Westmore Obsession

Chapter Nine

I walked briskly toward Ethan’s apartment building, my heart thumping so loudly against my ribs it echoed in my ears.

Every step across campus had felt like walking through a firing squad. Everyone thought I was a home wrecker. A slut. Emily had already posted three different stories on i********:, alluding to the fact that I’d cornered Cole in a dark room and tried to force myself on him, desperately insisting that he wasn't attracted to me in the slightest.

And of course, the whole school believed her.

When the hell had we gotten here? I’d come to college wanting a fresh start. Something of my own. Something completely separate from my brother's golden boy shadow. Yet here I was, walking back to my big brother with my head bowed, hoping he could somehow salvage what was left of my reputation.

Katy and Maya had begged to walk with me, but I’d told them to stay behind. It wasn't their mess to clean up, and besides, someone needed to take notes in our 9:00 AM lecture.

I was nearing the off-campus apartment complex where Ethan lived with Cole and Alex, and the sheer sight of it made me physically sick.

It wasn't humble like our freshman dorms; it was a tall, sleek white complex with glass balconies and keycard access. Only the campus elite and students with heavy family trust funds could afford to live here. Ethan had offered to pay for an apartment for me in the building before the semester started, but I had refused, desperate for space, desperate to feel like a normal college student.

I stepped into the elevator, staring at my reflection in the mirrored walls. My hands were trembling. Maybe it was time to just tell Ethan the whole truth. Everything.

The text messages, the way Cole looked at me, the touch in the dark room, the missing underwear, the stalking.

Ethan was my brother. He loved me. If he knew how dangerous Cole was being, he would protect me. He could fix this better if he knew the ground truth.

How do I even start?

'Ethan, your best friend has been stalking me and…

The elevator chimed.

Fourth floor.

I walked to Apartment 402.

I stood outside the door and closed my eyes, counting backwards.

Ten. Nine. Eight...

This was the first time in my entire life I’d felt real, paralyzing fear at the thought of facing my own brother.

It's just Ethan, I reminded myself desperately. He's your big brother. He's always protected you.

I gripped the doorknob, unlocked it with my spare key, and pushed the door open. The first person I saw was Cole. I froze, my breath catching violently in my lungs.

Cole? How?

Why was he here? Wasn't Ethan at least furious with him?

Cole was sprawled casually on the leather sofa, looking completely unfazed. Unbothered. He didn't look like a guy who'd just been in a fistfight with his best friend over a freshman. He looked devastatingly composed. His dark grey eyes immediately locked onto mine, slowly dragging down my body, taking in the tight fitting black top and faded jeans I’d thrown on this morning.

A sharp, violent spike of pure anger flared in my chest. It was his fault. All of it. He was sitting there looking like a god while my life was burning to the ground….

"You're late," a voice cut through the air.

My eyes snapped past the sofa.

Ethan was standing at the kitchen island, his tall frame blocking the sunlight streaming through the window. He was leaning over a steaming mug of hot chocolate, the sweet, rich scent hit me immediately. He’s had a visceral aversion to coffee ever since he was twelve and spat out his first sip, and even now, it was hot cocoa or nothing.

"Ethan, listen," I blurted out, taking a desperate step forward. "I know I f****d up. I’m so sorry…I shouldn’t have gone to the party, and Cole…"

"Shut up, Lily," Ethan said flatly, setting his mug on the island.

He didnt sound angry, not as much as I expected. He just leaned back against the counter with his arms folded across his chest, staring at me with heavy, unblinking eyes.

"I know about Marcus," he said.

The air left my lungs. "What?"

"Cole saw him drop something in your cup," Ethan said, his voice completely deadpan.

"Luckily he got to you before you took a sip."

My heart stopped.

Ethan tilted his head slightly, he face etched with a little bit of worry "Why’d you tell Cole not to open the door when I knocked?"

I froze.

"Cole said you were freaked out," Ethan continued, he sounded curious, almost hurt. "Said you were crying, begging him to keep me out so I wouldn't beat the guy into the ground and get suspended."

That was how Cole covered for the door.

"Yeah, I didn't want you to get into another fight after Friday" I lied, still processing this new information I had just received.

Marcus had never offered me the drink.

But he might have.

I’d heard enough horror stories about girls getting their drinks laced to know it was believable.

A sick, twisted wave of gratitude rose in my chest.

It only made Cole infinitely more terrifying.

He had taken just enough truth to build an airtight lie.

I couldn’t even deny it. I was trapped.

My gaze slowly dragged over to the sofa. Cole was sitting in heavy silence, his broad shoulders relaxed, his dark grey eyes locked onto mine. Completely unbothered. He hadn't been calming me down. He’d had his fingers inside me against that door while my brother knocked on the other side.

And somehow, Ethan believed he was the hero.

"So," Ethan said, pushing off the counter, his voice leaving zero room for argument. "The space I gave you? Done."

"Ethan…"

"That guy is f*****g dangerous, Lily," Ethan cut in “He already has complaints against him. He wouldn’t have dared touch your drink if he knew whose sister you were.”

"And besides, the whole school thinks you're a team groupie,"

He said, stepping directly into my line of sight to break my gaze with Cole.

"We fix it today. You're my sister. You walk with me, you eat with me, and you stay where I can see you."

He jerked his chin toward the couch.

"Cole's helping me keep tabs on you. I'd ask Alex, but he can’t say f*****g no to you."

Past Ethan's shoulder, Cole slowly leaned back against the leather cushion, a dark, barely visible smirk curling the corner of his lips.

Ethan sighed, the fight finally leaving his shoulders. He reached for his mug, then paused before sliding it across the island toward me.

"Drink it," he muttered softly. "It's hot chocolate. Extra marshmallows, just how you like it. Your hands are shaking Lily, we'll fix this"

A lump formed in my throat. Despite everything he was still Ethan, still my big brother, always trying to fix things for me in the only ways he knew how. "Thanks, Ethan," I murmured, wrapping both hands around the warm ceramic.

"Drink up. We have to head out for class in ten minutes," Ethan said, turning back toward the hallway. "I'm gonna go change out of my sweatpants."

Cole pushed off the sofa in one fluid motion, stretching his broad shoulders. He didn't say a word to Ethan as they both walked down the hall toward their bedrooms. But as Cole passed the kitchen island, his frame shadowed mine for a split second. He didn't look at me, but his knuckles brushed deliberately against my bare wrist on the counter before he disappeared into his room, shutting the door behind him.

The living room went quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator.

I sank onto the barstool, taking a slow, shaky sip of the sweet hot chocolate, letting the warmth settle my churning stomach. I can handle this, I told myself desperately. Ethan's putting a stop to the rumors. I just have to stay close to him, and Cole won't be able to do anything.

My phone vibrated sharply against the granite counter.

My thumb tapped the screen, expecting a text from Maya or Katy asking if I was okay. Instead, a new notification from Cole popped up with an attached photo. I opened it, and my heart completely stopped.

It was a quick, dark photo taken inside what I guessed was his bedroom down the hall. His long fingers were wrapped loosely around his c**k over his grey sweatpants, big and angry looking, and tangled tightly around his wrist was my black lace underwear.

Beneath the picture, a single text followed:

I can still smell you on your panties, Lilybug. It’s driving me f*****g crazy.