บททั้งหมดของ PUCK ME, STEPBROTHER: บทที่ 81 - บทที่ 90

TrappedBryson POVI wake up to the sound of wind howling against the windows.The room is dark, too dark for morning. I sit up slowly and look outside. Snow is falling so thick that I can barely see anything outside. The trees are bent under the weight of the snow.A snowstorm and it's a bad one.I check my phone. It's almost eight in the morning, but the sky looks like evening.My stomach sinks. We were supposed to go to Mason and Elijah's party later. Seems that's not happening now.Which means we're stuck here.I glance at the other side of the bed and notice Julian is curled up there, still asleep. His face is peaceful, relaxed in a way it hasn't been when he's awake lately.Then the memory of our fight hits me all at once.The way he said "no" when Mason asked if we were boyfriends. The way he shrugged and said we were "kinda" together. Like I don't matter. Like this doesn't matter.My chest tightens with guilt and anger all twisted together.I want to fix this. I really do. But

Stake Your ClaimJulian POVI watch Bryson across the room talking to some man I don't know. They're standing close. The man touches Bryson's arm briefly while making a point.My chest tightens with a sharp pang of jealousy.I look away quickly, feeling foolish. We're not together. We made that clear. I have no right to feel this way.But I do anyway."You look miserable."I turn to find Elijah beside me, holding two glasses. He offers me one."Thanks," I mutter, taking it."Come on." He nods toward a quieter corner. "Let's talk."We move away from the crowd. The noise fades slightly and I can breathe a little easier.Elijah leans against the wall, sipping his drink. "So. How's hockey going?"I'm grateful for the change of subject. "Good. We won our tournament before break.""That's impressive. What position do you play again?""Center.""Yeah, that's right. Requires smart plays and quick thinking." He studies me. "You planning to go pro?"My stomach drops. "No. Actually, I'm giving i

freedomJulian POVI wake up tangled with Bryson like we're trying to become one person. His arm is slung across my waist.It's warm.I lie there for a while, just absorbing the fact that this is real now. I have a boyfriend. Bryson is my boyfriend. I actually grabbed his face in front of witnesses and claimed him like some kind of romance novel protagonist.God, what was I thinking?Best decision of my life, honestly.Bryson stirs, his eyes opening slowly. When he sees me watching him, his lips curve into a sleepy smile."You're doing the staring thing again," he mumbles."Maybe I like looking at you.""Creep.""You're creepy."He laughs and kisses my forehead. My brain short-circuits."You okay?" Bryson asks, noticing my expression."Yeah. Just... processing.""Processing what?""That you're mine. That we're actually doing this."His eyes go soft. "Get used to it.."My chest feels too full. I kiss him to avoid saying something embarrassing like "I love you so much I might explode."

With the ProsJulian POV.I wake up feeling wrong.Not sick. Not tired. Just... off.Bryson is already awake, moving around the room. He's dressed and doing something with his phone, his back to me. There's something stiff in the air between us, something I can't name but can definitely feel.Yesterday keeps replaying in my head. He left without explanation. Not answering when I called. Coming back acting all weird.What if he's rethinking this? What if the excitement of having a boyfriend wore off and now he's realizing it's too complicated? What if he wants space but doesn't know how to say it?My chest tightens."Morning," I say, trying to sound normal.Bryson turns, and his expression brightens immediately. "Hey. You're up. Good. Get dressed."I blink. "What?""We're going somewhere.""Where?""It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you" His voice shakes slightly, like he's nervous and excited at the same time.My stomach drops. A surprise. That sounds like breakup talk. Like "we need

CaughtJulian POVI feel pulled in two directions at once.My chest is tight. My mind scattered. I'm standing in the hallway listening to Bryson slam his bedroom door while my dad paces the living room like a caged animal."This is a disaster," he mutters, running his hand through his hair. "A complete disaster. If they find out about the merger, if any of my competitors think I'm vulnerable…""Dad." My voice comes out sharper than intended. "Someone took Bryson's mom. That's what matters right now."He stops pacing and looks at me like I said something stupid. "You don't understand the implications here, Julian. This isn't just about her. This is about all of us. If this is connected to my business…""Then maybe your business is the problem."His eyes narrow dangerously. "Watch your tone.""I'm not a kid anymore. You can't just…""Enough." He holds up a hand. "I don't have time for this."My stomach twists. I love Bryson's mom. She's been nothing but kind to me, treating me like fami