Chapter 3: Breakfast and bad omen

[Maddox]

The little café just off campus was packed with students trying to squeeze in one last decent meal before winter break. Daniel sat across from me, red hair messy as usual, scrolling through his phone while shoving eggs into his mouth.

“You still ain’t telling me about your rendezvous with Damian?” Daniel started putting his phone down, the corner of his mouth curling into a smug smile.

I ignored him and sipped my mocha, trying very hard not to give in that easily.

He sighed dramatically and launched into his usual mantra. “Oh, what has become of me? No fella to cry to...”

I snorted. “You must have forgotten, but that doesn’t work on me anymore.”

He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “How long until you consider me your best friend?”

“You ain’t even my friend yet.”

“Dude, we’ve known each other for three years…”

“Maddox! Daniel!”

Daisy’s voice cut through the chatter like a siren. Heads turned as Daniel’s twin sister marched straight to our table, her red ponytail swinging. She dropped into the chair beside me without asking.

“I swear I came here alone when I started freshman year,” I muttered.

“Things change, Madd. You can’t expect to stay alone for the rest of your life. Be grateful, we’re the only friends you’ve got.”

“The two of you are not my friends yet.” I snapped, but inwardly, I smiled, even if my face refused to show it.

“I saw you last night,” she announced, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Daniel grinned around a mouthful of food. “Told you I clocked it. He snuck out after midnight like some kind of spy. Wouldn’t tell me shit when he got back.”

I groaned, pushing my plate away. “Can we not do this right now?”

“Too late,” Daisy said, stealing a strip of bacon from my plate. “Spill. Did you actually go through with it? Did you sneak into Damian Prescott’s room?”

“What were you even doing outside late at night?” I asked frowning.

Her smile faded. “Well, I’ll tell you guys later. For now, you’re the one on the table.”

I glanced around the café. No one seemed to be listening, but I still lowered my voice. “Yeah. I did.”

Both twins leaned in like I was about to drop state secrets. Which was…technically true.

The table went silent for two full seconds, after I briefed them of my rendezvous yesterday night.

Then Daniel burst out laughing. “You made a deal with the campus devil? Maddox, you’re insane.”

“It’s not funny,” I snapped, but my voice lacked heat. “My readers keep saying my scenes feel fake, which you've seen. If I don’t fix that, subscriptions will drop. And if my mom ever finds out what I’ve been writing…”

Daisy reached over and squeezed my arm. “Hey, we’ve got your back. But Damian Prescott? That guy doesn’t do favors for free. What’s his angle?”

Before I could answer, the café door opened again.

Damian walked in with three of his soccer teammates, all tall, loud, and radiating that effortless confidence only athletes seemed to have. His dark hair was still damp from a shower, and he wore a simple black hoodie that somehow looked expensive on him.

Our eyes met across the room.

For a split second, something flickered in his expression; surprise, maybe irritation. Then he looked away like I didn’t exist. He leaned toward his friends, muttered something I couldn’t hear, and the entire group turned around and walked right back out without ordering anything.

The twins stared after them, mouths open.

“What the hell was that?” Daisy asked. “Did he just… run away because he saw you?”

Daniel snorted. “Campus king avoiding Maddox? That’s new.”

I forced my shoulders to relax. “Doesn’t matter. Probably has somewhere better to be.”

But my stomach twisted anyway. The memory of his half-naked body standing in front of me last night, that dangerous smirk, the way he’d pinned me to his bed for a moment, it was all too fresh.

My phone vibrated on the table, and my pulse quickened when I saw the name on the screen. I answered quickly. “Hey, Mom.”

“Maddox, honey!” Her voice was warm, the kind of happiness I hadn’t heard from her in years. “When are you coming home? Christmas is only a few days away, and we still have so much to do for the wedding.”

I smiled even though she couldn’t see it. “I’ll head out tomorrow morning. How’s everything going?”

“Perfect. Your stepfather is so excited for you two to finally meet. His son has been so busy, but he promised he’ll be there for the ceremony.”

I kept my voice steady. “Yeah… I still haven’t met the guy. He’s bailed on every dinner we planned.”

Mom laughed softly. “He’ll show up this time. I just know it. I can’t wait for us to be a real family again.”

“Me too,” I lied, throat tight.

We talked for another minute about travel plans before I hung up. When I looked back at the table, both twins were watching me.

“Still no clue who your new stepbrother is?” Daisy asked.

“Nope.” I shoved my phone into my pocket. “He’s dodged every single meeting. Maybe he’ll finally appear at the wedding. Who knows.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Well, whoever he is, I hope he’s not as much of an asshole as Damian Prescott. You’ve already got one rich jock complicating your life.”

I forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow.

Outside the café window, snow had started falling lightly. Students hurried by with suitcases and gift bags, heading home for the holidays. Everyone seemed excited.

But I wasn’t.

Somewhere out there was a guy I was about to call ‘brother.’ A guy whose father was making my mom smile again after ten long years. I should’ve been happy for her.

Instead, all I felt was a strange, creeping dread. What if he turned out to be just another spoiled rich kid who looked down on people like me?

What if he made everything worse?