Brothers

CHAPTER 2

The wet clothes clinging to me were the first thing that needed to go. I peeled off my drenched hoodie, grimacing as it stuck to my skin before landing on the floor with a splop. My shirt underneath didn’t fare much better—it was cold, clammy, and completely see-through.

My jeans were the worst. They clung to my legs like they had something to prove, making me twist and tug like a fish caught in a net. When I finally got them off, I kicked them toward the growing pile of wet clothes. My socks followed, soggy and gross, leaving me standing in nothing but my underwear. I shivered, rubbing my arms for warmth as I took a towel and made my way to the bathroom.

The bathroom was tiny but cozy. It had one of those clawfoot tubs that looked charming but took forever to fill, a mirror that always fogged up no matter what, and a radiator that only worked when it felt like it. I reached out to twist the faucet, letting the water run until steam started to rise.

I rummaged through the cabinet for my favorite lavender-scented bubble bath. The rain might’ve turned me into a miserable puddle of frustration, but lavender always had a way of making things feel less awful. I poured a generous amount into the tub, watching as the water foamed and turned cloudy.

Once the tub was full, I stepped in cautiously, the hot water stinging my frozen toes at first. But as I sank in deeper, the warmth wrapped around me like a hug I didn’t know I needed. I let out a long sigh, closing my eyes for a moment.

The tension in my muscles began to melt away as I leaned back, letting my hair soak in the water. I ran my fingers through it, untangling the knots left behind by the rain. The smell of lavender filled the small space, calming me in a way nothing else had that day.

As I scrubbed the day off my skin, my mind wandered back to him.

Nathan.

He was now my stepbrother. Life had a cruel sense of humor.

I tried to push the thoughts away, focusing instead on washing the grime from my arms, my legs, and everywhere else the rain had touched. I scrubbed until my skin felt raw but clean, like I was wiping the day off and starting over.

After what felt like forever, I finally pulled the plug and watched the water swirl down the drain. I stepped out carefully, wrapping a fluffy towel around myself before grabbing another for my hair. My reflection in the mirror was fogged, but I could still make out the streaks of mascara smudged under my eyes. Lovely.

Back in my room, I picked out a soft pair of sweats and an oversized T-shirt—comfort over style was the motto of the night. I rubbed ointment into my arms and legs, the lavender scent still lingering in the air. It was part of my nightly ritual, one of the few things that made me feel like I had control over my life.

Once I was dressed, I grabbed my books and notes from my bag. I had exam on psychology, and I couldn’t afford to bomb it. I set everything up on my desk, lighting a small scented candle for ambiance because, hey, if I was going to study, I might as well do it in style.

I had barely gotten through the first section when the sound hit me like a slap to the face.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.

I froze, pen in hand, as the walls vibrated with the thundering bass of music coming from downstairs. It was so loud I could feel it in my chest. I gritted my teeth, closing my book with a sharp snap.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, pushing back my chair and stomping out of my room.

I followed the noise down the hall, the volume increasing with every step. By the time I reached Nathan’s room, it was practically deafening. I didn’t bother knocking—I threw the door open, my anger outweighing any sense of personal boundaries.

Nathan was sprawled out on his bed, his phone in hand, completely unbothered by the noise that was shaking the entire house. He looked up when I walked in, raising an eyebrow like I was the one interrupting his night.

“Seriously?!” I shouted, motioning toward the Bluetooth speaker on his desk. “What is wrong with you?”

“What?” he yelled back, clearly unable to hear me over the music.

I stormed over to the speaker and slammed my hand down on the power button, plunging the room into blessed silence. “I said, what is wrong with you?”

Nathan sat up, his lips quirking into that infuriating smirk of his. “What’s your problem?”

“My problem?” I repeated, my voice dripping with disbelief. “I’m trying to study, and you’re over here acting like you’re hosting a rave!”

He leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. “Didn’t realize I needed your permission to listen to music in my house.”

“Our house,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “And maybe next time, you could turn it down to a level that doesn’t make the neighbors think there’s an earthquake.”

He shrugged, clearly enjoying how much he was getting under my skin. “Noted.”

I stared at him, waiting for an apology that I knew would never come. When it became clear he wasn’t going to say anything else, I turned on my heel and left, slamming the door behind me.

Back in my room, I flopped onto my bed and let out a frustrated groan. Living with Nathan was going to be the death of me. I was already tired from the long day, and all I wanted was a little peace and quiet to focus on my upcoming exam.

But, of course, Nathan wasn’t done being a pain.

The music started again. No, blasted was the right word for it. It was louder this time, so loud I felt the vibrations rattling through the walls and straight into my skull.

I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. “Unbelievable,” I muttered to no one in particular. He was doing this on purpose—he had to be. There was no other explanation for this level of obnoxiousness.

For a split second, I considered going back to his room to yell at him again, but I knew how that would end. He would just smirk at me with that irritating, too-sure-of-himself look, throw some sarcastic comment my way, and turn the music up even louder out of spite.

Nope. Not worth the energy.

Instead, I grabbed my pillow and smashed it over my face, letting out a muffled scream. This was my life now. Living under the same roof as my high school bully turned stepbrother, enduring his constant torment, and trying to keep my sanity intact.

But then, just as I was contemplating whether or not my pillow would make a good weapon, I heard it.

Click.

The sound of a door opening. Not just any door—Nathan’s father’s door.

I froze, straining to listen as footsteps echoed down the hallway. My heart skipped a beat. This was it. Sweet, sweet justice was about to be served.

Sure enough, the footsteps stopped outside Nathan’s room. There was a pause, followed by a sharp knock on his door.

A few seconds later, the music stopped abruptly. The sudden silence was so jarring that it took me a moment to process it.

I sat up, blinking in surprise. Did...did that actually work?

A minute passed, then two. The music didn’t come back on. I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. “Finally,” I whispered to myself, leaning back against my headboard.

It didn’t matter what Nathan’s father had said to him—I could imagine it was something gruff and to the point, the way he always spoke—but the result was the same. Peace and quiet.

I opened my textbook again, settling into a comfortable position. For the first time all evening, I felt like I could actually concentrate.