Chapter 6

Ryan’s POV

“Wait… your new stepbrother’s also named Evan, right?”

The words don’t just land, they echo in my ear loudly ike someone just dropped a bomb in my head and walked away smiling.

I go completely still. For a second, I don’t even hear the music anymore.

Just that name.

Evan.

My grip tightens around the red cup in my hand.

No.

No, that’s not…

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say slowly, my voice rough, like I’m forcing it past something stuck in my throat.

Resse frowns. “What?”

I shake my head, letting out a dry, disbelieving laugh. “You’re out of your mind.”

He raises a brow. “Excuse me?”

“There are like a million Evans out there,” I continue, talking more to myself than him now. “It’s a common name, that doesn’t mean anything.”

Resse studies me, his expression shifting from confusion to something more cautious. “Ryan…”

“It’s not him,” I cut in sharply.

It can’t be him because if it is…

I drag a hand through my hair, pacing once like I’m trying to shake the thought out of my head physically.

“That guy,” I mutter, gesturing vaguely to where Evan disappeared into the crowd, “the one I was just arguing with… that’s not—”

But even as I say it, my chest tightens.

Then I remembered his hazel eyes and voice with his naughty attitude. The way he also looked at me like I was something he used to love… and now couldn’t stand.

Shit.

Resse exhales slowly. “I mean… You did say your stepbrother’s name is Evan.”

I stop pacing.

“Yeah,” I admit.

“And that’s your ex’s name.”

“I know that.”

“And you just ran into your ex… here. Tonight, out of nowhere.”

I glare at him. “What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying,” Resse shrugs, “it’s either the worst coincidence in history or it’s exactly what it looks like.”

My jaw clenches.

“No,” I say again, quieter this time. “No, it’s not because if it is then the universe really does have a sick sense of humor.”

Resse tilts his head. “You don’t sound very convinced.”

I let out a humorless laugh, lifting the cup to my lips and downing what’s left of it in one go.

The burn is harsher this time or maybe I feel it more.

“Trust me,” I mutter, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, “I’d know if that was him.”

Resse doesn’t respond immediately.

And that silence?

It’s worse than anything he could’ve said.

“…Would you?” he finally asks.

The question hits harder than it should. I look away because of the truth?

I did know the second I saw him.

The second he turned and looked at me like I was a ghost he wasn’t ready to face.

I knew, I just didn’t want to admit it.

“Man…” Resse exhales, shaking his head. “I really hope you’re right.”

I scoff. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he says, lifting his drink. “Because becoming stepbrothers with your ex?” He lets out a low whistle. “That’s not messy. That’s a full-on disaster.”

I huff out a laugh, but it doesn’t reach my chest.

“Tell me about it.”

“Especially,” he adds, giving me a pointed look, “when your ex thinks you’re a lying, cheating asshole.”

That one lands hard.

I look down at my cup, jaw tightening. “Yeah.”

Because that’s exactly what Evan thinks I am. A cheat, a liar, and a mistake he walked away from like it didn’t matter.

My fingers curl around the plastic until it nearly cracks.

“I can’t believe he just…” I stop, shaking my head, frustration boiling over. “He did it again.”

Resse frowns. “Did what?”

“Walked away,” I snap. “Like he always does, like I don’t even deserve a chance to explain.”

“You tried talking to him?”

“I’ve been trying for four years,” I shoot back.

That shuts him up for a second because I don’t think I can repeat that without losing it.

“I called him,” I continue, my voice dropping. “Texted, showed up at places I thought he’d be. Nothing. He just… disappeared.”

Resse’s expression softens slightly. “Damn.”

“Yeah,” I laugh bitterly. “Damn.”

For a moment, neither of us says anything.

The music surges around us again, bass vibrating through the floor, people shouting, laughing, living like none of this matters.

Must be nice.

“Then show him,” Resse says suddenly.

I glance at him. “Show him what?”

“That he’s wrong.”

I scoff. “You think it’s that easy?”

“No,” he admits. “But you’re just gonna let him keep thinking you cheated?”

My silence answers for me.

Resse leans in slightly. “Make him regret it.”

My brows pull together. “Regret what?”

“Leaving you,” he says simply.

“He won’t listen,” I mutter.

“Then don’t ask him to,” Resse shrugs. “Make him.”

I stare at him.

There’s something reckless in the idea. Something that fits a little too well with the anger still burning under my skin.

With the way Evan looked at me tonight like I was nothing and we were nothing.

My jaw tightens.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Maybe I will.”

Resse smirks. “That’s the spirit.”

He grabs another drink from a passing guy and hands it to me.

I take it without thinking.

We clink cups.

This time, I don’t hesitate when I drink.

Because if that really is Evan—

If the guy I just fought with…

The guy who still gets under my skin like no one else…

Is he actually my stepbrother now?

Then this isn’t just messy. It’s war and I’m not walking away this time.

I step outside a few minutes later, the cool night air hitting my face hard. It should help but it doesn’t.

I lean against the railing, gripping it tightly as I try to steady my breathing.

“Get it together,” I mutter under my breath.

But all I can see is him, the way he looked at me, the way his voice cracked when he called me a cheater.

The way… fuck… the way he almost hit me.

A bitter smile tugs at my lips.

“At least that hasn’t changed,” I mumble.

Footsteps approach. I don’t even need to look.

“Still thinking about him?”

Resse.

“Go away.”

He snorts. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

I exhale sharply. “I don’t even know why he’s here.”

“Maybe the same reason you are,” he shrugs. “Life.”

I shake my head. “No. I mean… here. In my life again.”

Resse leans against the railing beside me. “You really think this is random?”

I glance at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I think,” he says slowly, “you’ve got unfinished business.”

A humorless laugh leaves my lips. “That’s one way to put it.”

He nudges my shoulder. “So what are you gonna do about it?”

I stare out into the dark.

For a long moment, I don’t answer.

Then—

“I’m not losing him again.”

The words come out before I can stop them.

Resse raises a brow. “Oh, so that’s what this is about?”

I ignore him because the truth?

I don’t even fully understand it myself.

All I know is—

Four years didn’t change a damn thing and if fate really decided to throw Evan back into my life like this…

Then I’m not letting him walk away again, not this time.