CARTER

I sat with my hands folded neatly on the table. The glass of red wine in front of me remained untouched. My father was talking about stock portfolios again. My mother kept nodding politely, her hand resting lightly on the armrest of her chair. The dining room was warm. Too warm. I could feel the heat crawling under my collar.

“So, Liam,” my father said, turning slightly. “How’s criminology going?”

Liam grinned. “Good. I’m taking a forensic psychology class this semester. Pretty cool stuff.”

My father gave a small nod. “You’re not planning on becoming one of those criminal profilers, are you?”

Liam laughed. “I don’t know. Maybe. I might go into policy work.”

My father hummed, clearly unimpressed.

He looked at me next. “And your first week at the university?”

“Fine,” I said, slicing into my steak.

“Settling in?”

“Yes.”

He waited. I didn’t say more.

My mother stepped in, smiling gently. “You always liked teaching, Carter.”

I nodded once.

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

There was a girl next to Liam. Pretty. Curly hair. Long lashes. She hadn’t said much since we sat down, just smiled and listened. I watched her for a moment. The way she leaned toward him. The way her hand brushed his arm when he said something dumb.

I looked at her again. Then at him.

He caught me staring.

“This is Zara,” Liam said casually. “My girlfriend.”

I froze.

Only for a second.

My knife kept moving.

My face stayed blank.

But my head was suddenly louder than before.

“She’s really sweet,” my mother said, smiling warmly.

“Yeah,” Liam said, beaming. “She’s been amazing.”

I sipped my wine. Slowly.

“Girlfriend?” my father repeated.

“Yep.”

There was a pause.

“What happened to Eli though?” my mother asked softly.

I didn’t look up.

Liam shrugged. “We broke up.”

The words dropped into the room like cold water.

My chest tightened.

I chewed slowly.

“You were with Eli for what—a year?” my father asked.

“More like two,” Liam said.

“And now you’re just… done?”

Liam glanced at Zara, then looked back. “It wasn’t working. He’s been going through a lot. I couldn’t be everything he needed.”

I stared at my plate.

My hands didn’t shake.

My face didn’t move.

But in my head, I remembered exactly what I said to Eli after class. About special treatment. About sleeping with my brother.

I swallowed hard and set my fork down.

Excused myself quietly.

In the bathroom, I closed the door, leaned over the sink, and stared at the porcelain.

Then I pressed my palm to my face and stayed like that.

What a mess.

I walked back out, buttoning my sleeve.

And stopped.

She was waiting in the hallway.

Zara.

Liam’s girlfriend.

She looked up when I approached.

“Hey,” she said again, stepping a little closer. “Do you have a minute?”

I didn’t answer right away. Just looked at her.

She looked back toward the dining room. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of everyone… but I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “From Liam?”

She smiled, like that wasn’t the question she wanted me to ask. “From everyone, actually. You’re kind of a legend.”

I said nothing.

Zara took a step closer. “You’re even hotter in person.”

I blinked once. Slowly.

She kept going. “You don’t talk much, which is… hot. And you look like you don’t take shit from anyone.” Her voice dipped, a little softer. “I like that.”

Still, I said nothing.

Then she reached out and touched my chest. Lightly. Fingertips barely pressing into the fabric of my shirt.

That’s when I moved.

Not much.

Just enough to grab her wrist and pull it off me.

I looked her straight in the eye.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” I said calmly.

She laughed like I was joking. “Come on, Carter. Don’t act like you haven’t noticed me—”

“I noticed,” I said coldly. “I’m just not interested.”

She blinked, still trying. “Why not?”

I looked at her like she was beneath me. “Because I don’t do trash.”

Her smile finally dropped.

She stepped back a little. “Excuse me?”

I didn’t flinch. “You’re sleeping with my brother while still staring at other men across the table. That’s pathetic.”

She crossed her arms, but her hands were shaking. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” I said flatly.

She tried to speak again, but the way I stared at her shut her up.

Eventually, she flinched. Just slightly. But I saw it.

I stepped around her without another word.

I didn’t go back to the dining room.

I texted my parents that I had work to finish and left.

Outside, the air was thick with rain. The wind was loud, but I welcomed the noise.

I got in my car and sat there for a minute.

I could’ve gone home. Put on a movie. Had a drink. Slept like usual.

But I kept seeing his face.

Eli.

The way he looked at me after class. The way he tried to speak. The way I shut him down like I had every right to.

He was just some boy.

A student.

But something about him stayed in my chest. That hollow look. That tired voice.

And now Liam had dumped him.

I closed my eyes for a second.

I didn’t owe him anything. He wasn’t my problem.

But still…

I found myself driving.

Not home.

To his apartment.

I’d only been there once, maybe twice. Dropping Liam off months ago. But I remembered the street. I remembered the red door. I remembered the old cracked steps leading up to the second floor.

I parked.

Got out.

Rain hit hard. I pulled my coat tighter, walked up the steps, and stood in front of his door.

I knocked.

Waited.

A few seconds passed.

Then the door opened.

And there he was.

Eli.

Soaked from head to toe, almost shirtless, raindrops running down his cheeks like tears. His hair was wet and pushed back, his lashes dark and heavy. He looked surprised. Small. And somehow still beautiful.

He looked up at me.

I stared back.

ELI

By the time I got to the hospital, I was already drenched.

I had been running before the rain started, but it came down so fast. My clothes stuck to my body. My hair was dripping. I didn’t even feel cold. Not at first. Just scared.

“Eli Rivera?” a nurse asked as I rushed through the doors.

“Yes,” I said, panting. “You called me. My—my mom—”

“Calm down,” she said. “Come with me.”

I followed her down the hall, my sneakers squeaking against the floor.

She stopped outside a waiting area. “She’s stable now, but she had a cardiac episode earlier. It was serious. For a moment… we thought…”

She didn’t finish.

I sat down hard.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

My heart was pounding too fast. My whole chest felt like it was folding in.

I reached for my phone, fingers slippery and trembling. I found my sister’s name and hit call.

She picked up after two rings.

“Eli?” she said. “What’s wrong?”

“I—I’m at the hospital,” I said, voice cracking. “It’s mom. She almost died.”

There was silence on the other end. Then her voice turned serious.

“What happened?”

“They said cardiac arrest or something,” I said, rubbing my face. “I don’t know. She’s stable now, but—I ran here. I—I didn’t know what to do.”

“Eli,” she said gently. “Breathe.”

I tried.

Her voice softened. “I’m not in town. You know that.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But I didn’t know who else to call.”

“I’m glad you did,” she said. “Listen to me. Mom is strong. She’s pulled through worse, remember?”

I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah.”

“She’s stable now,” she repeated. “That’s what matters. You need to stay calm.”

“I—I’m so cold,” I mumbled.

“You’re wet, aren’t you?” she said. “You ran in the rain like a crazy person?”

“I didn’t have time to think.”

She laughed softly. “You never do.”

I smiled faintly.

“I’m coming next week,” she said. “You’re not alone, okay? But you need to rest. You can’t take care of anyone if you collapse.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” She exhaled. “I love you. Try to warm up. Dry clothes. Hot tea. Call me after they give you an update.”

“Okay. Love you too.”

We ended the call, and I just sat there.

A few minutes later, the doctor came out.

“Mr. Rivera?”

I stood up fast. “Yes?”

“She’s stable,” he said. “Still weak, but she’s conscious. We’ll monitor her overnight.”

“Can I see her?”

“Not right now. She’s resting. But tomorrow, yes.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“You should go home,” he said. “Change. Eat something. You look like you’re about to fall over.”

I laughed weakly. “I feel like it.”

He patted my shoulder. “Go. She’s in good hands.”

I thanked him and left the hospital. It was still drizzling outside. I didn’t even bother with a cab. Just walked.

By the time I got home, I was shivering.

My fingers fumbled with the keys. I pushed the door open, kicked off my shoes, and headed straight to the bathroom. My clothes felt like ice. I pulled off the hoodie, then peeled off my soaked T-shirt. Goosebumps were all over my arms.

I unbuttoned my jeans, still shaking. I just wanted to get into dry clothes. Maybe wrap up in a blanket. Maybe cry a little more.

Then—

Knock knock.

I froze.

What?

Another knock.

I pulled my jeans halfway up and stumbled to the door, shirtless and confused.

I opened it slowly.

And stared.

Carter.

Standing in the hallway. Slightly damp. Hands in his coat pockets. That same unreadable expression on his face.

I blinked hard. “What the hell?”

I stared at him like he wasn’t real.

Carter Vale.

At my door.

In the rain.

He looked calm, as usual. Drenched but composed. His dark coat clung to his broad shoulders. His hair was damp, slicked back. He looked like he walked out of a noir film. Or maybe straight out of my stress dreams.

I cleared my throat. “Uh… you wanna come in?”

He didn’t say anything. Just nodded once and stepped inside.

I closed the door behind him, locking it quietly.

The air was tense. Too quiet. The sound of dripping rain off our clothes filled the room.

I turned to him. “What are you doing here? How do you even know my place?”

He looked around like he was memorizing the space. Then back at me. “I dropped Liam here months ago. I remembered the apartment.”

I blinked. “You remembered… my apartment?”

He nodded again.

Okay.

I rubbed the back of my neck. “You’re kinda wet.”

“So are you.”

“Yeah, I was out,” I mumbled. “Rain caught me halfway.”

He didn’t ask where I went.

I didn’t offer it.

“You want something?” I asked awkwardly. “Like… tea? Or coffee? You’re gonna catch a cold standing there like a statue.”

He didn’t move. Then slowly unbuttoned his coat, shrugged it off, and draped it over the back of the nearest chair. His white shirt underneath was slightly damp too, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked like he belonged in some expensive black-and-white film.

“I’ll take tea,” he said finally.

I blinked again. “Okay. Sure.”

I moved to the kitchen, boiled some water, pulled out the one mug in my cupboard that didn’t have a chipped handle, and tried to act normal. Whatever normal meant when your cold, intimidating ex’s brother showed up in your apartment at night.

I poured the tea, handed it to him. He took it carefully.

“Thanks,” he said.

I sat down on the arm of my couch, drying my hair with a towel.

A beat passed.

“Why are you here, Carter?”

He looked at me.

Dead in the eye.

“Why didn’t you tell me you and Liam broke up?”

I folded the towel. “I tried in class. You didn’t let me speak. Remember? You cut me off and said I don’t get special treatment just because I’m screwing your brother.”

He blinked slowly. “Right.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So… what? You just came here to remind me of that?”

“No,” he said quietly. “I came to say… for that, I apologize.”

I froze.

Just… sat there.

Blank.

Did this man just—

I stared at him.

For five whole seconds.

“What?” I asked. “As how?”

He didn’t flinch. “I’m aware I was… unnecessarily harsh.”

My brain glitched.

“You apologized.”

“I did.”

I stared harder. “You don’t strike me as someone who does that often.”

“I don’t.”

I shook my head slowly. “Okay. Now I’m convinced I have a fever.”

He tilted his head. “Why?”

“Because you’re apologizing. In my living room. With tea. And you actually sound sincere. Which is terrifying.”

His lips twitched. Not quite a smile. But something close.

“I’m not here to cause problems,” he said.

“Then why are you here?” I asked again.

He didn’t answer me.

Just kept sipping his tea, staring at me like he was studying every breath I took.

The silence started crawling over my skin.

I stood up quickly, trying to clear my head. “I should, uh—I should change. I’m still soaked.”

I turned toward my room.

But my foot caught the towel.

One second I was standing.

The next—I was falling.

Straight onto Carter.

Not just onto him.

Onto his lap.

Hard.

Chest to chest. My hand gripped his shoulder. My thigh pressed right between his legs.

And I felt it.

I felt everything.

He was hard.

I gasped.

My eyes went wide.

His hand moved to my waist without hesitation.

Holding me there.

I looked up at him, stunned, completely frozen.

His face didn’t change. But his voice dropped lower than I’d ever heard it.

“If you wanted to sit on it,” he said, tone calm as sin, “you could’ve just asked.”

CARTER

I stacked the last of the case files into my briefcase. The office was quiet now. Students had cleared out hours ago. Just the sound of the clock ticking above the door.

I closed the flap when I heard a knock.

The door opened before I answered.

Eli stepped in, clutching a folder to his chest like it might explode. His hair was damp again, sticking up in places like he’d run his hands through it too many times.

“Uh—here.” He placed the folder on my desk quickly, like he was dropping off contraband.

I looked at it. “What is this.”

“The list,” he said. “Research assignments, grading sheets, uh… the stuff you asked for.”

I opened it, scanned quickly. Organized. Neat handwriting. No mistakes. “Efficient.”

He shifted on his feet. “Thanks… I guess.”

I closed the folder. “You’ll need access to the source documents.”

“Oh. Okay, sure. Where do I…?”

“At my house.”

He froze. Eyes wide. Shoulders locked. “Y-your house?”

“Yes.”

His mouth opened, closed. “Wait—you mean like… your house house?”

I raised a brow. “Is there another kind?”

He blinked fast. “I—no. I just… your house?”

“Is there a problem.”

His throat bobbed. “No, I—just—it’s your house—”

I smirked faintly, the first shift in my expression all day. “You’re stuttering.”

His face turned red. “I’m not.”

“You are.”

He glared at me, which was useless. I snapped the case shut and stood. “Let’s go.”

In the car, he sat stiff beside me, hands gripping his bag like it was a seatbelt.

“You look like you’re being driven to an execution,” I said flatly.

He jumped. “What? No. I’m fine.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not lying,” he muttered.

I flicked him a glance. “Relax. I’m not going to bite.”

His face went hot. He looked out the window quickly.

Silence stretched.

I didn’t fill it.

We pulled into the driveway.

The lights were on.

I frowned.

I hadn’t left them on.

I cut the engine. Eli shifted nervously beside me.

“Someone’s here?” he asked.

I opened the door without answering.

Inside, I heard it before I saw him—Liam’s voice.

“Bro, you’re late. Thought you’d show earlier.”

He was sprawled on the couch, drink in hand, like he owned the place.

My jaw clenched. “What the fuck are you doing in my house.”

He smirked. “Relax. Just came to say hi. You don’t pick up my calls.”

“You don’t belong here.”

“Why not? It’s not like you’ve got company—”

He stopped when he saw Eli step in behind me.

His smirk widened. “Well. Well. Speak of the devil.”

Eli froze. Shoulders hunched like he wanted to vanish.

Liam’s eyes dragged over him slow. “Didn’t think you’d move on this fast. My brother, Eli? Really?”

“Shut up,” Eli muttered.

“Cute.” Liam leaned back, smug. “What, he makes you feel safe? You think he’ll fix you? You and your broken—”

“Get the fuck out,” I cut in, voice low.

Liam’s smirk faltered. He sat up. “Seriously?”

I took a step forward, eyes cold. “Now.”

He looked between us, jaw tight. “Unbelievable.”

“Door’s there,” I said.

The silence stretched. Then, finally, he slammed the glass down on the table and stood.

His face was dark now, anger burning through the fake grin. “You’ll regret this, Carter.”

“Out.”

He brushed past, shoulder knocking mine harder than necessary, and stormed out. The door slammed behind him.

The house went quiet again.

Eli let out a breath like he’d been holding it for hours. “Holy shit.”

I didn’t answer. Just walked past him into my office.

“Wait—where are you going?” he asked, trailing after me.

“To get the files,” I said.

“That was… intense.”

I opened the cabinet, pulled out the locked drawer. “That was Liam.”

“Yeah, I know who it was.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “He hasn’t changed at all.”

“No.”

“He looked… mad.”

“He always looks mad when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

I gathered the files into a folder and handed it to him.

He blinked. “That’s it? You’re just… calm after all that?”

“Yes.”

“You kicked your own brother out of your house.”

“And?”

He stared at me. “You’re impossible.”

I shut the drawer. “Good. Keeps people out.”

His lips parted like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t.

Instead, he clutched the folder tighter and whispered, “Thanks… for standing up for me.”

I paused at the door, glanced back at him. “Don’t thank me. I don’t like uninvited guests.”

I left him and went to the kitchen.

The fridge hummed as I opened it. I pulled out a bottle of water, twisted the cap, and drank slow.

The sound of footsteps shuffled behind me.

Eli hovered in the doorway, hugging the folder like it was a shield. His eyes darted everywhere but me.

“I should go,” he said. Voice soft, quick.

I closed the bottle. “I’ll drive you.”

His head snapped up. “N-no, it’s fine.”

“It’s late,” I said flatly. “I’ll drive you.”

He shook his head fast. “No. Really. I—I can walk. It’s not far.”

I tilted my head. “Why are you running away?”

“I’m not—” His words stumbled over each other. “I just—I have to go.”

I leaned against the counter, watching him. “Stuttering again.”

His face flushed. “Stop pointing that out.”

“Can’t help it.”

He shifted from foot to foot, gripping the folder tighter. “Thanks… for the files. And for… earlier. With Liam.”

“You already thanked me,” I said.

He bit his lip. “Right. Well. I’ll… go now.”

I nodded once. “Suit yourself.”

He turned quickly, practically bolting down the hall.

The front door opened, then slammed shut.

I drank again, the cool water sharp against my throat.

Through the window, I caught sight of him running across the driveway. No umbrella. Still clutching the folder like it might break.

A smirk tugged at my mouth.

Skittish. Easily rattled.

But interesting.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

Unknown number.

I frowned, answered. “Vale.”

The voice on the other end was tight. Urgent.

The smirk disappeared. My grip on the bottle tightened.

“I’ll be there,” I said, voice low.

And I hung up.