My Stepbrother Secret

rs and

secret, every sideways glance- it all had a rhythm. A language.

rted s

spe

ar

ing when we

be it was the rumor mill churning something u

r something?" Mila asked as she fell i

d jeans, black hood

ing nearly th

I could already hear

shoving my locker ope

rt w

. "I can see it a

t saying... you two have be

y stepb

And yet that didn't

der than necessary. "Can we talk

but dropped i

ening to music and the voices in his head all at once. His jaw was clenched the way it alw

Just a flick o

good.

iod, I knew some

early, but he wasn't late either. I waited through the bell, through the

l no

d the courtyard. N

vending machines. "He

ok my

t if

know what you're going to say. And

was gnaw

disappear wi

ed last

doors of the science wing, and headed for the parking lot. Fifteen m

s pl

nk fence, half-obscured by ivy and rust, but I

ed, Ray open

en

te time. "Is

ange. But I saw somethin

me

The TV buzzed softly in the corner, and the furnit

rms folded across his ch

urprised to see

t school

't feel like playi

scare

inch, even if he

"I'll give you

rossed the room and s

s goin

st. Then finally, "Marc

d turne

t? W

e was in the lot. Said

u belie

t humor. "Hell no.

t you come

t out of him like a fire he couldn't contain. "He's

ons dipping between us. "Yo

ead, eyes blazi

e air between us the

out and to

n't pu

hatever Marco wants, he's not just com

htened. "I'm go

alo

world pressing in from all sides.

t

ng dinner. Mom was too busy gushing ab

able, something passed between us aga

y his room on the way to m

he edge of his bed,

ck. Just ste

up. "You should

o l

the door

shutting me out,

rying

try ha

is lap, and he looked at

not scar

N

told you

es

between us disappe

ke I'm still human,"

u a

ant to drag yo

er. "Too late

t one heartbeat- it felt like the whole

, eyes full of thin

n't,

kno

r of u

of us wa

e past, sharper than the truth... And when it arrived, the only

rs and

ned tense despite the calm in his eyes. It was like he was bracing for something, or maybe

ere," I said, my voi

, then rubbed his hands over his face like he was trying t

o himself. "You think you're helping, but

in my voice. "Whether you like it or not, I'm in this with you. If you

tared at me for a long moment. Then,

ubborn one,

t a com

s on how y

ke it was a distraction from something heavi

, voice firm, "I care about what you're doing now. And righ

The guilt. The fear. And under it all, the desire to protect me-

didn't realize I was

d until there was barely a foot between us. "And I'm n

e in him. Something raw. But it was gone as quickly as it had

ou to get hurt

ds to be protected, Jace. And you do

ng to pro

ay? By running from everything? You can't fix

the air had turned to stone, and I wasn'

with exhaustion. "I don't know how to do this.

pounding in my chest. "Th

intense, searching, as if he was wei

" he asked again, his voi

'm scared of the way you make me fe

, his doubts, pressing down on both of us. He was holding back, trying t

," he finally muttered, taking a step

show

. Not li

ing to leave. Not now. Not after

or a second before he turned away, runni

ned. "I don't have a choice. Marco is coming for me.

pped. "What

was thick with emotion, raw with the weight of his fears. "I can

apped. "You think I'll just walk away when things get dan

ion unreadable. "I can't live with myself

r," I said softly. "I'm already here

nsaid. His jaw clenched, eyes hardening once again, but

he whispered, so quietly t

g to," I replied

ce that I wasn't sure either of us could escape. And Marco's shad

vier, like a storm waiting to break. People were still talking, still watching, still wondering a

d paths between classes, there was something different about the way

er. It wasn't just the

thing deeper. Something nei

dn't have

of the yard, staring out into the distance. The cool air felt like a sl

osed to help Jace when he refused to help himself. But I knew o

e for him, I wasn't going

nd him standing by the door. His expression was unreadable, but I

rt pounding in my chest. "I d

, I thought he might finally give i

u get hurt. Not

said firmly, stepping closer.

alking toward something dangerous or if we were just running