Hating You is Exhausting
Liam, my stepbrother, has been a pain in the rear for three years.
We fight every time we talk. Every time we see each other, we remember that moment, which we never talk about.
The one in the yard behind where our parents had their wedding dinner.
The event that almost made everything bad.
Our parents are now going for a trip to celebrate their first anniversary, leaving us all alone in the house.
Simple plan: we'll stay on different sides, ignore each other, and act like we're working.
But then there's a fire on my side of the house, and all of a sudden I have to share a floor, a hallway, and a wall that is too thin to be safe with him.
The worst times are at night.
I hear him.
I can feel him.
And every disagreement ends too close.
Every stare stays too long.
Every breath turns into heat I can’t escape.
We’re supposed to protect our parents’ happiness.
We’re supposed to act like good brothers.
But how do you pretend you hate someone when all you want is to drag him into your bed?
Then the holidays arrive with our whole extended family.
We’re forced to play perfect boys while nearly pulling each other apart behind locked doors.
And just when I think things can’t get worse, Liam’s cheating ex shows up begging to take him back.
The jealousy nearly wrecks me… and reveals everything.
But the real disaster hits one night with a broken condom and a hurried hospital visit.
Two scary weeks that make us imagine a life we’re not supposed to want.
A future that feels too good to lose.
The test is negative.
But the damage is done.
We want each other.
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Chapter: Chapter 8: The Silence That BurnsWe avoid each other like cowards.We avoid each other like cowards.Not strangers.Not enemies.Cowards.Because strangers don’t memorize each other’s footsteps.Enemies don’t hold their breath when the other walks past.But we do.Every time.I hear his door open.I wait five seconds before stepping out of mine.I hear his voice down the hall.I walk the other way.It’s stupid.Childish.Pathetic.And it hurts more than any fight we’ve ever had.At least when we fought, we talked.Now?Nothing.Just silence.And the silence burns worse than fire.I keep telling myself it’s fine.It’s better like this.Safer.If we don’t talk, we won’t say the wrong thing.If we don’t touch, we won’t cross the line.If we don’t look, we won’t want to.Simple.Easy.A lie.Because even when he’s not near me, my body still reacts like he is.I still hear his voice in my head.I don’t know how to stop.Those five words have been chasing me all night.Stop what?Wanting me?Thinking about me?Or loving.N
Last Updated: 2026-01-26
Chapter: Chapter 7: I Don't Know How To StopYou remember enough to argue,” I shoot back.That gets his attention.He spins to face me, and there’s something in his eyes, something wild, conflicted, desperate.“You think this is easy for me?” he asks. “You think I don’t… fight myself every time you speak to me like that?”“Like what?”“Like you expect me to admit something I’m not allowed to feel.”My beating stops. Actually stops.“Not allowed by who?” I whisper.He hesitates. “By myself.”There it is another truth. One he didn’t mean to spill.I move a little closer. “Liam… you’re hiding something.”“And you keep pushing,” he fires back, stepping toward me too, “like you’re 9 afraid of anything.”“Maybe I’m tired of pretending that night didn’t mean something.”That stops him again. His chest lifts. Falls. Sharp. Suddenly. Like he’s the one who just got hit.“You think it meant something?” he asks softly.“You think it didn’t?”His quiet is louder than words.My voice drops. “Liam… tell me what you remember.”He closes his eye
Last Updated: 2026-01-24
Chapter: Chapter 6: What Really Happened That Night“You said my name,” I whisper finally. “You… begged me not to leave.”His breath stutters.He looks like the floor dropped under him.“I didn’t mean”He stops.He tries again.“I was dreaming.”“I know.”“It didn’t mean anything.”“Liam”“Don’t read into it,” he snaps.“I’m not. But you are.”He looks furious.But underneath that fury is panic.Real panic.“I don't want you,” he mutters.I feel the words like knives. “Then stop.”“I can’t.”“Liam”“You don’t get it,” he says, voice rough. “When you were in that fire, I”He cuts himself off.I step closer. “Say it.”“No.”“Say it.”“Don’t push me, Nico.”“Then tell me why you were outside my door before the fire started.”Silence.“I heard something,” he finally says.“You didn’t.”“Fine,” he snaps. “I was checking on you.”My breath catches.“Why?” I whisper.“Because I couldn’t sleep.”“Why?”“Because you weren’t sleeping either.”I stare at him.He stares back.And everything between us cracks open again.We’re too close.Too aware.
Last Updated: 2026-01-20
Chapter: Chapter 5 : Thin WallsI hear him before I see him. At first, I thought I’m dreaming. The voice is low, rough, almost broken. Too close. Too familiar. My eyes snap open when I hear it again. “Nico…” My heart stutters. He’s saying my name. Softly. Like a confession. Like a secret slipping out of a place he keeps locked. I sit up, breath stuck in my throat. The wall between our rooms feels thinner than paper. Every sound passes through it. His breaths. His restless movement. His quiet, nervous anger. Then another word. “Don’t… leave.” The air leaves my lungs. He’s sleep-talking. And he’s thinking about me. And he sounds scared. My fingers curl tight around the blanket as heat fills my chest something painful, confused, almost unbearable. I press my palm to the cool wall, as if I can reach him through it. “Liam,” I say, even though I know he can’t hear. “Why are you dreaming about me? ” He mutters again, voice cracking this time. “Stay…” I stop breathing entirely. He’s not just t
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Chapter 4 : Footsteps Outside The Door The fireman shrugs. “Somewhere else in the house. Not there.” Liam crosses his arms. “He’ll stay near my hallway.” My head snaps toward him. “What? No, that’s" “It’s safest,” he cuts in. “Dad won’t have a problem with it.” “That’s not the point,” I mumble sharply. “You and I” “Don’t start,” he mutters. “You need supervision.” I stare. “I’m not a child.” He steps closer, dropping his voice. “You were coughing so hard you couldn’t stand.” “That doesn’t mean I need you.” He leans in until I feel his breath against my cheek. “Funny. Because right now it looks like you do.” My face heats instantly. “Stop talking like that.” “Why? Does it bother you?” “Yes.” He smirks. “Then I’ll stop.” But he doesn’t move. He stays right there, eyes locked on mine, an unreadable look tightening his features, something fierce, something protective, something he pretends he doesn’t feel. “You shouldn’t have run into the fire,” I say. “I didn’t run.” His gaze drops to my mouth for a hear
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
Chapter: Chapter 3 : Fire in My Room Skylar emerges from the stairs, Liam’s younger sister, messy hair, oversized jacket, soft smile. She looks between us and smirks. “You both look like someone told you to share a room.” I groan. “Your parents are leaving for a year.” She gasps. “Together?” “Yes.” “And you two are staying here alone?” “Yes.” She bites her lip, trying not to laugh. “This is priceless.” “It’s not funny,” Liam snaps. “It’s hilarious.” She pats his shoulder. “Try not to kill each other.” I shake my head. “I can’t do this. I can’t pretend everything is normal.” Skylar looks at me. Longer than necessary. Like she knows something. “Maybe pretending isn’t the problem,” she says softly. “Maybe it’s what you’re pretending not to feel.” My breath catches. Liam stiffens. Skylar smiles and walks upstairs like she didn’t just drop a bomb between us. I say, “She knows.” “She doesn’t,” Liam says quickly. “She does.” “She doesn’t.” “She absolutely does.” He rakes his hand through his hai
Last Updated: 2026-01-15
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