Celine stood there, wide-eyed and shocked by the revelation of the car crash. Ren had just explained the details to her.

Rick grumbled, asserting, "It had to be on purpose. They were arguing the same night before it happened."

Ren let out an irritated sigh in response, his tone low as he replied, "Oh well."

Without warning, Rick lunged at Ren and hurled a punch at his face, initiating a physical altercation. I called out to Regan and Rina, urgently requesting their help to intervene and stop the fight.

Rick unleashed his anger, repeatedly punching Ren and knocking him to the ground. The fight escalated as Rick got the upper hand, mounting Ren and continuing to beat him. Regan quickly rushed in and stepped in to break up the tumultuous brawl.

"Mom I think it's time we send Rick to the WWE." Rina held up her phone.

"Not right now Rina." Regan said in the middle of the two boys.

The confrontation between Rick and Ren ended with Ren suffering a bleeding nose and busted lip from Rick's onslaught.

Despite being the aggressor, Rick emerged unscathed, not a single mark on his face. He was visibly agitated, his veins bulging through his hands, arms, and head, a testament to his rising anger.

"You need to fucking go." Rick let out

Ren wiped the blood from his nose, observing the red stain on his hands.

"You're mad at something that had nothing to do with me?" Ren said

Rick immediately replied

"Oh..do not act your fucking innocent." He spat

I let out a weary sigh, attempting to pull Rick away from the heated situation. I spoke tentatively, "Just come on, Rick."

"Do not touch me, Kinsley," he snapped before abruptly leaving, slamming the front door behind him.

"Great ! Now he's mad at his girlfriend too." Rina said rolling her eyes.

"He's just angry Celine." Regan

I stood there, lost in my thoughts for a moment before snapping out
of it and turning towards Ren.

"You didn't have to say, 'oh well'. That was disrespectful," I reprimanded.

Ren glanced around, noticing Regan and Rina walking away, and waited until they were out of earshot.

"But I just did." His tone was nonchalant, as if he couldn't care less.

I kicked him forcefully between his legs, causing him to let out a pained groan.

Looking him straight in the eye, I made my point clear, my voice low and firm.

"Your family problems are not my concern, regardless of whether they have anything to do with me. However, you will not disrespect me."

Ren stepped closer, "Then stay out of it." He says as he bumps into my shoulder as he walked past me, a silent statement of his own stubbornness.

🝮🝮🝮

Night had fallen, and Rick finally returned home. We were all gathered in the dining room, enjoying the dinner that Regan had prepared for us - a delicious Chicken Alfredo.

As Rick entered the room, the environment became tense, the lingering aftermath of the earlier altercation still hanging laboriously in the air.

"Rick," his mother spoke softly, standing up from her seat.

Rick gave a silent response, simply raising his eyebrows in acknowledgment with a soft "hm?"

Then his mother continued, "I've bought a hotel room for you and Celine to stay in for a little while, just for two days so you can clear your mind."

Rick's gaze moved around the room as his mother made the announcement. Ren, meanwhile, kept his head lowered, paying no attention to the conversation, his focus on the food in front of him.
Celine then stood up and walked over to Rick, taking the car keys from Regan. She added, "We're allowed to take the car too."

Rick then embraced his mother tightly, whispering a sincere "sorry" in her ear as a gesture of regret for his earlier outburst.
His mother, Regan, hugged him back tightly, whispering in his ear, "It's okay. I understand you're still grieving, and I'm hurting too, I'm just handling it differently." Her voice was filled with empathy and concern for her son.

Regan released her hug, her gaze shifting to Celine and then back to her son, Rick.

"Have fun, but not too much fun," a small smirk on her face.

Rick then spoke up, his tone regretful as he confessed, "Shit, I need to apologize to her."

Regan patted his shoulder comfortingly, offering her support. "You know what to do," she reminded him.

Rick grabbed the keys and opened the door, gesturing for Celine to walk through. They bid their goodbyes and left the house.
Once inside the car, Rick showed courtesy once again as he opened the passenger door for Celine and waited for her to get in before walking around and getting into the driver's seat.

They set off, with Rick following the GPS guidelines to the hotel. The car ride was filled with an awkward silence as neither Celine nor Rick spoke a word to each other.

Rick spoke up as they continued driving, his tone carrying a hint of remorse. "I didn't mean to raise my voice at you earlier," he confessed.

"I understand," she reassured him.

Rick's tone turned more sincere as he carried on. "I really mean it, Celine," he repeated.

Rick took his right hand off the wheel, placing it gently on Celine's thigh. He began stroking it tenderly, offering comfort and reassurance through his touch. His left hand remained focused on steering the wheel as they continued driving.

Celine watched him intently, her heart fluttering as he placed his hand on her thigh. However, as his hand moved closer down, she instinctively clenched her thighs together, a subtle reaction to the intimate gesture.

Rick noticed the slight movement of Celine's thighs and glanced at her for a moment, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He chuckled softly to himself, amused by her reaction, before refocusing his attention on the road.

"What's funny?" Celine asked

"Nothing."

Celine huffed in disbelief, her response tinged with sarcasm. "Yeah, right..."

"Feeling a little shy?"

"Shy?— for what?"

Rick then emphasized his point by touching her thigh once more, causing Celine to clench her thighs again, her body responding instinctively.

Celine swiftly changed the subject, her voice a little flustered as she called out, "Hey! Eyes on the road." Her body was still sensitive to Rick's touch, her mind seeking a distraction from the butterflies swirling in her chest.

As Rick continued driving, his jaw tensed, Celine couldn't help but notice how handsome and perfect he looked, but she also knew he had a grumpy side, a side that masked a caring and protective heart.

Celine continued to gaze at Rick, her eyes fixed on his face, taking in every detail.

"Are you just going to stare at me the whole car ride?"

Celine responded curtly, but with a hint of playfulness. "Hush." She continued staring at him.

Celine broke the silence
"I have a question," she began, her eyes still fixed on him.

Rick responded with a hint of amusement, "Most people just ask them, but hm?"

Celine chuckled before clarifying her question,
"How are you so good at fighting, and you never seem to lose?"

"Why? Do you want some lessons?" His tone firm

Celine confidently crossed her arms "Lessons? I can beat you."

Rick raised an eyebrow, his tone a mix of amusement
"Is that so?"

Celine nodded her head confidently.

Rick continued speaking, his voice laced with a hint of playfulness.

"Are you challenging me right now, Kinsley?"

As they arrived at the hotel, Rick shut off the engine and turned to face Celine again. He repeated his question, his eyes locking onto hers.
"Are you testing me, Kinsley?"

Celine gulped nervously, her voice trembling slightly as she replied, "I am."

"Then what are you waiting for? Hit me."

Celine paused for a moment, her gaze darting around before she quickly hit Rick playfully and bolted out of the car.
Rick chuckled at her, amused by Celine's antics.

He followed her close behind, sprinting out of the car and giving her a chase into the hotel.