CHAPTER ONE: ONE DRUNKEN MISTAKE

CHAPTER ONE

ONE DRUNKEN MISTAKE

Dylan grasped Lucas's hair, his fingers digging through the strands and he pressed his lips against his. His heart hammered loudly in his chest and his dick hardened in his pants, pressing against the jeans fabric.

“I've loved you for so long," he whispered between kisses as his hand traveled into Lucas's trousers, cupping his rising cock. “I know I sound stupid, and I know I'm drunk…"

Lucas pulled him forward and kissed him before he could finish. He ran his hand over Dylan's bare back as he played with his tongue.

Dylan pulled back, laughing nervously as his cheeks reddened. He stared at Lucas, his face half-hidden by the darkness.

“And I know we've been best friends forever, and I might be ruining everything with my choice." His smile trembled. “But I can't keep on pretending I am not in love with–”

"Stop talking, Dy,” Lucas cut in with a smirk. He grabbed Dylan and pinned him to the bed before pulling the sheets over them. "We’ll talk confessions later. Right now, I want you."

Before Dylan could speak, Lucas zipped down his pants, pulled out his cock and slowly pushed it into his mouth. The ecstasy from the booze mixed with the sudden excitement, pulling Dylan into a world of his own as he let out a moan and his eyes rolled upwards

Then, he couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or if it had really happened, he heard the door creak.

"Oh, come on," a voice groaned from the doorway–Lucas's voice. "If you're gonna hook up with a girl, at least use your own room."

It was gone as fast as it came.

Dylan, still moaning, lifted his head, dazed. "Did you say something, Lucas?"

Lucas lifted his eyes to the door as something flickered across his face. But it was gone before Dylan could read it.

"Forget it," he said, smiling. “Now where were we?"

Dylan pushed Lucas’s face deeper as he closed his eyes again, never once looking toward the door.

But he should have. Maybe then, he might have realized… he kissed the wrong twin.

__________

SIX HOURS EARLIER...

The Hayes mansion pulsed with music.

Students crowded every corner of the enormous house with red cups in their hands. Some played around the beer pong table while others danced with their partners. A couple slipped into one of the rooms and a minute later, their moans carried over the bass.

This was normal whenever the Hayes twins' parents left on one of their usual ‘sabbaticals’.

No one really knew what it meant. But the wealthy couple announced it, the mansion became the biggest party house in Brookridge.

Dylan Carter took a long swig from his fourth beer, too drunk to notice the taste.

"Dylan!"

He lifted his eyes at the call of his name and found Luca Hayes standing across the room with a grin, saying something over the music.

Dylan frowned. "What?!" he shouted. “I can't hear what you're saying!"

Lucas tried repeating himself, but the bass swallowed every word. Seeing Dylan's confused expression, he laughed, pointed behind him and disappeared into the crowd.

Dylan stared for a moment before returning his attention back to the empty bottle.

For ten years, he and Lucas had been inseparable. Best friends since the third grade; everyone expected them to stay close long after graduation.

But somewhere along the way, Dylan had ruined it. He fell for his best friend.

Dylan has spent years pretending those feelings weren't there, like he wasn't hopelessly in love with Lucas. But now, it was becoming too hard to ignore.

And that was why he was getting drunk tonight. He was going to tell Lucas the truth and he definitely wasn't going to do it sober.

Before he could change his mind, Dylan tossed the empty bottle into the trashcan before stumbling toward the beer pong table.

“Hey, Nathan," he called, his voice slurring slightly. "Have you seen Lucas?”

Nathan barely looked up from the cups lined across the table. "I think he went upstairs to his room."

He tossed the ball and it bounced straight into the cup. The room exploded with cheers as Nathan threw both fists into the air.

Dylan walked away from the table, pushing through the sea of students as he headed toward the stairs. Each step felt lighter than the last as the alcohol settled deeper into the system.

Climbing onto the second floor, he turned and walked past Logan Hayes’s bedroom, barely noticing the slightly open door. His attention remained fixed on Lucas's room farther down the hallway.

He reached the door and pushed it open.

The lights were off and the room was dark, with only the glow from a phone illuminating the figure sitting against the headboard.

"Lucas?" Dylan called as he shut the door behind him. “Hey, man."

The figure didn't respond. And that should've been enough to make him switch on the light. But instead, he crossed the room and grabbed Lucas lightly by the shoulder.

"Lucas,” he called again.

“Dylan?" the boy muttered as he finally looked up. “Whoa. You sound drunk."

Dylan didn't smile. He grabbed the phone from Lucas's hand and tossed it onto the bed.

"I need to tell you something," he said, his expression turning serious. “I… I don't know how you're going to take it. I've tried saying this shit a hundred times and every time I chickened out.”

Lucas smiled as he watched him. "You can talk to me.”

Dylan nodded as he took in a shaky breath. “I like you," he whispered, laughing weakly. “No–I love you, Lucas. I've loved you for years and I know you probably don't feel the same. But I couldn't keep lying anymore."

He bit his lips, his pulse thundering in his ears as he searched Lucas's face.

"So… what do you think?"

Lucas remained silent for a moment, his brown eyes wide with shock. But before he could attempt to answer, Dylan grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and kissed him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” he apologized immediately as he pulled back. "I'll… I'll go now–”

Lucas cupped his cheeks and leaned forward before silencing him with a kiss. Warmth rushed through Dylan so suddenly his knees almost gave out.

Everything he'd imagined for years suddenly felt possible.

_____________

Outside, Lucas Hayes smiled and waved at his mother's face on his phone.

“So you two made it?” he asked.

"We did," Mrs. Hayes replied as she turned the camera to what looked like a hotel lobby. “Your father's gone to find the beach."

Lucas laughed. “Yeah, that's dad."

"Behave while we're gone,” Mrs. Hayes said, turning the view back to her, "and keep an eye on Logan." She sighed dramatically. “You know how your twin can be."

Lucas smiled. "Yeah, I'll keep him in check."

"Good." His mother smiled warmly, pressing a hand to her lips. "We love you boys."

"Love you too, mum."

The call ended.

Lucas sighed as he slipped his phone into his pocket and headed back inside. He laughed, waved and declined a kiss from Hannah before turning to the beer pong table.

"Nathan!" he shouted, tapping the boy on the shoulder. “Have you seen Dylan?”

Nathan frowned, looking up briefly. "He was just looking for you. I think he's upstairs.”

Lucas thanked him and headed upstairs. He walked down the quiet hallway and pushed open the door to his bedroom first.

He stopped in his tracks.

The bed was moving and a head briefly appeared above the blankets. Blonde messy hair, pierced ears.

Logan.

"Oh, come on," Lucas muttered as he immediately looked away. "If you're gonna hook up with a girl, at least use your own room.”

Covering his eyes with one hand, he cursed and shut the door without another thought. Of course his brother wouldn't use his room.

“Fucking idiot," he muttered under his breath as he turned back down the hallway. But before he could get to the next room…

CRASH!

Glass shattered downstairs and the music screeched to a stop.

"What the hell?!" Lucas shouted. Abandoning his search for Dylan, he hurried back toward the staircase. "Hey! Who touched that vase?”