My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}

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Noah’s POV

Ethan’s texts lit up my screen like little reminders of everything that was going wrong.

Ethan💙💖: Hey, I might be running a little late. Give me a bit, okay love?

That message had come through at seven-thirty.

Now, it was just past eight. The dark sky had already enveloped everything, making the streetlights seem extra harsh. I read the message again at home, waited a bit longer, and then against the strong urge telling me to stay put. I grabbed my jacket and headed toward Jace’s place based on the address on the flyer.

I kept expecting Ethan’s car to show up next to me, imagining him rolling down the window with that apologetic smile of his, ready to say something sweet to make everything feel okay again. But he never did. The walk felt longer than usual, my nerves practically tapping at the insides of my ribs with every step.

By the time Jace’s house came into view, I almost wished I’d turned around five blocks back.

His house wasn’t a mansion, but I was quite massive, there’s really no other word for it...was already pulsating with music, the kind that thumped in your chest long before you even reached the front gate. The big brick house was lit up like a chaotic amusement park, strings of lights hanging off the roof in messy zigzags, red and blue strobes flashing through the tall windows.

A bunch of people crowded around the porch, Solo cups in hand, laughing a bit too loudly, chatting too fast, and stumbling slightly as they came in or out.

Somebody had dragged a huge speaker onto the lawn, blasting music so loud that the grass vibrated. A couple...probably sophomores, judging by their baby faces were making out against Jace’s dad’s SUV as if they’d forgotten there were others around. A group of upperclassmen was tossing empty cups into the bushes, missing every shot but cheering anyway.

The whole driveway smelled of beer, perfume, weed, and just plain teenage recklessness.