture was relaxed, but there was something about the way he sat—confident, almost territorial—that made me wonder who exactly he was and why Danielle had been so comfortable perched on his lap.

Our eyes locked on each other and I felt my breath hitch, an unexplainable shiver running down my spine.

“Baby, this is Killian.”

“Killian?” I repeated in shock, the name tasting strange and familiar all at once.

I quickly pulled myself together, clearing my throat. “Hmmm… I mean, hello.”

He didn’t say a word—just gave a slow, almost deliberate nod, his gaze never leaving mine. It wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t exactly friendly either. There was something unreadable in his expression, something that made me feel like he was studying me… measuring me.

The air between us felt heavier, almost charged, and I had to force myself to look away before my thoughts spiraled into places I couldn’t explain.

“Uhmm… Mom, are you okay?” I asked, glancing at her a little longer than necessary, as if searching for any hint of discomfort.

“Yes, baby,” she replied with that soft smile that always managed to calm me.

“Thank you,” she said quietly,

“I’ll be heading to my room,” I added, trying to sound casual. “Okay, guys… call me if you need me.”

“Okay, honey,” Mom replied, still smiling.

As I turned to leave, I could feel Killian’s eyes following me, like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Even with my back to him, I was hyper-aware of his presence—of that unspoken tension lingering in the room. I didn’t dare look back, but something told me that if I did, he’d still be watching.