Wanting The Wrong Brother

LILA

Tonight I’m finally going to tell my best friend how I feel. My hands are damp as I clutch the movie tickets tighter.

I was sure Valentine’s night would be perfect. We’d sit through a rom-com, walk back to campus, and I’d force the words out.

He gave me a silver necklace on my seventeenth birthday—our initials and a tiny heart. I never take it off. That has to mean something. Don’t look at me like that.

I let out a shaky breath and raise my fist to knock. The door swings open before my knuckles touch wood. The first thing I see is a bare chest. Solid muscle. Defined abs.

Since when did Ethan get built like that?

My gaze climbs higher, catching the dark ink of butterfly wings spreading from his right pec toward his shoulder…

Wait.

“Finished staring, firefly? Shut your mouth. You’re practically drooling.”

My stomach drops the second those pale blue eyes lock onto mine. Long black hair frames his face, strands falling over sharp cheekbones.

It’s him.

The wrong twin.

I take a step back, irritation flaring.

Running into Elias Blackwood tonight feels like a bad omen.

It always does.

Sophomore year he shredded my costume in front of everyone. My first real date ended the second he showed up and scared the guy off. That night on the bleachers when Ethan almost kissed me—Elias appeared out of nowhere.

He’s always there when things fall apart.

Tonight is no exception.

Those cold eyes are already judging me.

“What are you doing here?” I snap.

One corner of his mouth lifts. “I could ask you the same thing.”

I tighten my grip on the tickets. “This is Ethan’s room. I come here all the time. He’s my—”

“Best friend. Yeah, I know. Spare me the speech, firefly. Your golden boy isn’t here. What happened? Get lost while you were trailing after him?”

Jerk.

“You’re just jealous. Stop being an ass.”

He tilts his head. “You’re not exactly hard to overlook. Why would I waste jealousy on you?”

Heat floods my face. The dig lands harder than usual. I’ve always wondered if I’ll ever be enough for anyone.

If even Elias thinks I’m invisible, maybe I never had a shot with Ethan. Tears burn the backs of my eyes. My hands shake as I step farther back.

For half a second his expression softens. Or maybe I imagined it.

“Why are you here, Lila?” he asks.

My eyes widen. He’s never used my real name before.

“W-we were supposed to see a movie,” I stutter, cheeks on fire.

He studies me for a long moment, then steps out and closes the door behind him.

“You sure about that?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Because he’s not here. He’s at the bonfire… with Sophia.”

The words hit like a slap. Sophia—the former head cheerleader, now the most popular girl in our sophomore class.

If he’s with her when we had plans… what does that make me?

No. He wouldn’t do that.

Maybe he just forgot. I dig my phone out of my jeans and type with unsteady fingers.

Me: Hey, where are you? We were supposed to watch a movie tonight, remember?

I wait, chewing my lip, eyes stinging.

Ethan always answers right away.

Why does this feel like I’ve already lost?

I’m being pathetic. I’ve been in love with him for three years.

“Lila.” Elias’s deep voice cuts through the spiral.

I look up, startled. I’d almost forgotten he was still standing there.

“Want me to drive you over there?” he asks.

I swallow. Why is he suddenly being decent?

He looks so much like Ethan it hurts.

If there’s even a tiny chance things could still change tonight, I’ll take it.

I square my shoulders and lower my phone.

“Yes.”

Pride be damned. I force out one more word. “Please.”

…

Sitting next to Elias is weird. I always assumed he hated me. Maybe I was wrong.

I shift in the passenger seat and open Ethan’s chat. My stomach sinks. He left me on read.

“Firefly,” Elias sighs.

I stiffen. “What?”

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

The warning stings. I want to tell him he has no idea how long I’ve liked Ethan, how many times I’ve replayed that almost-kiss. Instead I bite my thumb—an old nervous habit.

“We’re here,” he says quietly.

My hands won’t stop shaking. I fumble with the seatbelt. Elias reaches across me, the scent of his cologne filling the space. I hate that I notice how good he smells.

I practically fall out of the car. He follows, towering over me.

I spot them immediately. Ethan and Sophia, sitting close. She’s wearing his denim jacket and smiling at whatever he’s saying.

I force myself forward. I’m only a few steps away when it happens.

Sophia and Ethan turn toward each other and kiss—hard.

My breath locks in my throat. The world tilts.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

Cheers erupt around them. It’s a game. Spin the bottle.

I want to run, but a large hand settles on my lower back. Elias.

Of course.

“New people!” a girl with short blue hair calls out. “Come play!”

Ethan looks up, eyes wide. He starts to say something, but someone has already spun the bottle. It stops pointing straight at me.

“Fate!” Sophia sings. “Lila—truth or dare?”

The whole group chants, waiting.

My brain short-circuits. The word that leaves my mouth surprises even me.

“

Dare.”

Sophia’s smile turns sharp.

“In the spirit of Valentine’s,” she says sweetly, “I dare you…”

Her gaze flicks to Elias.

“…to kiss Elias Blackwood.”