Page 190 of For the Fans

“It’s all good,” he calls out to the rest of the party, loud but calm. “We just need some air. Everyone’s fine.”

I can feel eyesstaringat me, and it’s like a huge fluorescent interrogation light shining in my face as I stomp past the lingering bodies, up the hallway, putting space between me and this prying situation.

Adrenaline is still buzzing me from head to toe, and I no longer feel drunk. But now the despair is overwhelming the fuck out of the anger, and I just need to sit down.

Breathe. Relax.

You’re here… You’re fine.

Guty brings me to a quiet end of the hall where I rip myself away from him and start pacing, yanking my hair in my fists.

He watches me with worried eyes. “You good?”

“No. No, I’m not fuckinggood,” I hiss, shaking my head.

“What’s your problem with that dude, anyway?” he asks carefully.

“He’s a fucking prick!” I growl.

“Why?? What even happened—”

“He stole my girlfriend in high school, and now he’s stealing my—” My voice cuts out quick, and I blink at Guty, who’s staring at me like I’m nuts. Shifting my tone, I mutter, “He was practically molesting my fucking stepbrother. Forgive me for trying to defend him…”

You sound like such a whacko.

Guty’s head tilts. “I don’t know, bro… It looked like Avi was enjoying himself.”

“What do you know about what he fuckingenjoys…” I scrub my face with my palms.

I’m fully aware that I’m making myself look bat-shit crazy right now, but I can help it. I can’t stop picturing Ash’s mouth touching Avi’s and it’s driving me fucking mental.

Guty is quiet for a while until eventually he clears his throat. “Alright, kid. I’m hearing you. I just don’t want you to do something stupid that could fuck us all over.”

I nod fast, leaning up against the wall with a crash. “I get it. I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. Nothing happened.” He squeezes my shoulder. “I’m gonna go make sure everyone’s chill… No one’s calling campus security or any dumb shit.”

I nod again, rubbing my eyes while he clomps up the hall. I hear him mumbling to someone, and my eyes shoot open to see who’s coming, desperately wanting it to be…

“Oh. Hey…” I sigh as Frankie pads over to me, barefoot and carrying her shoes.

“Don’t look so excited to see me,” she mumbles in amusement.

“Sorry, I just…”

I wanted it to be him.

“Avi wanted to come talk to you, but I told him to give you space.” She leans up against the wall by my side. “Kyran, I totallyunderstand why you’re freaking out. Trust me, I do. But this shit is giving him whiplash.”

Peeking at her, I swallow down a hard lump of emotion. “And you think it’s not the same for me?? I have no fucking clue what I’m doing anymore…”

“I get it,” she says softly. “It’s scary… coming to terms with stuff.”

My stomach flops aggressively. “You’re not talking about OnlyFans, are you…?”

She chuckles. “No. I’m not.”

Letting out a ragged sighs, I scrape a hand over my face and whisper, “He’s my stepbrother, Frankie…”