My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 190: Everything Is Fine...I Guess

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I woke up to the soft gray light of a winter morning streaming through my curtains, casting a muted glow that made my room look like it was still half-asleep. For a brief moment, as I slowly emerged from sleep, I forgot about the mess I’d created the night before. But then, it all came rushing back.

Ethan’s quiet "I’ll wait," the way his voice cracked on that word, and the warm memory of that last kiss. My chest tightened as if someone had squeezed my heart in a fist.

Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I saw it light up with notifications that frankly didn’t matter. No new messages. None from him, anyway. I found myself staring at the empty lock screen longer than I should have, waiting for that familiar buzz, the little "good morning, handsome" text that had become as routine as sunrise over the past few months.

Part of me knew I shouldn’t hope for it—not after I chose to freeze things, not after I had looked him in the eye and admitted I needed space because my feelings had turned into a jumbled mess I couldn’t untangle.

Still, the sting of disappointment hit hard and fresh. I mentally kicked myself as I dragged myself out of bed. You hurt him, Noah. You don’t get to miss him already. You certainly don’t get to sit here pining for a text like nothing ever happened. Get it together.

Going through my morning routine helped a bit—brushing my teeth until my gums tingled, splashing cold water on my face, and running a hand through my hair to tame the bedhead that I pretended looked effortlessly cool rather than sleep-deprived. I put on my warmest jeans, thick socks, boots, and an oversized sweater that practically swallowed me whole. Comfort clothes for whatever emotional chaos the day had in store.

Downstairs, breakfast was the usual quiet scene. Mom was already flitting about in silk pajamas and a robe that probably cost more than most people’s rent, sipping coffee and scrolling through her tablet. Dad...well, Keith—was probably shut away in his study, doing whatever mysterious billionaire things he did.

I poked at some yogurt and fruit, forcing myself to eat even though my stomach felt like a gymnastics competition was going on inside.

After that, I grabbed the backpack I’d hastily packed last night when insomnia and adrenaline teamed up against me. It looked innocent enough, the same one I took to school every day—but instead of textbooks and notebooks, it was crammed with snacks like I was preparing for the apocalypse: granola bars, gummy bears, trail mix, two bags of chips, a family-size chocolate bar I’d swiped from the pantry, and three bottles of water.

I’d never been on a real road trip before, but I figured the golden rule was to have sugar, salt, and hydration. I zipped it up, slung it over my shoulder, and slipped out the side door before anyone could ask why I looked like I was about to flee the country.

The air outside was crisp and cold enough to bite my cheeks, and the sky was a flat sheet of pale gray promising snow later. The driveway had a light dusting from overnight flurries, and parked near the fountain was Adrien’s sleek black SUV.

There he was, leaning against the driver’s side door, scrolling through his phone with one hand while the other held a steaming travel mug.

I stopped for a moment because...good lord, did he have to look that good this early in the morning? His dark hair was tousled just enough to suggest he’d rolled out of bed looking perfect, and he wore a charcoal wool coat over a black hoodie and jeans that fit just right. His breath fogged in little clouds as he exhaled, and when he glanced up and saw me, that slow, crooked smile spread across his face like he knew exactly what I’d just been thinking.

I shook myself out of it and kept walking, trying to act casual even though my pulse was racing.

"You know," he called out, his voice cutting through the quiet driveway, "if you’re going to stare that hard, you might as well take a picture. It’ll last longer."

Heat flared in my cheeks instantly. I shot him a glare as I closed the distance.

"I was not staring," I replied, trying to sound composed. "I was... assessing whether you’d remembered to charge the car this time or if we’ll end up pushing it to countryside."

He laughed, low and warm, pushing off the car to open the back hatch. "Liar. You were totally checking me out. Come on, Noah—you’re already regretting that whole rule we’re pretending to follow."

"I regret ever agreeing to this." I shot back, shoving my backpack into the cargo space with more force than necessary. "And for the record, I was admiring the car. You just happened to be in the way."

"Sure," he drawled, leaning against the bumper with his arms crossed. "The car. That’s definitely what had you frozen like a deer in headlights."

I rolled my eyes so hard it felt like I might strain something. "You’re impossibly annoying before nine a.m., you know that?"

"It’s a gift," he said with a mischievous grin, taking a sip from his mug. "Coffee? I made an extra for the road. Figured you’d need some caffeine to keep up with my sparkling personality all day."

I snatched the second travel mug from him before I could think it through because yes, I absolutely needed caffeine.

"Thanks," I muttered, trying not to notice how our fingers brushed and how warm his skin felt despite the cold air.

That’s when the front doors of the mansion opened, and Mom stepped out onto the porch, wrapped in a camel coat, waving cheerfully.

"Have a fantastic day at school, you two!" she called out, completely oblivious. "Drive safe, Adrien! Noah, don’t forget your mittens—it’s supposed to snow later!"

We both turned to wave back, both of us looking like two kids who definitely weren’t skipping school to chase down potentially life-altering secrets about a dead parent.

"Love you, Mom!" I yelled, even as guilt twisted in my stomach.

Adrien flashed his most charming golden-boy smile...the one that seemed to work on everyone. "We’ll be good, promise!"

Okay, that was suspicious of him to say... what exactly was he planning this time except for the roadtrip.

Mom beamed, blew us a kiss, and disappeared back inside.

The second the door closed, Adrien and I exchanged a look, half exhilarated, half terrified and climbed into the car. He started the engine with a low rumble, cranked the heat, and glanced over at me as he shifted into drive.

"Ready to ditch school and maybe uncover some family skeletons?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

I buckled my seatbelt, took a fortifying sip of the best coffee I’d ever tasted, and nodded. "As ready as I’ll ever be."

He grinned, backed out slowly so the tires wouldn’t crunch too loudly on the gravel, and we rolled down the long driveway toward the gates. As the mansion shrank in the rearview mirror, my phone remained stubbornly silent in my pocket...no good-morning text, no nothing and I told myself that was perfectly fine. Totally fine.

We were on our way, snow beginning to drift lazily from the sky, and whatever awaited us in the countryside felt a million miles away from the heartbreak I’d left behind last night.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.