All Chapters of In Love With My Best Friend’s Brother : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Miley’s POV The morning sunlight streamed through my blinds, golden and annoyingly cheerful — completely at odds with how I felt inside. Sleep had been a joke. I’d tossed and turned half the night, replaying Jordan’s message about his father, the kiss on my forehead, the way my chest had felt lighter and heavier all at once. Now, as I got ready for school, my thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions I couldn’t untangle even if I tried. Guilt, confusion, warmth — and something that felt suspiciously close to longing. “Miles, you’re going to be late!” Mom’s voice called from downstairs. “Coming!” I yelled back, quickly shoving my hair into a messy bun before grabbing my bag. My reflection in the mirror looked tired — but also… softer somehow. When I got to school, I spotted Liv near the lockers. She looked equally exhausted, which was odd for her. Normally, she was the type who floated into school with a coffee in hand and a bright smile. “You look like you didn’t sleep,” I said

The studio lights were low this time, the sun bleeding gold through the high windows. Miley stood by the mirror, tying her hair into a loose bun while Jordan adjusted the speaker. Their first rehearsal had gone better than expected — dangerously better — and part of her was terrified of what today might do to her resolve. “Ready?” Jordan asked, flashing that lazy grin that could disarm anyone. She met his eyes in the mirror. “I think so.” “You don’t sound sure,” he teased, stepping closer. “I just don’t trust you not to drop me again.” He laughed, that familiar warmth spilling into the air. “I told you, you’re safe with me.” He started the music. The rhythm filled the room — slower this time, heavier, like something that demanded emotion. They began to move. Every step felt like a conversation neither of them wanted to have out loud. Her heartbeat matched the bassline. His hand found hers, fingers curling in instinct. She spun, fell into his arms, their bodies falling into rhy

MILEY’S POV The house was quiet that night — too quiet. The sound of the ocean outside my window should’ve been soothing, but it wasn’t. Not tonight. Not after that awful meeting with my dad. His words kept replaying in my head: “You’re my daughter, Miley. You belong with me.” Belong? He hadn’t even looked for me for months. And now, suddenly, he wanted to play father of the year because he thought Mom wasn’t “stable enough”? It made my stomach twist. I sat on my bed, hugging a pillow, the dim light from my lamp pooling across my open sketchbook. I wasn’t even drawing — just dragging the pencil aimlessly across the page, like maybe if I kept my hand moving, I wouldn’t have to think. Then came a knock. Soft, but firm. I froze. Mom had gone to bed hours ago. No one else ever came here this late. Another knock. Then a familiar voice — low, careful. “Miley, it’s me.” Jordan. My breath hitched. I didn’t move at first, unsure if I even wanted to open that door. The last time I

JORDAN’S POV I didn’t even know why I was walking this way. The rational part of my brain said I was just heading to the cafeteria. The irrational part — the one I’ve been trying to silence since that night on her porch — knew damn well why my feet were moving in this direction. Because she’d be here. Because Miley was always here during break, sitting by the window with her sketchbook or with Liv and Zach — especially Zach. And sure enough, there they were. I stopped at the end of the hallway, my tray of food balanced in one hand, pretending to scroll through my phone like I hadn’t just frozen mid-step. Miley sat across from him, her hair pulled up in that loose messy bun she always wore when she wasn’t trying too hard. Zach was leaning forward, elbows on the table, grinning at something she said — that too-easy, too-casual grin that made my teeth grind. Then he did it. He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Every muscle in my body went tight. I tri

MILEY’S POV By the time word spread around Brixley High that Jordan Kingston and Alana Cruz were officially dance partners, I was pretending not to care. I laughed with Liv, listened to Spencer complain about homework, even smiled at Zach when he made some goofy joke—but inside, it was like my stomach had turned to glass. I didn’t know what stung more—hearing about it or watching Alana strut into the cafeteria to announce it. She walked straight toward our table, her glossy curls bouncing with every smug step. The entire cafeteria felt like it was watching, even if they weren’t. “Well, well,” she started, folding her arms as she stopped right in front of me. “Guess I should thank you, Miley. If you hadn’t switched partners, Jordan wouldn’t have come to me. We make such a great pair.” I blinked up at her slowly, forcing a smile. “That’s great, Alana. You two really deserve each other.” Liv’s eyes darted between us, her protective instincts kicking in, but I rested a hand on her