Part 1My Brother’s "Boyfriend" is Actually in Love With Me

I was on FaceTime with my brother late at night. Suddenly, he said he had to take care of something and left his phone on the desk.

I went to grab a glass of water. When I came back, I noticed the video call was still connected and was just about to hang up.

Suddenly, a deep, magnetic voice came through the speaker, carrying a hint of breathless exhaustion.

"Stop kissing."

?!?

That voice... It was Ethan Wilder.

The guy I’d been secretly crushing on for three whole months.

Then, I heard Ethan’s voice get even closer.

"I said, stop kissing."

My brother let out a low chuckle. "Can't help it. It's been too long."

My brother... and Ethan Wilder?

Alright then.

That night, with tears in my eyes, I changed Ethan's contact name in my phone to "Future Brother-in-Law."

You can't exactly sabotage your own brother's romance.

* * *

When my brother had first FaceTimed me, I was staring blankly at the three new photos Ethan had just posted on his Instagram.

"What are you doing? You look totally spaced out," my brother, Austin, said, loudly crunching on an apple on his end.

"Nothing," I said listlessly.

"I just feel like some people are born to live up in the clouds."

"Spring fever hitting you early?"

"Screw off."

We chatted aimlessly for about half an hour. He mentioned he had to go down and grab a DoorDash delivery and tossed his phone onto his desk.

The camera was pointing straight up at the ceiling.

I was just about to hit the red 'end call' button when I heard his dorm room door open.

Then, footsteps.

Next, a deep, husky voice drifted into my ears, carrying a helpless, amused tone:

"Alright, stop kissing."

My entire body went rigid.

I knew that voice far too well; it was my crush, Ethan Wilder.

The video feed stuttered for a second before focusing on Ethan’s shirtless upper half.

Water droplets were sliding down the sharp, defined lines of his abs.

I stared at the screen, my finger hovering over the end call button, but I physically couldn't press it.

He was towel-drying his hair. A stray drop of water rolled past his Adam’s apple. He suddenly raised his eyes and looked directly toward the camera.

I held my breath.

"Austin,"

"Your camera is still on."

The air froze for three agonizing seconds.

Austin’s panicked face suddenly filled the screen, his eyes wide with horror:

"Holy shit! Chloe, you're still there?!"

Austin frantically fumbled with the phone. The image blurred wildly before finally going pitch black.

Call Ended.

I sat paralyzed on my bed, my phone slipping from my hand.

Only one word echoed in my brain: Ruined.

My phone screen lit up again. It was a text from Austin:

[Bad connection just now. Let's talk another day.]

I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the keyboard, having absolutely no idea what to reply.

Finally, I just sent back an "OK" hand emoji.