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.

I ignored their stares, walked straight to the fridge, and grabbed three bottles of wine.

“Okay. Explain. You two lied to me?”

“No!”

“Of course not.”

They answered together.

I pinned Ethan. “You. Talk.”

He avoided my eyes. “Baby, I was on a two-month field study with my advisor.”

“First day of the semester my little brother drops this bomb. And you're interrogating me?” Ethan looked pathetic.

“Stop stalling. Answer.”

He sighed. “You know I'm awkward and not charming. I thought you'd get bored.”

“So sometimes… I let him help. Like texting, or showing up when I was slammed.”

Caleb cut in: “Bullshit. You used to complain she texted too much.”

“I did not!” Ethan yelled.

“Liar. Your eyes are shifting.”

But everything made sense.

I'd chased the distant Ethan. If he'd been sunshine-sweet from day one, I would've bailed.

Caleb added, “Swear. Lie and you'll never get her for real.”

“Why would I swear to you?”

“Scared?”

“You—I can't believe I have such a shameless brother!”

“You always treat me like an idiot, huh?”

“You're the dumb one.”

“You…”

“Shut up!” I snapped. “Both of you. Or get out.”

They froze like scolded kids.