All Chapters of In Love With My Best Friend’s Brother : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Jordan’s POV I’d only come to this place because the guys dragged me out after practice. One beer, they’d said. Unwind, they’d said. I hadn’t expected to end up in the corner of some half-lit café staring at the one person I’d been trying to stay away from. Miley. She was sitting by the window, opposite Zach, with two empty coffee cups between them. She was laughing — really laughing — that kind of laugh that makes the skin around her eyes crinkle and her shoulders shake. Zach was leaning in, elbows on the table, grinning like he’d just won something. My fingers tightened around the bottle in my hand. What the hell was this? I told myself I didn’t care. That she could sit there with whoever she wanted. But the longer I watched, the more that familiar burn crept up my neck. I knew that look on Zach’s face. I’d worn it myself. She was supposed to hate me. She was supposed to still be mad about the party. Not sitting here looking like she’d forgotten I even existed. Zach reached a

Jordan’s POV The sound of the shower running did nothing to drown out the noise in my head. I’d woken up late, skipped breakfast, and told myself I wasn’t going to that stupid dance class today. But the truth was, I couldn’t face her. Not after what happened on her porch. The taste of her was still burned into my mouth, like some kind of forbidden addiction I couldn’t shake. I told myself it was a mistake — that I’d been angry, jealous, drunk on everything she made me feel — but deep down, I knew I’d meant it. Every second of it. “Get it together, man,” I muttered, gripping the bathroom sink. My reflection looked back, mocking me — jaw tight, eyes restless. The same eyes that couldn’t stop searching for hers every time she walked into a room. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Miley was supposed to be an annoyance — my sister’s best friend, the loud, messy girl who couldn’t stop arguing with me. Not the person I thought about every time I closed my eyes. I threw on a hoodie

Jordan’s POV The soft flicker of the TV screen lit up the living room, the sound of gunfire and explosions filling the silence as Scott yelled, “Dude, are you even playing?” My controller sat loosely in my hands, thumbs hovering but unmoving. The game character I was supposed to be controlling stood frozen on screen while Scott’s avatar got blown to bits for the third time. “Bro—seriously?” Scott groaned, tossing his controller onto the couch. “You’ve been staring at that wall for, like, ten minutes. What’s going on in that head of yours?” I blinked, trying to act normal. “Nothing. Just tired.” “Right,” he said, snorting. “And I’m secretly the Pope.” I ignored him, leaning back into the couch. The glow from the screen washed over me, but my mind wasn’t here — it was back at her porch. Miley’s lips. The way she’d looked at me right before I lost control. I hadn’t meant to kiss her. Hell, I hadn’t meant to drag her out of her house, or say half the crap I did. I’d just— She’d lo

Miley’s POV The drive back home was quiet, except for the faint buzz of the radio humming in the background. Zach had dropped me off, flashing that boyish grin of his before waving goodbye, and I’d forced a smile in return. But as I stepped onto the driveway, something felt… off. There was a car parked right out front—sleek, black, and unfamiliar. My heart sank before my mind could even catch up. That kind of car didn’t belong here. Not anymore. The front door was slightly ajar, and the faint murmur of voices drifted through the air. My hand hesitated on the doorknob. Please, no. I stepped inside—and froze. Sitting on the living room couch, looking far too at home for someone who shouldn’t be here, was my dad. The same dad who’d left us. The same dad who’d stopped calling. The same dad who’d broken everything. “Miles.” His voice was soft, almost careful. He stood up slowly, his smile the same one he used to wear when he’d pick me up after dance recitals. “Hey, sweetheart.” I

Miley’s POV The Miami sun was unforgiving, but I didn’t mind. The warmth on my skin made me feel… grounded. Real. After last night’s conversation with Mum, I needed that reminder — that I was still here. Still hers. Liv and I sat on the stone ledge near the fountain outside school, plastic cups of iced coffee sweating in our hands. She was in full protective-best-friend mode, her brows knitted in concern as I told her everything. “So… he’s trying to take you away?” she asked softly. I nodded, staring at the ripples in the fountain. “Yeah. Mum said she’ll fight it, but the fact that he’s even trying makes me sick. I just— I can’t go back there, Liv. Not after everything.” Liv sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I can’t believe he’d do that to you. Like, he’s already messed up once — what else does he want?” “Control,” I muttered bitterly. “He’s always needed to win, even when it comes to people.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “You know, my mom’s lawyer helped her