"Oh no, that's okay," I started, glancing up at Joost with a hesitant smile. "Trust me," I added reassuringly. Joost let out a sigh, his expression softening. "Okay... I won't force you then," he relented, though there was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Just as I turned to leave, Joost spoke up again, catching me off guard. "Let me get your number at least, so I can make sure you got home safe," he suggested, his tone gentle yet insistent.
I hesitated, about to decline again when he added with a playful grin, "If you're not going to let me drive you, then you have to give me this." His charm broke through my resolve, and I couldn't help but giggle at the unexpected turn of events.
Finally relenting, I handed him my phone, allowing him to add his number. With a smile exchanged, we parted ways outside—him turning left, and me heading right towards the bus stop.
As I walked home, thoughts of Joost lingered in my mind. I couldn't resist stealing a cheeky glance back in his direction, only to find him already looking at me. Our eyes met, and he didn't flinch, holding my gaze with a confident smile. I returned it before turning back around, my heart racing with intrigue.
By the time I arrived home around 6.30 pm , the warmth of the shower was a welcome comfort after the chilly journey. Standing beneath the cascading water, my mind wandered to what might have happened if I had said yes to Joost's offer. The thought sent a thrill through me, and I couldn't help but smile to myself, wondering about the possibilities that lay ahead.
----------------------------------------shower thoughts --------------------------------
"Oh no, that's okay," I began, about to step away when Joost's hand landed gently on my shoulder. "Y/N, it's dark out. I'm not going to let you bus it alone," he asserted with a confident tone that sent a thrill through me.
"Ughhh, I don't know, Joost," I replied hesitantly, but there was a flicker of excitement in my eyes.
"I'm not gonna take no for an answer," he said with a playful smile that made my heart race.
"Okay, fine," I relented, turning around to hide the growing smile on my face. "But if anyone asks, this wasn't my idea—it was yours!"
He led me to his car, circling around to the passenger side and opening the door for me with a charming wink. As I settled into the seat, I couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
"So, Y/N," Joost began as he took his place in the driver's seat, his baby blue eyes glinting mischievously. "What brought you to Amsterdam? You're clearly not one of us," he teased, clearly enjoying poking fun at my Aussie accent.
I grinned, enjoying the banter. "Oh, you know, seeking new adventures," I replied with a playful lilt, meeting his gaze boldly.
Joost chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on me with a hint of admiration. "Well, I'm glad you ended up here," he said warmly. "Have you had a chance to explore much of Amsterdown yet?"
"Not as much as I'd like," I admitted, feeling a rush of excitement at the way he was looking at me. "But managing the life of a certain blonde singer has kept me busy."
Joost raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Ah, a blonde singer, you say? Should I be worried about some competition?" he joked, his voice low and enticing.
I laughed, feeling the flirtatious tension between us. "Maybe you should," I replied with a smirk, allowing myself to flirt back.
Joost's smile widened, and he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Tell me, Y/N," he murmured, his gaze intense. "Do you think I'm... intriguing?"
I felt a shiver run down my spine at his boldness, my heart racing with anticipation. "Maybe more than intriguing," I admitted softly, unable to tear my gaze away from his.
His hand brushed against mine on the centre console, sending a jolt of electricity through me. "Good to know," he murmured, his eyes darkening as he held my gaze."
The air inside the car seemed to thicken with anticipation as Joost's fingers lightly intertwined with mine. His touch was electrifying, and I found myself drawn closer to him, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us.
Joost's lips curved into a seductive smile, his gaze lingering on my face. "You know, Y/N," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, "I've been wanting to do this since the moment I laid eyes on you."
My breath caught in my throat as his words hung in the air, thick with desire. The tension between us crackled with intensity, and I couldn't deny the rush of excitement coursing through me.
Before I could respond, Joost leaned in slowly, closing the gap between us.
bang bang bang " y/n you hogging the bathroom again" issac yelled.
----------------------------------shower thoughts over--------------------------------
I quickly snapped myself out of those tantalizing thoughts and turned the water to cold, jolting myself awake. OMG, Y/N, get a grip. He's technically your boss! I scolded myself silently, trying to shake off the lingering fantasies.
After finishing up in the bathroom, I stepped out to find everyone in the lounge staring at me. "What?" I asked defensively, feeling their eyes on me.
"You've been acting strange lately," Cal observed, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Yeah, she has," Grace chimed in casually, not looking up from her book but flashing me a knowing smirk.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" I replied, feeling some heat creep up my cheeks.
"I think the reason why Y/N isn't herself lately is obvious," Grace finally admitted, glancing up from her book. I gave her a subtle shrug, encouraging her to continue.
"Well, duh! She's got a crush," Grace teased, drawing out each letter dramatically. Isaac and Cal immediately shifted into teasing mode, exchanging amused glances.
"Oooooo, Y/N's got a crush! Who's the lucky guy?" they chorused teasingly.
"No, no, I'm not crushing on anyone," I protested, trying to defend myself against their playful interrogation.
"But not too tired for a 40-minute shower," Grace pointed out with a raised eyebrow, clearly having caught me in the act.
"Whatever, I don't want to talk about this tonight. Can we just change the subject, please?" I pleaded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"Fine, but you're spilling the beans later," Grace said with a mischievous smile.
Suddenly, with Joost on my mind, I realised I had completely forgotten to text him. It was now 9 pm . I hurriedly scrambled to my room, jumping onto my bed and pulling out my phone. Sitting there, I typed out a message, only to delete it repeatedly.
"God, I hate texting people," I muttered to myself, feeling the pressure of crafting the right message without sounding awkward or too blunt. After several attempts, I settled on something simple:
"Hey Joost, it's Y/N. Just wanted to let you know I made it home safely. Apologies for not messaging sooner—I completely forgot by the time I got back."
Taking a deep breath, I hit send, my heart racing with uncertainty. Moments later, Joost's reply popped up:
"I was starting to think you were dead, really had me feeling guilty for not forcing you to let me drive haha. Glad you're safe though!"
Encouraged by his playful response, I decided to test the waters with a bit of banter:
"Haha, definitely not dead, I can confirm that! No need to feel guilty, I'm just skilled at disappearing mysteriously ."
Satisfied with my reply, I tossed my phone to the other side of the room, determined to resist the urge to check for his response unless he replied. For now, I would focus on the rest of my day, letting whatever would happen next unfold naturally.
( Hey everyone!! sorry if you like fast paced stories but I really wanted to slowly build the tension in this story, I promise next chapter its gonna get STEAMYY, once again will try and have the next chapter out as soon as possible xoxo)
