Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Chapter 1167

Joyce stood there, mouth slightly open, staring at him in utter shock. She couldn't even find her words-her mind was just blank.

It wasn't like she'd never been confessed to before. But growing up, she always kept her head in her books. Any guy who'd tried to ask her out was politely turned down in three sentences or less.

Then she left for grad school overseas. The further she went in her studies, the busier she got, and honestly, the less attention she paid to dating altogether.

Sure, she'd just sat through a blind date-her mom's idea, classic-but that felt more like a job interview than anything. What she was feeling now with Galen was... completely different.

One was about checking off boxes. The other was like... chemistry. Electricity. And she had to admit, the latter was making her heart race.

"But..."

The first thought that popped into her head was, "Why? You're like... my little brother."

Little brother?

Galen let out a half-laugh, half-sigh. "I'm your friend's brother, Joyce. Not yours." "Still," she mumbled, "you're younger than me..."

So that's her problem? Galen wasn't surprised; most women didn't want to date a younger guy.

"But come on," he pressed, raising an eyebrow, "I'm only two years younger. Two years is nothing. Besides, you hardly act older than me. If anything, you seem younger."

He wasn't wrong. Joyce had spent so long in the academic bubble, buried in books and theories, she sometimes felt like she'd missed out on real-world experience.

"But..."

steady her heart, stammering, "Why do

answered honestly, "Saw

Joyce blinked, stunned. She'd always

day," he said, voice steadier now, more confident. "Can I take you out? I

"..."

couldn't answer-especially with the way he was

she blurted, turning

hurried off, not even watching where

Suddenly, headlights flashed from

her

car slowly

cup her hand to

the glare.

"Joyce!"

behind him

"Hey, watch it!"

She stumbled back, hea

the car passed. Even in

usually along-but still, getting

this rattled just because a

"Th-thank you..."

finally caught her

Galen's arm,