Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!-Chapter 427: Steaming Hot Tub (1)

Vicky’s POV

"I’m so full!" I groaned dramatically after swallowing the last bite of barbecue. When we reached Oliver’s childhood home, his aunt and uncle were already waiting for us at the grill, like they somehow knew exactly when we’d show up.

Or probably Lilian and Erin told them so. And his grandmother...

God, she was lovely. They said I was lucky; it was one of her good days. No confusion, no blank stares, just warm laughter and stories that flowed as if she’d never lost a single memory.

Dinner felt effortless, filled with teasing, childhood mishaps, and that kind of familial warmth that wraps around you without warning. It made me understand Oliver more and fall for him even harder.

"If you’re done," Oliver said, rising to his feet, "then it’s time for us to go."

"Go?" I blinked, confused. "But I thought this was the destination. Aren’t we staying here?"

He shook his head. "Nope. This was just a stopover. Come on, Miss CEO, it’s getting late."

Before I could protest, Lilian and Erin were already standing.

"I’ll drive you," Lilian said, snatching Oliver’s keys without hesitation. "Erin and I need to get back to our apartment, too. Laundry, cleaning, life... then back to work after tomorrow."

And just like that, farewells began, kisses on cheeks, hugs, promises to visit. The whole family moved like a well-practiced orchestra.

Lilian drove Oliver’s car with me in the passenger seat, while Oliver rode with Erin. The food, the warmth, the long day, all of it hit me at once. I didn’t even realize I passed out until a soft thud woke me.

The car was parked. Oliver was behind the car, rummaging through the trunk. And the night air was cold enough to sting.

I stepped out, hugging my arms. "Where... are we?"

Oliver looked up and smiled the kind of smile that made my heart forget its rhythm. "We’re here." He nodded toward a small cabin a few feet ahead. "I bought this place recently. Fell in love with it the moment I saw the listing."

I turned slowly, taking everything in. Darkness. Trees. Silence. No neighbors. No streetlights. Just the cabin and the whisper of the forest.

"It’s so quiet," I said. "Like one of those horror movies. Cabin in the Woods vibes."

Oliver actually laughed. "Another reason I bought it. No one will disturb me when I need to escape the city noise and stress from work."

He closed the trunk, and it hit me. I didn’t see Lilian and Erin anywhere.

"Where are your sisters? And the rest of our stuff?"

"They went ahead," he said with a soft shrug. "But they helped me bring everything inside before they left. You were sleeping so peacefully... I didn’t want to wake you. You drove all day, then survived my mom’s party and dinner with the whole family, you deserved the rest."

Warmth crawled through my chest, slow and certain.

"Come on," he murmured, gently taking my hand. "Let me show you our place for the weekend."

And just like that, I followed him toward the cabin, toward whatever this new Chapter between us was becoming, piece by beautiful piece.

When we stepped inside the cabin, Oliver headed straight for the sliding doors. He pushed them open, and a soft rush of cool air brushed past us as we stepped out onto the deck. The moment I saw what was waiting there, my entire face lit up.

"You have a hot tub?!" I gasped, practically speed-walking toward it. Steam curled lazily from the surface, already warmed and inviting. "When did you even fill this up?"

"Before we got here," Ollie said with a little shrug, like steaming hot tubs magically preparing themselves was normal. "There’s a caretaker. He prepared the place before we came and then went home when we got here.

I’m planning to list this place on Airbnb once I renovate. You can’t see it now, but the view is amazing. Tomorrow morning, you’ll understand exactly why I chose this place."

Curious, I turned toward the railing and walked over. Even in the dark, I could make out the soft gleam of water not far below.

"Oh my God..." I whispered. "There’s a lake. And it already looks beautiful even though it’s night. Ollie, I love this place."

"Do you want to soak in the tub before we sleep?" he asked, casual—too casual—like he wasn’t slowly dismantling my ability to think straight.

I grinned. "Only if you have wine."

He chuckled. "Lucky you, I do. Wait here, I’ll grab it. Or better, go to the bedroom and change. Your stuff’s already inside."

He walked back in, and I followed after a second, finally taking a moment to really look around. Earlier, I’d been too caught up in the sliding doors and, you know, the stunning surprise hot tub.

The cabin was the perfect size, open layout, warm lighting, cozy but not cramped. Two doors sat on the right side. I walked to the first one, expecting a bedroom, but it was just the bathroom.

"The other door is the bedroom," Ollie called from the kitchen island.

I turned and froze.

There was no other door except the one right beside the bathroom.

...Which meant—

Oh. My. God.

There’s only one room.

One room.

One. Room.

My heart immediately tried to escape my chest.

I rushed to the other door and opened it. Inside was a queen-sized bed. His suitcase sat neatly on one side. On the other, the paper bags Georgia bought for me.

My entire face went hot.

We were sleeping in one bed.

A real bed.

Together.

My hands flew to my cheeks; they were basically on fire.

Then the door opened behind me, and I panicked so hard I crouched down, burying myself in the paper bags like I was on some high-stakes treasure hunt.

"Erin packed some cakes from Mom’s party," Oliver said. "She sent us strawberry-and-cream, and mango-and-peach. Which one do you want?"

"M-mango and peach," I blurted, still refusing to look at him.

"Got it." The door closed again.

And the moment it did... my legs gave out.

I just sat on the floor, breath shaky, heart pounding so loud I was sure the neighbors—if we even had any—could hear it.

Oliver was my first. My first everything.

But that was over a decade ago.

College.

Young hearts, reckless dreams, soft kisses.

I never had any man in life after our chaotic and not-so-good breakup.

And now...

Now we were here. Alone. On a trip. In a one-bedroom cabin. With a steaming hot tub outside.

I pressed my hands to my burning cheeks.

What... what in the world am I supposed to do?!