Falling For My Step-brother

ur

ake with purpose, rushing headlong into itself while I lingered behind like an outsider. It was only my first wee

the unfamiliar comfort of silk sheets. My body missed the scratchy cotto

lence. The ki

Ro

kfast in tense silence, and once-just once-I caught him watching me from the second-floor b

self to i

ore

night. How his music had pulled something from inside me, somethi

my sister.

in my head more tha

ew stepfather, announced over breakfast that he and my mo

mom said, giving me a hopeful smile. "Mayb

the table. He was sippin

ll braid each other's hair

ed at that. It was s

, trying to find something to do, eventually settling in the media room with a bowl of popc

this stuff?" he as

m," I said. "You sho

ch. We watched the movie in near silence, except for the occasional eye r

at me and said, "Wa

house, staring at a row of classic cars. Ronan wal

dri

slowly. "But no

to l

the Pitts estate. I drove too slow. He mocked me. I stalled once, and he groaned d

e sat on the hood of the car, watching the sunset bleed ov

the girls I usually m

. "That's supposed

, really looked. "They usuall

ying to figure out who I am

t makes you

hat to say to t

night, I co

ck in the music room. I sat at the piano, running

ander the hou

. He was leaning against t

eep," I said

e filling the room withou

u-I'm not

ter. I want

at I half-remembered from childhood.

was closer now. Watching me like

hate you," he

h caught

don't... thi

between us like a st

brushed a strand of

d left without

urs, staring at the ceiling, R

ing to h

felt angry

felt... wa

hard I tried-this story

s his

u

lose to writing a chapter

hung in the morning like a promise. I woke early, the sun barely peeking over the hori

silence. It felt... wrong. In the chaos of everything that had happened, the mansion felt like an empty sh

king some coffee when I

ce still thick with sleep, his

trying to hide the ner

r. "I see you're making break

mall laugh, trying to brush off the awkw

ater. "You should know by now I don't really trust anyone to handle my f

surprised at his sudden in

sed to be family, but it still felt like I didn't know him

actly what he wanted-to keep me a

tension from becoming unbearable. I needed space, time to adjust, b

ff from the counter, picked up his keys fro

t get yourself into tr

ng to the garage, his footsteps echoing on the m

d it stuck with me. I wasn't sure if it was a warning or if he was simply trying to get under

ns swirling in my head, I decided to go for a walk. I needed to escape the sile

he garden were surrounded by thick hedges and tall trees. I wandered aimlessly, letting the

e behind me, I hear

ure

e him. Ronan stood there, arms crossed, his ey

eave the house," he said, soundi

some fresh air. Not everyone spends

toward me. "Some of us

ow if it was because I didn't feel quiet in this house, or i

oping to sound more c

were deciding something, then finally si

he said, almost as if he were talking t

could feel the weight of them settle de

it's like to feel out of place. Like you're walking around in someone el

for a moment if his words were meant for me or i

life. To not have a choice about any of it. This whole place, this mansion, this family- it's all so... foreig

thered by my words, though. He just studi

e point," he said, voice even. "But you have to find your own

uttered, trying not

m, just gave me a small, kno

on't think you can keep hiding in th

way, but his words lingered in

ce and the undeniable pull that Ronan had on me. I didn't understand it-how someone who had seemed so dis

fting, and I couldn't tell if it was a storm on the horizon or the first inkling of somethin

t like a ghost in a house that wasn't mine, moving through rooms and hallways like I didn't belong. Ronan kept his distance, barely acknowledging my p

or his words would come with an unexpected edge. I could feel it, like static in the air, but I couldn't qui

bout behind closed doors. But none of those stories prepared me for the real thing. His charm wasn't the kind you'd find

he house stretching out around me. It was just after lunch, and the house was eerily quiet. I hadn't se

rd and was about to pour myself s

ill laced with that detached edge. I turned to see him standi

to keep my voice neut

n, his eyes scanning the emp

re how to respond.

into a half-smile, but it didn'

was studying me, weighing something in his mind. It made me

id suddenly, trying to change the subject. "I don't kn

o the room, moving with that effortless grace he always had.

had a way of making everything sound like a challe

r. There was a strange, almost brooding quality to him, like he was al

me with you,"

e if I'd heard h

better than sitting around here all day. And

ing possessive without even trying, like he had a claim over everything and ev

ep my tone light. "But don't

d. "Wouldn't

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of silence that didn't feel peaceful but suffocating. Ronan didn't talk much, his focus on the roa

he streets were packed with people, honking cars, and the unmistakable hum of a place that

with him. He didn't look at me as we walked, but I could feel the weight of his presence beside me. There

?" I asked, trying

unglasses down and glanced over at me, his eyes flick

e," he sa

d me through the maze of streets, past trendy cafes and high-end boutiques. It

uilding. The sign above the entrance read "Pitts

" he said, h

into your office buildi

smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Why

be part of *your* world,"

a choice, Lauren. You're here

something deeper. I didn't want to be dragged into this world, into

-

oy the city, I couldn't shake the feeling that Ronan was studying me the whole

asting a warm, golden glow across the estate. But instead of f

what else to say as we stood by the car.

is face unreadable.

here, staring after him, wondering what was going on in his mind. And

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