Page 30 of The Boy Next Door

I used to consider my imagination healthy and creative. I envisioned countless scenarios where the cute boy I'd been friends with forever looked at me and finally saw me how I saw him. I dreamed of boyish enthusiasm lighting his face as he confessed his love and swept me into a passionate kiss.

Turns out, my imagination leaves a lot to be desired. Because I never once envisioned Dylan confessing his feelings to me when I'm seeing another guy. A guy who happens to be his brother.

Since we can't talk at our houses, we go to a coffee shop near school. I order a latte on autopilot before throwing myself into the nearest comfy armchair. This feels like a dream, but the mountain of whipped cream on my drink doesn't help wake me up.

"Sam," Dylan laughs awkwardly across from me. "Are you okay?"

Can I get an easier question first?

"What's going on in your head?" he asks.

"I'm... stunned."

I barely taste the mouthful of sugar as I drink.

"Not the worst reaction, all things considered." Dylan forces a smile. "Look, about Hunter…"

"Hunter, oh my god ." The sweet taste in my mouth suddenly turns to ash. "What about Hunter?"

"That's the main reason I wasn't sure about telling you."

"But you did."

"I know, I know! You're with my brother ," he groans, running a hand through his brown hair and tugging on the strands. " I hate myself, but I like you and it's not going away. At least I told you before it gets even more serious with him."

"And what am I supposed to do now?" Besides panic.

"Whatever you want." Dyl meets my eyes, hopeful and sweet. "In case there's any hope, I just needed to tell you."

Dylan waits for me to process this information and say anything, whether a rejection or that I need more time to think... I haven't even started thinking yet.

Dylan likes me? Dylan likes Sam. Nope, it won't stick. It's not possible.

Actually? 'Stunned' was an understatement.

As we head out, Dylan holds open the door for me.

Not paying attention, I trip over the door jamb and basically fall right into my friend's arms. He catches me, our faces are close, and I think he might kiss me.

I'm not sure whether I lean forwards or backwards, but I snap out of the moment a second later and jump away.

"Don't worry." He raises his hands innocently. "I'm not gonna kiss you."

"Oh?"

If he likes me as he claims, why not?

"Look, being the guy who comes on to his brother's boyfriend?" He grimaces. "I've decided that's the lesser evil, and it's all I'm willing to stoop to. So, I can't kiss you, not yet anyway."

Yet judging by the look in his eyes, he longs to press his lips to mine. Ah!

"I have to go!" I exclaim and rush away, not even caring how abrupt and frantic my exit is.

Though I retreat to my car, I don't go anywhere. I sit there, staring ahead. My brain is broken. Dylan likes Sam. The thought is laughable.

However, didn't it once seem just as insane that Hunter might like me?

~

After Dylan's confession, there's really no pulling myself back together. Mom asked if I was on drugs when she came home and saw me staring at a turned off television. I texted my friends something, which apparently got their attention because—

"Sam!" Maggie waves a hand in front of my face.

Maggie and Clay are sitting in the living room with me. The TV is still turned off. I glance out the window.

"Whoa, it's dark out."

"Yeah," Clay agrees, not surprised by this development. "We're gonna need you to focus and stop freaking out internally."

"What the hell is going on?" I wonder.

"Now you have two guys." Clay sounds proud. "It's not the worst problem ever."

"Except they're brothers and I have to hurt one." My heart seizes in my chest at the thought. "God, what should I do?"

"You have to decide," Maggie says kindly, huddled under a blanket on the couch. Isn't she hot? It feels so warm in here.

And the walls are closing in. Standing, I need to flee or do something, but there's nowhere to go. Another glance tells me the walls are actually still right where they're supposed to be. Maggie and Clay seem about two seconds from locking me in a padded room and throwing away the key.

"Haven't I already decided?" I sit back down. "Hunter."

"You thought Dylan wasn't an option."

Still doesn't feel like he is. He shouldn't be. Except he is? Which means I could have either Cruse brother. I thought Dylan was off-limits. I fell into a date with Hunter. And now? Comes the impossible. I get to choose.

Life works in strange ways. My wildest dreams are coming true just when I've given up on them and started making new dreams.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Clay begins. "Maybe work a little faster? Don't keep them waiting too long."

"Right," I agree. Great, more pressure. But he's right. "That's not fair to them."

"No, Samuel. They live in the same house. Hunter's eventually gonna find out they're both going after the same guy."

Holy—even if it spares me from making the choice, I'd rather not have them kill each other.

"Oh, hello everybody." Dad steps into the living room, blinking in surprise at my guests. "Did your mother approve a co-ed sleepover on a school night that I don't know about?"

"No."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like her." He nods to my friends. "So maybe you two should head home?"