All Chapters of Dear best friend's brother, kiss me while you can: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

☆☆SUMMER’S POV☆☆ Agnes had left an hour ago with a yawn, a limp wave, and a “Text me if a murderer shows up.” So yeah. Comforting. Now it was just me, the fridge humming like it had secrets, and this weird feeling in my chest like the house was watching me. Or maybe I’d just watched too many horror TikToks at 2AM. The clock read 9:12PM. Keith still wasn’t home. Annoying. Little. Brother. I called him again. For the fourth time today, hoping I'd be lucky, and he'd answer this time around. He picked up on the third ring, sounding out of breath. “Yo, sissy.” “Where are you?” “Chilling at Owen’s. Why?” I paused, taking in a deep breath. Then I exhaled. “Put his mom on.” He laughed, but it wasn’t the funny kind. “Wait, seriously?” “Yes. Seriously. I’m not stupid, Keith.” “Where else would I be at this hour? I’m thirteen.” Last time something like this happened, the cops called. We picked Keith up at the station. “Then put her on the phone.” Some shuffling. A weird smackin

☆☆SUMMER’S POV☆☆ Hayden looked at me for a long, long time. I stared at him. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to cry or scream at the moment. “What am I to you?” I asked again. “You’re Summer, my brother’s best friend,” he answered. “I don’t love you enough to fuck you. And I don’t hate you enough to fuck you. That’s all.” Yep! There it is. The confession I had been waiting for. I didn’t know what to say to that. My heart thrashed against my ribs like it wanted out. My body still burned for him, but my soul felt raw and exposed. “You really don’t love me, do you?” I asked softly. Desperately. Hayden stood up from the bed, grabbed my hoodie, and tossed it at me like a shield. Then he ran a hand through his hair. “Tell me, Hayden. Don’t you feel anything for me? We’ve been doing this for weeks now. At least, you should feel something. Right?” “I’m going to be honest with you, Summer. I get hard just thinking about the way you’ll sound when I’m buried deep inside you. Tonight, I wa

☆☆SUMMER'S POV☆☆The forest smelled like damp earth and leftover dreams. I hopped off my bike near the clearing and stared up at the old treehouse nestled between two oak branches. Jake’s bike was parked under the tree.He sat on the edge of the tree house, one leg swinging, phone in hand. His hoodie hood was up, but I could still see the flash of concern when he spotted me. His brows furrowed like I’d just limped in covered in blood.I might as well have.This was our secret spot that wasn’t so much of a secret. Jake’s dad built this place for us when we were kids. It was too big then and now, it felt just right.The other kids used to disturb us back then until seventh grade, when they all stopped to. I think it was because of Hayden. He beat up the toughest bully in school and barely sustained a single scratch.When asked how he felt, he said, “Bored! That wasn’t a fight. It was just a warmup.”Everyone was afraid. They knew Jake was Hayden’s little brother, and ever since then, no

☆☆SUMMER’S POV☆☆My imagination had almost wounded me. How could I have dreamt that Hayden was here, talking and laughing with my dad?Calling him by his first name, Edward. Edward? Ha ha. What an awful dream. He called him Edward. I mean, seriously?What a nightmare.I groaned and dragged myself up, throat dry, head foggy like I’d just walked through a steam room. The light spilling through the window was vague—early morning, maybe late afternoon? I had no clue. I must’ve slept for hours.I was in my bed. My blanket. My room. Oh, the comfort. Everything looked normal—until I saw him. Hayden Dylan, in the corner, lounging like a king.He was sitting on my reading chair, legs crossed, elbow draped casually over the desk. Reading one of my novels.Was I hallucinating? No. No, I wasn’t. Then it hit me: it wasn't a dream. Hayden had really been downstairs, in the living room moments ago, laughing with my dad. I hadn't fallen asleep. Oh dear God—I had fainted.Shoot me now. Shoot me now be

☆☆SUMMER’S POV☆☆ What? My gaze flicked to Jake. Of course I was speechless. What do you even say when your best friend accuses you of catching feelings for his older brother—the human embodiment of red flags? Still, silence felt more dangerous than whatever lie I could string together. So I laughed nervously. Like a psychopath. “God forbid I’m in love with Hayden. That’s just gross. Ewww.” “Right?” Jake’s shoulders, previously locked in full panic mode, finally dropped a little. “I didn’t think it through. It was a stupid question. But… what did you say to Hayden that made him come here? Do you have his number? Let me see.” Oh, so now we’re FBI-ing? Cool. I rolled my eyes. “I told you, he was here to see my dad.” “I still don’t believe you, though.” “Trust me, Jake. I wouldn’t lie to you. My breakfast is getting cold. I need to eat.” “Are you trying to avoid the question?” I gasped. “I wouldn’t dare.” “Are you sure about what you’re saying?” I grew agitated. I reached for