Westmore Obsession

Chapter Three

Standing right beside Alex, leaning lazily against the doorframe... was Cole.

My heart didn’t just drop, it plummeted straight through the floor.

Cole walked past Maya like he owned the entire building, his dark, arrogant eyes sweeping over our messy living room. He took in the pizza boxes scattered across the floor, the blankets thrown over the couch, and finally let his gaze land directly on me.

A faint, terrible smirk touched the corner of his lips, the exact same condescending smile he’d given me outside the washroom hours ago.

“What are you guys doing here?” I blurted out, my voice sounding a little too shrill as I suddenly became acutely aware of my oversized pajamas.

Ethan stepped past Maya, scanning the room with a critical gaze. He had strongly suggested I take the luxury apartment right next to theirs when I transferred to Westmore. It was more spacious, the architecture was beautiful, and, most importantly to him, he could keep an eye on me without effort.

I’d rejected it. I wanted something that belonged to me, something completely separate from being Ethan Prescott’s younger sister.

“I live barely fifteen miles away, Lily. I’m checking on my little sister,” he said, his voice carrying that familiar, unyielding edge. His dark hazel eyes flicked over Maya and Katy. “Didn’t realize you had company.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. “This is Maya, my roommate, and Katy, my friend.”

Maya let out a tiny, high pitched squeak, her face flushing a vivid red as she stared at Ethan like she was looking at a ghost. I couldn’t blame her.

“You’re… you’re Ethan,” she stuttered, her hand frozen near her lap. “Ethan Prescott, I mean.”

Ethan didn’t laugh. He didn’t even offer her a polite, performative smile. He simply gave her a stiff, distant nod.

“Ethan is my brother,” I said quickly, forcing a wider smile to make up for his complete lack of social manners. I gestured toward the door. “And these are Alex and Cole.”

It was pointless. They knew exactly who they were. They just didn’t know I’d known all three of them for practically my entire life.

Katy pulled her legs tighter against her chest, looking like she was actively praying to dissolve into the upholstery. I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

Alex didn’t say a word. He remained stationed near the doorway, his dark eyes unreadable as he gave Maya and Katy a barely noticeable nod of recognition. Cole, on the other hand, completely disregarded both of them like the absolute asshole he was.

“You never said your brother was the Ethan,” Maya whispered loudly, her eyes bouncing frantically between Ethan and the two dark-haired boys standing behind him. “The starting center for Westmore?”

"Left wing,” Ethan corrected, his voice flat, looking like he was already bored of the conversation.

“He’s also the team captain,” I added, purely to annoy him, knowing he’d omitted the title on purpose.

I bit back a laugh as his dark brow furrowed. “I play left wing. Cole is center. Alex is defense.”

It seemed to be his rigid way of apologizing for ignoring her earlier.

“Right. Sorry,” Maya mumbled, immediately averting her eyes to the rug.

Ethan ignored the awkwardness entirely, stepping deeper into the room until he was standing over me. “Why didn’t you pick up your phone earlier? I called twice before I texted.”

I loved Ethan with all my heart, but there were moments he infuriated me to no end.

“My phone was on silent,” I lied smoothly, keeping my face completely neutral. “And I told you I was busy.”

“You’re eating pizza and watching a s**t movie.” He gestured toward the small television on the stand. “You don’t look busy to me, Lily. Next time I call, you pick up. I’m not playing around with your safety here.”

“I’m nineteen, Ethan! I can handle myself.” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “You’re not the boss of me.”

His rigid expression softened just a fraction. “You’re new here, and you’re my sister. Which means it's my job to take care of you.” He stepped closer, reaching out to gently pat my head.

I rolled my eyes, but the defensive prickle slowly left me. Ethan could be possessive, overbearing, and suffocating. He could drive me absolutely insane. But he had always been gentle with me.

“I know,” I muttered, giving him a small pout. “But tone it down an inch. It’s suffocating.”

He stared down at me. We both knew he wasn’t going to listen.

“Such a spoiled brat.”

The smooth, icy words cut through the room from behind him. My head snapped toward Cole. He was leaning back against the wall, watching me with that same irritating, dangerous smirk.

“Your little sister obviously has everything under control. Don’t you, Lily?”

He emphasized my name, dropping his tone just enough that my breath hitched in my throat. He knew exactly what he was doing—reminding me of his bruised kiss and his harsh words outside the cafeteria bathroom only hours ago.

What right did he think he had?

“We came to drop this off,” Ethan grumbled, either ignoring Cole’s comment or choosing not to engage. He unslung his heavy leather laptop bag from his shoulder. “You left your laptop at home.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. I reached out and took it, keeping my gaze locked firmly on the wooden table so I wouldn't have to look Cole in the eye.

“Keep the front door locked,” Ethan instructed, turning on his heel toward the exit. “The security in these freshman buildings is complete trash.”

“She knows how to lock a door, Ethan.” Alex’s low, calm voice sounded from the hallway. He glanced at me over Ethan’s shoulder. “Let’s go. We have an early ice practice tomorrow morning.”

Then his guarded expression softened just slightly. “Take care, Lily.”

I offered him a small, genuine smile and a nod. Alex barely spoke, but he’d always been like that, quiet, sharp, and constantly observing. Still, he had always subtly looked out for me, and I appreciated it more than he knew.

Ethan lingered at the threshold, giving me one final, stern look as if he wasn't entirely convinced he should leave me unattended. Alex stepped into the hall, but Cole stayed back.

Just for a second.

He leaned down slightly, catching my eye in the doorway. His voice dropped into a dark, barely audible murmur that only I could hear.

“Try not to run into any walls tonight, stalker.”

His cold, arrogant smirk flashed one last time before he turned on his heel and pulled the heavy door shut behind him.

The sharp click of the lock echoed through the apartment.

A heavy, suffocating silence settled over the room. For ten full seconds, nobody uttered a sound or moved an inch.

Then, Maya slowly turned her head toward me. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was hanging slightly open.

“You have some serious explaining to do, Lily.”