Chapter 3

“Liam.”

“Liam.”

I heard Jason’s voice cutting through the night. He was probably looking for me.

My chest tightened instantly. If he saw me with Ryan, it was over.

“You need to go,” I said to Ryan immediately.

He nodded—but didn’t step back right away. Instead, he leaned in and kissed me again, firm and unhurried, like he wasn’t in a rush to let go.

Then, after a moment, he finally pulled away.

I watched him walk off into the darkness between the trees until he disappeared completely.

Only then did I move.

I stood there for a second, staring at the empty space he’d left behind. My mind was blank, but my body wasn’t. I could still feel the pressure of his mouth, the heat of him lingering like a warning I should’ve taken seriously.

A cold wind hit me hard, snapping me back.

I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through my hair.

“Where the hell have you been?” Jason’s voice came as he reached me. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”

My pulse jumped.

“Oh—uh… I was talking to someone,” I said quickly. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

Jason squinted at me, then shook his head.

“Nothing happened,” he said, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “Except you’re freezing.”

I glanced up. The sky was darker than I realized—late. Close to midnight.

“Let’s go,” Jason said. “We’re heading back.”

“What about the party?” I asked.

He laughed, a little too loud. “It’s dead. And I’m drunk anyway.”

I caught the smell of alcohol on his breath immediately. His steps were uneven, weight leaning into me more than usual.

“Come on, Liam,” he said again. “Let’s move.”

He grabbed my hand and started dragging me along.

We walked back across campus in silence, but my head wasn’t quiet.

Ryan.

The kiss.

The way he looked at me like nothing else mattered in that moment.

I knew better than this. I knew exactly what this was.

And it was a bad idea.

If Jason found out I kissed his brother, it wouldn’t just be awkward. It would blow up everything.

Jason had warned me about Ryan for years. The reputation, the attitude, the way people always ended up hurt after getting close to him.

I’d seen it myself—people crying after him, calling Jason, trying to piece themselves back together.

And I still went there anyway.

“Liam!” Jason suddenly shouted, breaking into my thoughts. “I love you, man!”

I glanced at him. “Yeah, I know.”

He laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

“I LOVE YOU!” he shouted again, louder this time.

“Alright, relax,” I said, grabbing his arm when he swayed.

We made it back to the dorm after what felt like forever.

I pushed the door open and practically guided him inside.

“Sit,” I said.

Jason dropped onto the bed immediately.

Then he sat right back up.

“So,” he said, eyes narrowing with sudden focus.

I paused. “So what?”

“That guy.”

My stomach dropped a little.

“What guy?”

“The one you were with.” He pointed at me. “I saw you. Don’t act like I didn’t.”

I exhaled slowly.

Jason was too awake for someone this drunk.

“He was just someone from the party,” I said carefully.

Jason leaned forward. “Did he kiss you?”

I hesitated.

That was answer enough.

Jason grinned like he’d just won something.

“Was he good?”

“Go to sleep, Jason.”

“No, seriously,” he insisted. “Good or not?”

I rubbed a hand over my face. “You’re impossible when you drink.”

He laughed and flopped back onto the bed.

“Tomorrow,” he mumbled. “You’re telling me everything.”

“Sure.”

Within minutes, his breathing slowed.

He was out.

The room went quiet.

I stayed seated for a while, staring at the floor.

I shouldn’t have done it.

Ryan was exactly the kind of problem I didn’t need.

But even as I thought that, my chest still felt tight in the same place his hands had been.

And no matter how much I tried to shut it down—

I wanted to see him again.