Page 85 of Blackwood

BELLA

Rosethorne Mansion - Wexley University

555 Days Since Zeke’s Death

“I cannot believe you are going on a date with my brother,” Ellie says, voice pitched halfway between disbelief and betrayal as she stares at me like I’ve just committed war crimes.

“Like… Cade Whitmore. My actual brother. Who I share DNA with.”

I roll my eyes and flip my hair over one shoulder, trying to act unbothered even though my insides are spiraling like I’m fifteen again, sneaking into his art studio just to be near him.

“Okay, it’s not a date. It’s literally just coffee.”

Haley spins in her vanity chair, legs crossed, and grins like a cat with a secret. “Oh, babe. It’s totally a date. Did you see the way Callum and Cade looked like they were about to murder each other at practice? It was like a damn pissing contest with choreography.”

Ellie groans and flops backward on the couch, blonde curls spilling over the side dramatically. “Gross. Ew. No. My best friend and my brother cannot be a thing. That is trauma I will not unpack in therapy.”

I sip my water bottle, leaning against the wall, trying to ignore the way my pulse spikes just thinking about it. CadeWhitmore.The same guy who once called me Ellie’s obnoxious sidekick. Who used to give me the silent treatment whenever I was too loud at family dinners. Who picked me up drunk from a party when I was sixteen and never told anyone.

“For the last time,” I say, “it’s not a thing. We’re just hanging out.”

Haley raises a brow. “Uh-huh. And he just happened to ask you to ‘hang out’ right after you gave him the chair routine of his life, all while Cal sat beside him foaming at the mouth.”

Ellie groans. “Can we not talk about my brother foaming?”

I bite back a laugh. “You two are unhinged.”

“And you,” Haley points at me, “are into him.”

“My brother,Bella,” Ellie says, her voice rising like she’s about to break into song.

“Alright, El you need to chill,” Haley cuts in. “At least it’s not the womanizer one.”

“Thank you!” I gesture dramatically. “Also, can we calm down. It’s just coffee.”

Haley narrows her eyes. “That’s how it starts.”

“Plus” I mutter, trying to sound casual, “he’s already in a relationship.”

Haley chucks a throw pillow at my face. “See! You do like him.”

“Oh my God,” I groan, catching the pillow. “You girls are the worst.”

Ellie sighs. “Fine. You’re right, Hales. If she’s gonna date one of my brothers, at least she picked the good one.”

“I’m not dating anyone,” I mumble. “He has a boyfriend. It’s just coffee.”

“Denial,” Haley sings, kicking her feet. “First comes coffee, then comes well, you know.”

“I hate all of you.”

“You love us.” Then Ellie squints at her phone, face morphing into a dangerous grin. “I wonder if Lex knows…”

My head snaps up. “What are you doing?”

She doesn’t answer, just starts typing. A second later, her eyes widen.

“Oh. My. Fucking.God.”