All Chapters of Craving My Best Friend’s Brother: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

I take a large gulp as Mrs. Cetera stares at me. A warm smile slowly curls her lips. “You have a really good friend looking out for you. Do you want to audition?”I freeze for a moment. My mouth opens to decline, to say I’m only here for backstage work, but the words die in my throat. Instead, I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”“Okay. Show me what you’ve got.”I walk slowly onto the stage, heart hammering against my ribs. “I… I’ll be auditioning for Cecily.”“Why Cecily?” Mrs. Cetera asks, leaning forward with genuine interest.“She is adventurous. She imagines things so vividly. I guess… we are connected in that way.”“Well,” she says, eyes narrowing thoughtfully, “you have a strong aura. I can feel it from here. Why don’t you audition for Gwendolen as well?”My eyes widen in panic. I shake my head quickly. “No. I can’t.”“And why is that?”“I can’t compete for Gwen. Powerful bodies have already claimed that role.” And it will get bloody. I’m avoiding that war at all costs.“Cecily has competition

I can’t sleep with this heaviness crushing my chest. As the clock ticks loudly in the silence, I turn onto my other side. How do I get out of this now that she has marked my family?Finally, I reach for the lamp on my nightstand and switch it off.My alarm jolts me awake. I slam the top of it, silencing the noise. I don’t even remember when sleep finally claimed me. Sitting up, I yawn and stretch, my body heavy with exhaustion. My phone vibrates on the nightstand. I grab it, heart skipping when I see the unknown number. Then the message appears when I view it fully. A sigh of relief escapes me when I see Ricky’s name.Unknown number: Hey, Chan. This is Ricky. Just checking to see if you are doing okay. I heard about your dad from Cortney.Heat rushes through me as I shift on the bed. It’s only 7:01 a.m., early, but I don’t mind. I suddenly wonder if River knows too. I type back quickly.Chan: I’m doing good. Dad is fine too. Thank you for reaching out. You know… I saw your audition

I hear noise as I sit outside Mrs. Cetera’s office. I have a lot on my mind—things I need to say to her—and I also don’t think giving me Gwen’s role is appropriate. Cortney wants me to be happy, but I can’t. I don’t deserve this. My effort was nowhere near that of the people who actually auditioned for the role. The door opens, and Sasha stomps out. Her gaze pierces through me like a dagger. “I—” “Save it, Rhodes.” She turns to walk away, but I open my mouth to say what has been bothering me for the past few days. “Leave my family out of this.” I hope she didn’t hear the fear in my voice. My fingers dig into my palm as I watch her turn back to me. She walks slowly, and I feel the heat rise from my legs to my throat. She folds her arms across her chest. “I told you to stay hidden, but you didn’t listen. Consequences happen when you disobey, Rhodes. You disobeyed me, and now I have to punish you for that.” “Please, Sasha. I—” I pause, choosing my words carefully. I have to stay un

***~~~CHANCÉ~~~***Seeing River after I had avoided him for a long time flipped my stomach upside down, but I played it cool because we were in front of a crowd. It was like the universe was playing a game—or trying to bring him into my path because we were meant for one another. Maybe. Or maybe I'm just stupid to even think that.The universe has always gotten involved when it comes to River Dawson and me. He is always showing up in places I wouldn't imagine—like a magnet, like we are pulling toward one another. Like an invisible string tying him to me. I think I heard about a theory of what this meant on TikTok. Yes, the red string: wherever you are, you two will always find each other.I actually expected him to be cool with it when he was asked the question about if he wanted the girls to be there, because we had rules. That meant he could do whatever he wanted, or say whatever he wanted, because we were just having fun.Besides, I shouldn't have expected him to say he wasn't co

Chancé's hand loosens from mine. My brain scrambles for an explanation—any explanation—as to why my mother is here. After so many turn-downs and disappointments. After all the canceled visits. And now she just shows up? Without telling any of us?The room feels smaller somehow. River shifts on the couch, avoiding my eyes. Ricky stares at the floor. Even the air between us feels heavy.“What—” My voice comes out thinner than I want it to. I clear my throat. “What are you doing here, Mom?”She takes a slow sip from her wine, calm as ever. “Can't a mother visit her children?”I let out a bitter laugh. “Right? I guess we are your children now, aren't we?”“Cortney—”“Don't 'Cortney' me. You can't just show up without letting any of us know. First, you told Ricky to come stay with us without telling us first—no offense, Ricky.” I turn to him.“None taken.”“Then you planned breakfast and disappointed us?”“I didn't mean to. I had an—”“An emergency. You always have that.” I shake my head. “