My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 78: Time To Go Home (BC)

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He was quiet for a while, the gentle sounds of the forest filling the silence that hung between us. In the distance, the lake caught the fading sunlight, transforming from gold to rose as the sun dipped lower. I studied him, trying to decipher the storm that seemed ever-present in his eyes. When he finally broke the silence, his casual tone was almost infuriating—so much that I nearly laughed.

"Sure," he said with a shrug, his voice low and dismissive. "Whatever. Just don’t get in my way." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

I blinked, a bit surprised, then couldn’t help but grin. "So that’s a yes?"

He shot me a sidelong glance, a smirk playing on his lips. "It’s not a no."

That was good enough for me. I felt my smile widen before I even realized it. "This’ll be fun," I said, barely managing to keep my excitement in check. "Just like one of those mystery novels I sometimes read. You know—the brooding detective and the clever sidekick unraveling a dark family secret."

Adrien turned toward me, one eyebrow raised, a hint of disbelief in his expression. "This isn’t a novel, Noah," he replied dryly. "And I’m not the brooding detective. This is serious."

I feigned offense, dramatically gasping. "Hey, I can be serious! I’ve read at least five whole detective series!"

He rolled his eyes, that familiar exasperation crossing his face, though I noticed the corners of his mouth twitching, as if he was trying not to smile. "Yeah, sure, Sherlock," he muttered. "Just don’t trip over your own curiosity and get us both killed."

I laughed softly, pulling my legs beneath me in the chair. "I’ll do my best."

He shook his head with a slight huff and stepped closer, the hem of his shirt brushing against my arm as he stopped in front of me. The air between us shifted—light and teasing but threaded with an underlying warmth.

Suddenly, he reached out and ruffled my hair, his hand sinking into the messy curls I’d barely managed to tame that morning.

"Hey!" I protested, swatting at his arm as he chuckled. "Cut it out! You’re making it worse!"

"Didn’t think that was possible," he said, his grin widening.

I pouted, crossing my arms, and he just laughed harder. When his amusement finally faded, he looked down at me with an unexpected softness in his gaze. His voice dropped low enough that I almost missed it.

"Thank you," he said simply.

For a moment, I was frozen, caught off guard by how genuine he sounded. His green eyes locked onto mine, calm yet unreadable, and something uneasy fluttered in my chest before I managed to smile back.

"You’re welcome," I murmured.

He turned and stepped back toward the cabin, the porch floor creaking beneath him. I watched him leave, his broad shoulders framed by the last rays of sunset until he disappeared inside, leaving the door swinging slightly behind him.

I exhaled, a quiet, content sigh escaping me as I picked up my phone again. The screen flickered to life, my offline game’s familiar music filling the air. I settled back into the rocking chair, the scent of pine and the fading warmth of his presence lingering around me.

For the first time in what felt like ages, I found myself smiling without even trying—soft and genuine, like maybe things between us were actually starting to change.

The next day came more quickly than I anticipated, as if time had folded in on itself while I wasn’t paying attention. One moment I was watching the sunset with Adrien silhouetted against it, and the next, it was morning again...our last morning here.

By six, I was already awake, stuffing the last of my clothes into my duffel bag. The air was still cool, nipping at my skin and carrying that faint earthy scent of pine. I could hear Adrien outside, his rhythmic footsteps softly thudding against the dirt path as he jogged around the house. It was oddly comforting, the steady sound of him nearby.

Once I finished packing, I sat on the edge of the bed, glancing around the now nearly empty room. It felt so bare without my things scattered everywhere. The blanket was folded, the dresser drawers gaping open and empty, and the curtains swayed gently in the morning breeze. I traced my thumb over the wooden edge of the nightstand, finding it strange that a place that once felt so stifling had somehow turned into... peaceful.

I told myself I wouldn’t miss it, that it was just a cabin, just a temporary home in the middle of nowhere...but deep down, I knew I’d miss it more than I wanted to admit.

And then there was Adrien.

Letting out a quiet laugh, I shook my head, recalling how he’d casually offered me this place, like gifting someone a whole forest and lakeside mansion was no big deal. It was crazy. And yet... it was the first gift he’d ever given me. Just the thought made my chest feel a little warm, a bit heavy. How could I possibly turn it down?

The hours slipped by quicker than I wanted. I glanced at the time on my phone, it was already ten. The tranquil morning was abruptly interrupted by the distant roar of an engine climbing up the driveway. My heart skipped a beat, and I shot up from the bed, rushing to the window.

A sleek black Mustang was pulling up the gravel path, sunlight glinting off its polished surface. I recognized that car anywhere. Keith’s car.

A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped slowly, shaky, followed by a small sigh of relief. Finally. It was over.

"Guess that’s our ride," I mumbled to myself, brushing a loose strand of hair out of my face as I took one last look around the room...the cabin, the view, everything that had somehow become part of a strange, tangled summer I’d never forget.

Squaring my shoulders, I grabbed my bag and stepped toward the door.

It was finally time to go home.