All Chapters of We shouldn’t be doing this, Step-brother: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

SiennaFor a second, I thought he was joking.“Stay here?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.Jaxon’s eyes searched mine, half teasing but also a little serious now. “Just for a while,” he said softly. “Nothing crazy. Just… stay.”I hesitated. My heart was still racing from almost getting caught earlier, and the thought of him sleeping in my room while our parents were just down the hall made my stomach twist.But he looked at me — not with that usual cocky grin, but quietly, like he really meant it.I sighed, shaking my head a little. “Fine. But only for a few hours. You’re leaving before sunrise.”His grin returned instantly. “Deal.”He slid under the blanket beside me, careful not to make too much noise. The bed dipped slightly from his weight, and somehow that tiny shift made the room feel smaller — and safer.For a while, we didn’t say anything. His arm brushed against mine, and my heart refused to calm down. I could hear his breathing, steady and slow, and the faint rh

SiennaI could barely breathe when we stepped inside.The house smelled faintly of lavender and rain — calm and homely — but my pulse was still racing from the disaster that just happened in the car.I had called Jaxon babe. In front of our parents.The word kept replaying in my head like a broken record. Every time I tried to convince myself they hadn’t heard it clearly, Mom’s knowing smile told me otherwise.We kicked off our shoes by the door, the soft sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway. Dad locked up, humming some random tune like he was trying not to laugh. Jaxon brushed past me with that smug, quiet grin that made me want to throw something at him.I was halfway up the stairs when I heard Mom call behind me.“So, Sienna…”I froze. My stomach dropped.Dad’s voice joined hers, way too casual. “Who’s the mystery babe, huh?”Heat shot straight to my face. I turned around slowly, pretending not to understand. “What?”Mom leaned against the wall, smiling like she was enjoying e

SiennaA few days had passed quietly. The air in the house felt heavier as usual, like it was holding our secret that neither of us wanted to expose.Summer was almost over. Just a few days left before school started again—my final year—and Jaxon had finally made his choice. Stanford. My dad couldn’t stop talking about it, and my mom was already planning a shopping day to get him everything he’d need before he left.It should’ve felt normal. It should’ve just been another chapter in our family’s story. But nothing about us had been normal for weeks.Between the stolen touches, the quick glances, the long silences that said too much, everything about being around Jaxon had started to feel like walking through fire—slow, hot, and dangerous.We’d gotten good at it though. Too good.Every laugh at dinner was rehearsed. Every move was careful. Every look stolen. We had become experts at pretending.But even perfect things have cracks.That evening, the sun was low, bleeding gold through th

SiennaThe house felt different that morning.It wasn’t the kind of quiet that came with peace — it was the kind that made your chest hurt, the kind that filled the air after something breaks.I didn’t sleep. Not a minute.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Mom’s face — the shock, the scream, the look of betrayal that carved itself into me. I wished I could erase it. I wished I could go back and stop myself from walking into his room.I stayed in bed, hugging my pillow, my body heavy with shame and fear. My hair was still messy from the night before. I couldn’t even bring myself to move.From downstairs, I heard dishes clattering. The kind of sharp, restless noise that told me Mom was trying to keep busy — or keep from crying.Dad’s voice came next, low and tired. Then Jaxon’s.I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I could feel it — the tension in every word, the disappointment hanging in the air.It was my fault. Our fault.I pulled the blanket tighter around me, staring at

SiennaThe next morning felt like walking through a graveyard.The air was thick, heavy — too still. Every sound felt loud, like it didn’t belong. Even the clinking of plates from the kitchen sounded out of place, like the house itself was holding its breath.Mum was at the counter, moving quietly as she fixed breakfast. She didn’t say a word to anyone. Her eyes were red, her face pale, and she avoided looking at me completely.I sat at the edge of the dining chair, staring at the untouched plate in front of me. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t even breathe right.Dad had already left for work — or so I thought. He hadn’t said goodbye. He hadn’t looked at me. He’d just walked out before sunrise, the front door slamming hard enough to make me flinch from upstairs.Jaxon hadn’t come out of his room either. I heard his footsteps pacing a few times, then silence. That silence was worse than any argument. It was like the house itself was mourning something we’d killed.After a while, Mum finally