Page 32 of The Dating Ban (Mind the Corbin Brothers #1)

Great Survival Adventure

Theo

T he rain still pours relentlessly as I pull into the garage beside the cottage, the steady drumming against the roof a reminder that the storm isn’t letting up anytime soon. At least we don’t have to make a mad dash through it this time.

I switch off the engine and glance back at Lucy, who’s already kicking her feet excitedly against the seat. “Alright, my queen,” I say, reaching back to unbuckle her. “Let’s get you inside.”

She grins as I lift her out, her little arms winding around my neck for a second before she wiggles free, landing lightly on the ground. The second her feet touch the concrete, she’s off towards the door, coat flapping, ready to be the first inside.

“You’re taking my room tonight,” I say before Ivy can get a word out.

She frowns immediately. “What? No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” I pop the boot open and start pulling out her stuff. “It’s got an ensuite. The guest room doesn’t. ”

“I can use the other bathroom, Theo,” she says, exasperated.

I sling her backpack over my shoulder. “Yeah, but then you’d have to share with Lucy. And I love her dearly, but she treats the sink like a potions lab and the bathmat as a permanent puddle storage system.”

Ivy presses her lips together. “I can handle that.”

“But why would you, when you could have a perfectly good ensuite, instead of stepping on a mystery wet patch in the morning?”

She exhales sharply, giving me a flat look. “You’re very annoying.”

I smirk. “Go on, admit it. You want the ensuite.”

She sighs, defeated. “Fine. But only because I’m too tired to fight you on this.”

“Smart choice.” I nod towards the door. “Ladybug, why don’t you show Ivy my room?”

Lucy gasps as if I’ve just given her the most sacred of duties. “Yes! Come on, Ivy, it’s this way!”

Ivy throws me a look that says “I see what you did there,” but she lets herself be dragged inside.

I watch them disappear before turning back to the boot.

Her tent is still damp, and the last thing she needs is for it to turn into a mouldy disaster.

I grab it and carry it to the small utility room by the side of the cottage.

It’s nothing fancy—just a washer, dryer, and some space to hang damp clothes—but it’ll do the job.

Unrolling the tent, I drape it over the drying rack and step back, hands on my hips. “You better dry out properly,” I mutter at it, before heading back into the warmth of the cottage .

In the kitchen, I ladle some stew into a bowl and set it on the table. Ivy’s definitely not eaten a proper meal today, and I have a strong suspicion she was planning to survive on rainwater and stubbornness. Not on my watch.

Lucy appears in the doorway, her pink bunny pyjamas peeking out from under her jacket I put on her when we went on our mission to rescue Ivy. She is still way too awake for this time of night.

“Alright, my queen,” I say, placing a spoon next to the bowl. “It is definitely time for bed.”

She pouts. “Daaaddddyyy!” Oh, I get the daddy with five Ds today. “But I wanna stay up with Ivy!”

Ivy steps into the kitchen just in time to hear Lucy’s dramatic plea. She raises an eyebrow at me, then looks down at Lu with a thoughtful tilt of her head.

“What if I read you a bedtime story?” Ivy offers, crouching slightly to be on Lucy’s level.

Lucy’s face lights up instantly. “Really?”

Ivy nods solemnly. “But only if you’re in bed within five minutes. No dawdling.”

Lucy gasps, clearly taking this as a challenge. “I promise!” she says, already half-turning toward the hallway.

I smirk as Ivy straightens up, shaking her head fondly. “Well played,” I mouth.

She flashes me a quick grin before following Lucy down the hall. And just like that, something shifts in my chest—something warm, something that makes me want to keep looking at her even when she’s already turned away.

I trail after them, leaning against the doorframe as Ivy tucks Lucy under her duvet.

The little lamp by the bed casts a soft glow over the room, making the space feel smaller, cozier.

Lucy is practically vibrating with excitement, already holding out a book, but at the last second, she clutches it to her chest and looks up at Ivy with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Wait,” she whispers. “Can you tell me what happened this afternoon first?”

Ivy presses a hand to her heart, feigning shock. “You mean my great survival adventure?”

Lucy giggles and nods rapidly.

I bite back a laugh, folding my arms as I listen.

“Well,” Ivy begins, sitting on the edge of the bed. “It all started when I bravely set up my tent. It was perfect—until the storm decided to test me.” She leans in, her voice conspiratorial. “Did you know that rain can attack?”

Lucy giggles, eyes wide. “It can?”

“Oh, absolutely,” Ivy says gravely. “One moment, I was dry and happy. The next? Drip, drip, drip—ambushed! I was practically swimming in there.”

Lucy bursts into laughter, clutching her stuffed rabbit.

“And then,” Ivy continues, “just when I thought I had things under control— bam ! A giant, fearsome beast launched itself at me!”

Lucy gasps. “A bear?!”

“Worse.” Ivy pauses dramatically. “A spider.”

Lucy shrieks with laughter, kicking her legs under the duvet. My own grin slips out before I can stop it.

Ivy keeps going, describing her panicked reaction in exaggerated detail, complete with wild gestures and sound effects. I watch her, the way she completely loses herself in making Lucy laugh, how animated her face gets, how her eyes sparkle when she sees she has her full attention.

I feel that pull in my chest again, stronger this time .

I clear my throat, stepping inside. “Alright, bedtime comedian, that’s enough.”

Lucy whines, but I give her a look, and she sighs dramatically. Ivy just smirks at me over her shoulder, like she knows exactly what she’s done.

I flip off the lamp, letting the small nightlight take over. “Lights out, Queen Lucy. You can hear more stories in the morning.”

Lucy sighs but cuddles under her duvet. Ivy brushes a loose curl from her forehead before standing up.

As she walks past me, I catch the faintest scent of something—rain, warmth, something undeniably her. It lingers as she moves, and before I can stop myself, my fingers twitch at my side, like they have half a mind to reach for her.

I don’t.

Instead, I step aside, letting her pass.

But the feeling stays.

“Night, Ladybug,” I whisper before placing a kiss on Lu's forehead.

“Night, love you.” Lu mumbles.

“Love you too.” I say those words every night but somehow it never feels enough.

Ivy is waiting for me in the corridor and follows me back to the kitchen, her socked feet quiet against the wooden floor. The house feels still now, the storm still grumbling outside, but softer, distant. I grab the bowl of stew and put it back in the microwave to warm up.

“You don’t have to do that,” Ivy says, leaning against the counter. “I’ll eat it cold. I’m not fussy.”

I glance over my shoulder. “You say that, but may I remind you of your cold apple and three biscuits earlier.” I shake my head. “I’m not letting you add cold stew to your list of poor life choices today.”

She snorts but doesn’t argue.

A few minutes later, I set the steaming bowl in front of her. She wastes zero time before diving in, wolfing down the first few bites like someone who hasn’t had a hot meal in days.

I lean against the counter, watching in amusement. “Should I be worried for my fingers? You’re eating like I might take it away from you.”

She pauses only to send me a flat look. “If you do try to take it, just know I will fight you.”

I hold up my hands. “Duly noted.”

She keeps going, clearing the bowl so fast I barely have time to offer her more before she’s already pushing it towards me. “Would it be terrible if I’d ask for seconds, please.”

I smirk, taking the bowl and ladling out another helping. “Seconds, thirds… plenty here for you.”

She grins. “Turns out being rained on and emotionally terrorised by spiders really builds up an appetite.”

I chuckle, crossing my arms as I watch her polish off the second portion. When she finally leans back with a satisfied sigh, I grab the small plastic container from the fridge and place it in front of her.

“Your strawberry cream cake,” I say, tapping the lid.

Ivy eyes it, then shakes her head. “I’m too full. Besides, I know Lucy will want to give it to me herself tomorrow, and I’m not about to rob her of that joy.”

“Good thinking.” I nod. “I’d hate to be the target of her wrath if she thought I betrayed her cake-saving mission. ”

“Oh, she’d exile you,” Ivy agrees, then smirks. “Maybe even have you executed.”

I play along. “I did tell you she runs a tight kingdom.”

She laughs, but it softens into something quieter, something warmer. We’re still standing close, the kitchen a little too small, or maybe we just feel too big for the space.

Ivy shifts slightly, her shoulder brushing against mine. I glance down, and she’s already looking up at me.

The teasing fades into something else, something heavier, like a charged wire strung between us. My eyes flick down, just for a second, just enough to notice the way her lips part slightly, the way she tilts her chin up the tiniest bit—

And then she steps back.

I barely stop myself from following.

“Well,” she says, clearing her throat. “I should probably head to bed. Fighting with the elements also makes one tired.”

I exhale, forcing a small smirk. “Yeah. Good plan.”

She hesitates just a second longer, then offers me a small, knowing smile. “Goodnight, Theo.”

I nod. “Night, Ivy.”

And just like that, she slips away down the hall, leaving me standing in the kitchen, feeling restless, like I almost had something I wasn’t sure I was even allowed to want.