“Stay back!” I yelled.

They stopped a foot apart and traded a look like they'd rehearsed it.

I ran the math in my head, trying to accept that I'd accidentally slept with twins.

No wonder things felt off. One minute silent and distant—classic Ethan. The next minute nonstop texts about his day, super clingy.

“Who the hell is my real boyfriend?”

“Me!”

“I am!”

They said it at the same time.

I studied their faces. Identical. Even the faint scar over the left eyebrow.

“Are you seriously pulling a Parent Trap on me?”

I stepped closer and poked one chest. Solid. Warm. Same.

“Which one of you is Ethan Carter?”

The one on the left immediately reached for me. I slapped his hand away.

“Don't touch!”

The one on the right smirked at the left one, then spoke slow and calm: “It's me, baby.”

That tone. Steady. Not pushy.

Exactly the cool, low-key finance major I'd been chasing for months. Distant, chill, perfect for easy vibes.

I grabbed his wrist and headed for the door.

Someone tugged my sleeve.

The other guy—eyes wide, lips pouting—looked crushed. “Baby… what about me? You're just gonna ignore me?”

“Excuse me?” I lifted our joined hands. “This is my boyfriend, Ethan. I'm holding him.”

He squeezed tighter, voice dropping. “But I'm your boyfriend too…”

“I just got punched. Don't you feel bad for me?”

“Is this fair?”

I peeled his fingers off one by one. Took effort—the guy was strong.

I said coldly, “My little bed doesn't fit three people.”

“I'll take the couch.”

“There is no couch.”

“Floor's fine. I'm flexible.”

“You—” I stopped. The audacity.

I sighed. “Just go home. We'll talk later.”

“No.” He grabbed my hand again. “If I leave, you'll ghost me.”

I exhaled. Fine. Calm him down, then kick him out.

“Stay tonight and we'll pretend none of this happened.”

Wrong thing to say.

“We've been together for months. You want to pretend nothing happened?”

I cut him off. “The person I've been with is Ethan. Are you Ethan?”

He stared at me, ignoring the death glare from the real Ethan.

“If you want… I can be.”

“We look the same. You can't tell anyway.”

Then he had the nerve to add: “It was good before, right? Ethan's always busy—I'll keep you warm. Be your big teddy bear at night.”

“You like falling asleep with your hand on my chest, don't you?”

I was speechless.

Shameless didn't even cover it.

“Are you insane?”

The real Ethan dropped my hand and grabbed the other guy's collar.

“Caleb Carter, you have zero shame!”

“Had enough punches? Want me to mess your face up so bad your dad won't recognize you? Then she'll know who's who.”

Caleb laughed wildly. “Go ahead. Hit me. Kill me. I'm not letting go.”

“Why do I always have to give everything up? You get whatever you want. I liked Riley first—before you even noticed her!”

Ethan's knuckles went white, veins popping.

He was furious but powerless.

“What, scared now? You were swinging earlier.”

Caleb touched the bruise on his forehead. “Didn't think you could actually land one. Progress.”

“But listen: I'm not backing down.”

“You forgot—every time you said ‘too busy,' it was me showing up.”

“Half those texts? Mine.”

“You think she fell for you? Delusional.”

Ethan went pale and shot me a guilty look.

“Shut up!”

“Why? Because the truth hurts?”

“I was so stupid. I thought she liked you, so I stepped back.”

“Now? She can't even tell us apart.”

He looked at me. “So the person she likes… could be me.”

“Caleb!”

“I'm right here, big bro.” Caleb's face was pure challenge.

My head spun.

So it had been a two-man job from the start.

Explained the mood swings. Sweet one minute, cold the next.

“Enough!” I shouted.

Both doors down the hall cracked open.

“Riley, honey—I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it's late.”

Another neighbor: “Yeah, maybe take it inside?”

They gave me knowing looks.

Great. Whole floor probably heard.

For a second I actually wanted to jump off the balcony.

“Sorry, sorry—we're going in.”

Mortified, I dragged them inside.

Caleb immediately rummaged the shoe rack, pulled out a pair of slippers—his own and mine—and knelt to slide mine on.

“Baby, shoes.”

Treated Ethan like he didn't exist. Zero guilt.

I… let it happen. Habit.

Ethan suddenly hugged me from behind.

“What—?”

He whispered, “Baby… where are my shoes?”

Yep. Classic Ethan.

Why panic? Not my mess.

I pulled away. “Ask your brother. He swapped everything.”

Yeah—Caleb had replaced all Ethan's stuff with matching new furniture. I'd thought the redecorating was cute.

Now I got it: calculated sabotage.