He Was Never Untouchable, Just Untouched By Me Chapter 10

He Was Never Untouchable, Just Untouched By Me Chapter 10

After some negotiation, we compromised: a private study lounge on neutral ground.

If we’d stayed at his place, Julian might have kept his hands to himself. I had significantly less confidence in my own restraint, not when his face hit every last one of my weaknesses, right down to the way his hair fell.

Physical attraction was dangerous.

But the gravitational pull between the male and female leads might have been stronger.

On the way to the study lounge, I was bouncing along with my arm hooked through Julian’s when we ran straight into Vivian.

She was in a pale dress, slender and composed, radiating the kind of quiet intelligence that made you want

to sit up straighter.

“Mr. Sterling, I ran into your mother on my way here. There was a minor car accident. Your sister was involved. The injuries aren’t serious, and I got her to Pinewood Memorial. I tried calling, but you didn’t pick

up.”!

During that exact window, I’d been pestering Julian to change into his old military uniform for me.

The live comments turned vicious.

[People are STILL shipping the side character and the ML? She’s literally all looks and zero substance. What does she do besides chase guys? She can’t even handle a crisis. She needs the FL to do it for her.]

[Calm down. She didn’t do it on purpose, and they’re not even official. The FL is a bystander right now. You people want to gatekeep the entire plot AND police which ship I support?]

[This tells you everything. The ML is going to get sick of the side character eventually. The plot always

corrects itself.]

Please, no. Everything I’d done would’ve been for nothing.

Julian pulled out his phone, checked the missed calls, and turned to Vivian. “Thank you.””

Vivian smiled. “Of course.”

“Julian…” I chewed on the words for a long time, trying to work up to an apology.

“Chloe, that uniform is at my other place. I’ll stop by the hospital first, then bring it back on my way home.”

I instantly forgot about apologizing. “Okay. Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry I can’t stay and help you review.” Julian paused, then dropped his voice low, close enough to my ear that no one else could hear. “I’ll be quick. Don’t be mad at me, baby.”

He was coaxing me.

The live comments pivoted hard.

[WHERE are the people from five seconds ago who said the ML was about to snap at her? Come out and say it to my face.]

[Snap at her? He ADORES her. He’s the one apologizing and making sure SHE’S not upset.]

[Watching the untouchable ice prince turn into a lovesick disaster in real time is the most unhinged character arc I’ve ever seen. How did the side character pull this off? I need a step-by-step tutorial.]

[Her flirting strategy basically runs on the assumption that she won’t be alive tomorrow. Zero fear. Unmatched energy.]

After Julian left, it was just me and Vivian.

Every novel I’d ever read told me one thing: nothing good happens when the side character is left alone with

the female lead.

I was getting ready to slip out when Vivian spoke first.

“Miss Brooks, or can I call you Chloe? I heard you two talking about tutoring. I’d be happy to help while Mr.

Sterling is away. I ranked first in the department on the last round of finals.’

“Okay.”

I was, am, and always will be a sucker for a pretty face. My weakness for beautiful men is well documented, but gorgeous women disarmed me just as fast.

Vivian and I settled into a small two-person study room.

The enclosed space made me immediately regret my decision.

“Chloe, are you nervous?”

“I’m fine…”

“It’s okay,” Vivian said, impossibly gentle. “We don’t have to start right away. Let’s just talk for a minute.”

“Are you and Mr. Sterling dating?”

Every alarm in my body went off. “Not… officially.”