My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 48: Middle Aged People Are Strange

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Finally, after what seemed like an endless stretch of awkward silence and my parents’ overly sweet flirting, the drive came to an end. As Carlby guided the limousine down a narrow, tree-fringed path, I spotted the cabin through the windshield — big, wooden, and nestled among towering pines. The lake sparkled in the background, sunlight dancing on its surface like polished glass. For a moment, I nearly forgot to breathe. It was stunning... in that oddly quiet way that made you feel both at ease and a little on edge.

When we stopped, Mom was the first to hop out, her heels crunching on the gravel as she took in her surroundings with wonder. "Oh my," she exclaimed, hands clasped together. "It’s... beautiful. Like something out of a movie."

"Hasn’t changed a bit in seven years," Keith said with a proud smile, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Used to come here with Adrien and...his mom every summer. Thought you two would love it too."

I glanced at Mom, and she returned my look with a smile, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her brow. "Well, it’s our first time here," she said casually, trying to mirror his enthusiasm. "It’s... very peaceful."

Too peaceful, I thought. The air was still, the lake glistening like glass under the afternoon sun. Even the birds seemed cautious to make a sound.

Adrien let out a sigh that resembled a groan as he dragged his bag from the trunk. "Yeah, peaceful," he muttered. "If you ignore the fact we’re in the middle of nowhere."

Keith shot him a look. "It’s not that bad," he said, "You used to love this place, Adrien."

Truthfully, the seclusion made me a bit uneasy too.

Keith turned toward us with that dad blend of cheer and authority. "Come on, you two. The sooner we settle in, the sooner we can chill. I promised you this trip would do us good — a little family bonding, with no distractions."

Adrien snorted quietly, muttering something under his breath. I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and followed them up the steps. The porch creaked beneath our feet as the front door swung open, letting out a faint scent of cedar and old books.

Inside, the cabin felt warm and rustic high ceilings, wooden beams, and a stone fireplace that seemed like it hadn’t been used in ages. Mom turned slowly, taking in every detail. "Wow," she murmured. "I feel like we just stepped into a cottage core storybook."

Keith beamed, clearly pleased. "Told you it was worth the trip. By the end of the week, you’ll all be in love with this place."

I managed a small smile, glancing at Adrien, who was already rolling his eyes.

The cabin was way bigger than I expected. Each step I took seemed to lead to another room that smelled faintly of pine and nostalgia. There was a spacious living room with an ancient-looking stone fireplace and comfy armchairs, a kitchen with shiny oak counters, and a wraparound porch overlooking the lake that glimmered under the moonlight. Five bedrooms, all beautifully furnished, with plush rugs and large windows that let the forest peek in. It felt homey yet unsettling — like the walls held old secrets but were kind enough not to spill them.

Downstairs, I could hear Mom and Keith bustling around the kitchen, laughing like newlyweds. They’d unpacked groceries and a few bottles of Keith’s favorite wine, their voices fading in and out of earshot.

"Red or white?" Mom called out.

Keith chuckled. "Both. We’re on vacation, remember?"

I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the hallway railing, listening to the sound of corks popping. Their cheer was almost suspicious, like this whole getaway was more for them than for Adrien and me. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

By dinner, the table was overflowing with way too much food for just four people. Roasted chicken, salad, garlic bread, and even a cake that Keith must’ve ordered from some bakery in town. The candles flickered, casting warm light across the wood-paneled walls. Everything felt a bit too perfect, almost staged, like they were trying too hard to cover something.

"So...uh," Keith said as we started eating, his voice casual in that way adults use when they’re definitely keeping something under wraps. "Your mom and I...we were thinking of heading into town tomorrow morning. Just for a bit, to grab a few more supplies."

I looked up mid-bite. "Supplies? Didn’t we bring enough already?"

Mom waved her hand dismissively, her smile just a tad too wide. "Oh, you can never be too prepared, sweetheart. I realized we forgot a few essentials."

Adrien froze, fork in hand, eyes narrowing slightly. "Essentials? You packed half a grocery store in the trunk. What more do you possibly need?"

Keith laughed, but it sounded forced. "Oh, you know — little things. Extra batteries, bug spray, uh... marshmallows."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Marshmallows?"

Mom shot Keith a warning look and went back to slicing her chicken. I stayed quiet, shoving food around my plate, watching them exchange awkward glances every time Adrien spoke. Something about their smiles felt rehearsed, like they were reading from a script they hadn’t fully memorized.

It was odd... even for them.

After dinner, Keith poured Mom another glass of wine, and they started laughing about something only they understood. Adrien excused himself first, muttering something about needing some fresh air, and slipped out onto the porch.

I lingered behind, clearing the dishes, trying to figure out why Mom and Keith were acting so peculiar today.

But, hey... middle-aged people are usually weird. No need to overthink it.

Later that night, after helping Mom finish washing the dishes, I shut the door softly behind me as I slipped into my room. The cabin was quiet now, except for the distant sound of crickets and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards, making it feel like the house itself was breathing. I changed into my pajamas, crawled into bed, and pulled the blanket up to my chin.

First thing I did, like I always do — was check my messages. Still nothing. No call, no text, not even a dumb meme from Ethan. The last thing we shared was that argument, and since then, the silence had only grown heavier with each passing hour.

I sighed, staring at the empty message box. "Come on, Ethan," I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely above a murmur. "Just say something... anything."

Of course, nothing happened. The signal bar flickered weakly before disappearing altogether, leaving me with that dreaded "No Service" sign flashing at me from the top of my screen.

"Great," I muttered, tossing the phone lightly onto the pillow beside me. "In the middle of nowhere and zero reception. Fucking fantastic."

For a while, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting back to the look on Ethan’s face when he stormed out of the diner the way his jaw had clenched and the hurt in his eyes. My chest tightened. Maybe I’d messed everything up. Maybe that "I love you" he’d shared wasn’t as solid as I thought.

I turned onto my side, snuggling closer to my pillow as if it could hold me together. The cabin felt colder now, quieter too. I reached for my phone again out of habit, refreshing my messages even though I knew it was pointless. Still no signal.

"Maybe in the morning," I murmured to myself, trying to reassure myself. "Maybe he’ll text me by morning."

But as my eyes grew heavy, the blue light from my screen faded, replaced by the soft sounds of the night outside. My last conscious thought before sleep took over was of Ethan...his voice, his laughter, and the way he used to look at me like I was the only thing in the room.

Little did I know that the next day, I’d be seriously considering disowning my ridiculous parents.