My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 25: Evil People Shouldn’t Have Abs

•⋅⊰∙∘☽✼☾∘∙⊱⋅•

Gigi had barely been in my house for five minutes when she started acting like she had just walked into a palace. She gasped at everything—the chandelier, the velvet curtains, even the doorknobs.

"Boy, this place looks like it belongs on Rich Kids of Beverly Hills," she exclaimed, spinning around with her arms spread wide as if trying to take it all in. "Do some people just... wake up rich?"

I was sitting cross-legged on my bed, flipping through my notes, and couldn’t help but laugh.

She gave me a look that clearly said she wasn’t impressed. "You even have a walk-in closet and a balcony!"

After about an hour of her exploring every corner, she finally plopped down next to me on the bed, tucking her legs under her. I filled her in on everything—the library, Ethan’s confession, how I almost bailed on the carnival, and how he convinced me to go anyway. Gigi listened, wide-eyed, spooning ice cream straight from the tub we’d snuck in. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

When I finished, she looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head. "Noah. Valentine. You’re saying you almost missed your chance because of Adrien?"

I sighed, sinking deeper into my pillow. "I know, I know. I just... got in my head about it. He made it sound like Ethan was just being nice because he felt sorry for me."

Gigi slammed the spoon down, pointing it at me as if it were a weapon. "And you believed him? Boy, you’re so lucky Ethan didn’t give up. The guy literally said he wanted to hang out with you. Voluntarily. That’s boyfriend material if I ever saw it."

I tried not to smile, but I failed miserably. "Do you really think he likes me?"

"Please," she scoffed, jumping off the bed like she was on a mission. "He’s practically drooling, therefore I know so. Tomorrow, Noah Valentine is going to show up and show out. Adrien can choke on his own dick."

I snorted, falling back onto the bed with a pillow clutched to my chest as Gigi dramatically fanned herself. For the first time in ages, I felt a genuine thrill for what tomorrow might bring.

Just then, there was a knock at the door right as Gigi was getting into a deep discussion about the perfect lip gloss shade to match my dress. I turned to see my mom peek in with a warm smile, balancing a small tray in her hands.

"Hey, guys," she said softly. "The chef made sandwiches and some homemade juice. Thought you might be hungry after all that studying."

Before I could reply, Gigi gasped, eyes lighting up as if she’d just discovered treasure. "Oh my gosh, that looks amazing!" She practically leapt off the bed towards the tray.

Mom chuckled as she set it down on my vanity. "I figured you two could use a break. You’ve been laughing so loud, I could hear you from downstairs."

I laughed awkwardly, brushing my hair behind my ear. "Sorry, Mom. Gigi just—uh—got a little carried away."

Gigi reached for one of the sandwiches, but then froze mid-motion, her face falling as if she’d just remembered something tragic. "Wait. No. I can’t. I’m on a diet."

I rolled my eyes, grinning. "Since when?"

"Since two hours ago," she said dramatically, clutching her stomach. "I told Skylar I’d start eating cleaner and—oh, who am I kidding, give me that."

She grabbed a sandwich and took a massive bite, sighing blissfully. "Okay, this is so worth the calories."

Mom laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I’ll tell the chef his cooking passed the Gigi test, then."

"Please do," Gigi said with her mouth full, completely abandoning her supposed diet. "This man deserves a medal."

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head at her antics. Mom smiled at the two of us, her eyes softening.

"It’s nice to see you happy, sweetheart," she said quietly, looking at me. "It’s been a while since you’ve smiled like that."

Her words warmed me more than I expected. "Yeah," I replied with a small smile. "I guess things are... getting better."

Mom nodded gently and excused herself, leaving me and Gigi alone again.

As soon as the door closed, Gigi groaned, flopping onto my bed with a half-eaten sandwich. "I love your mom. I want her to adopt me."

I laughed, tossing her a napkin. "You’d probably get tired of her daily pep talks."

She grinned. "Never. Especially if she keeps bringing food like this."

I smiled to myself while Gigi munched happily, thinking about how, for the first time in a long while, my room actually felt... warm. Like the start of something good.

Gigi left later that night after hours of laughing, gossiping, and forcing me to watch funny cat videos. I practically begged her to stay for a sleepover, but she shook her head resolutely, adjusting her pastel pink purse over her shoulder.

"Absolutely not," she said with mock seriousness. "I can feel Adrien’s evil aura in this mansion, and I value my spiritual safety too much to risk it."

I laughed, nudging her toward the door. "You’re being dramatic."

"Dramatic is my middle name," she shot back, winking. "I’ll come back when the energy in this house is cleansed."

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway, walking her to the gate. "Text me when you get home, okay?"

"I will," she replied, pulling me in for one last hug before hopping into her car. "And remember—tomorrow, you’re going to that carnival with Ethan, and you’re going to look so hot he forgets his own name."

"Bye, Gigi," I said, laughing as she drove off, waving her hand out the window.

When I turned back towards the mansion, it looked quiet, dimly lit through the large windows. I walked through the long hallway, still smiling to myself, until I passed the glass doors that led to the home gym.

The rhythmic pounding of feet on a treadmill caught my attention. I turned my head—and froze.

Adrien.

He was shirtless, sweat glistening on his toned chest and arms as he ran, earbuds in, completely oblivious to me standing there like a creep. His dark hair stuck to his forehead, and the muscles in his back flexed in the low light.

My brain went blank. I told myself to look away, he’s your stepbrother, for heaven’s sake—but my eyes had a different idea. My thoughts were flooded with panic and unwanted admiration.

"Why does he have to look like that?" I muttered under my breath. "It’s not fair. Evil people shouldn’t have abs."

He slowed to a stop, grabbing a towel from the rack. I panicked, realizing that if he turned around, he’d see me standing there like some stalker and chew me out. He unscrewed a bottle of water and tilted his head back, gulping it down, his Adam’s apple bobbing with each swallow.

That was my cue to flee.

I spun around so fast I nearly tripped, muttering to myself, "Nope, not doing this, not today, not ever." My heart raced as I speed-walked down the hall, half mortified and half embarrassed at how I’d just ogled the guy who made my life miserable.

By the time I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and pressed my hands to my hot face. "Get it together, Noah," I whispered, shaking my head.

Still, as I crawled into bed that night, the image of Adrien’s smirk and sweat-slicked skin wouldn’t leave my mind, to my utter frustration.