All Chapters of Enemies to lovers : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Brian’s truck screeched into the hospital parking lot, tires kicking up gravel. He didn’t remember the drive — only the blur of streetlights and the sick knot twisting tighter in his gut with every red light he ignored. He burst through the emergency doors, chest heaving. The sterile smell of antiseptic hit him like a slap. “Lyra Callahan,” he rasped at the nurse behind the desk. “She was brought in earlier. I’m her brother.” The nurse checked her screen. “She’s stable. Room 214. Second floor.” Brian took the stairs two at a time. When he entered the room, the sight hit him hard. His sister looked frail, and the hospital room smelled faintly of antiseptic and cold air conditioning. Brian sat beside the bed, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tight enough to hurt. His eyes hadn’t left Lyra since the doctor walked out. She looked small lying there, an IV taped to her hand, her face pale but no longer as frightening as when he first arrived. A woman dressed in a gold satin long gow

The Engineering Building buzzed with conversation as students hurried from one lecture hall to another. Austin adjusted the strap of his backpack as he climbed the stairs to his afternoon class. The familiar weight of textbooks rested against his shoulder, but today, they didn't feel quite as heavy. Emilia's words from that morning lingered in the back of his mind. "You're allowed to be lost for a while. Just don't unpack and live there forever." He found his usual seat near the window. Benjamin waved from the row behind him. "Look who's actually early." Austin shrugged. "Didn't feel like being late." Benjamin narrowed his eyes dramatically. "Who are you, and what have you done with Austin Carter?" Austin chuckled. "Shut up." Their professor, Dr Matthews, entered moments later, cutting the chatter short. For the next two hours, Austin immersed himself in engineering formulas, structural diagrams, and calculations. It wasn't perfect. His concentration drifted every now and t

Chapter 26 Game Day Saturday afternoon, sunlight spilled through the Carter family home, bathing the living room in a warm golden glow. Austin stood in front of the hallway mirror, adjusting the collar of his Eastview Varsity warm-up jacket. His basketball bag rested by the door, shoes already laced and waiting. "You've checked your bag three times." Austin looked over his shoulder and laughed. "I don't want to forget anything." Mrs. Carter smiled knowingly as she walked into the room carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. She handed one to him before sitting on the couch. "You've always been like that." Austin raised an eyebrow. "When you were little, every game was the most important game in the world." She chuckled softly. "You would pack your tiny backpack the night before. Basketball... water bottle... snacks... then you'd unpack everything just to make sure it was all there." Austin laughed. "I did not." "You absolutely did." Bridget insisted, laughing. "I don't remembe

The arena remained alive long after the final buzzer. Students poured into the aisles, chanting Eastview's name as they filed toward the exits. Blue and silver scarves waved overhead while the student band blasted the school anthem."EASTVIEW!""EASTVIEW!""EASTVIEW!"The sound echoed through the building.---Near center court, Coach Daniels folded his arms as his players celebrated.Ryan was still laughing as he shoved Austin. “I thought I was going to become captain for a second there” “Never you are good assisting me” Austin retorted Ryan shoved the captain's shoulders again, and then he walked away from him. John Doe, excited, jumped and wrapped an arm around Austin's shoulders. "You nearly cost us the game."Austin laughed. "I know.""You owe us." "For what?"Austin's raised an eyebrow John Doe pointed dramatically toward the scoreboard. "For making us work overtime."The both of them burst into laughter."I told you to focus." John added. "You did." Austin wrapped both arm

The bass from the club still pulsed faintly through the walls as Austin stumbled back into the main room, heart racing, skin flushed, the taste of Brian still on his tongue.His hands were sticky. His jeans were half-zipped. His head spun from more than just the vodka.The lights flashed blue, then violet, then white.People laughed. Glasses clinked.Someone cheered from the dance floor. Yet none of it seemed real.Austin's heart refused to slow. His head buzzed from the alcohol, from the adrenaline, from everything that had happened in the hallway.What the fuck did I just do?He pushed through the crowd without looking back. Benjamin and Williams were still dancing. Scott was nowhere to be seen.Oliver remained seated at the table, absently stirring the melting ice in his drink while watching the crowd with his usual unreadable expression.Austin didn't stop. He needed air. He needed the distance. Most of all. He needed the last few minutes to erase themselves from existence. ---O