FORBIDDEN TIES {My brother's best friend}

Chapter 3

                       ~SELENA~

I sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of awkwardness settle over us like a heavy blanket. Why was Cyrus sitting here with me? It wasn't like we had never been in the same room together before, but for some reason, this felt different.

I glanced at him, catching his eyes for a brief moment before he quickly averted his gaze to the glass of water in his hand. His sudden shyness puzzled me—after all, he was always so confident and outgoing.

With a shrug, I turned my attention back to the sandwich in my hands, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the prospect of eating in front of him. What if I ate too loudly? Or made a mess?

  The thought alone made me hesitate, my appetite diminishing with each passing second.

I mentally chastised myself for overthinking the situation. After all, Cyrus was always in my house, often joining us for meals and spending time with my brothers. So why was it so hard for me to eat in his presence now?

Maybe it was because we were alone. The absence of my family made the silence between us feel deafening, amplifying the awkwardness of the moment.

I sighed again, unsure of what to do next. Should I try to engage him in conversation? Or would that just make things even more uncomfortable? The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me feeling paralyzed and unsure of how to proceed.

I couldn't help but notice the subtle movements of his Adam's apple as he drank from his water, a simple action that somehow managed to captivate my attention entirely. The way it moved up and down, so effortlessly, sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I found myself mesmerized by the sight.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Had he noticed me staring at him? I hoped not. The last thing I needed was for him to think I was some kind of weirdo for awkwardly ogling him while he drank water.

With a mental shake of my head, I refocused my attention on my sandwich, taking a hesitant bite as I tried to quell the nervous fluttering in my stomach. It was almost time for my next class, but I found myself hesitating to stand up and leave.

Despite the awkwardness of the moment, I secretly relished the fact that Cyrus was sitting with me. It was a rare occurrence, one that I knew wouldn't happen again anytime soon. So, even if it meant missing a class, I was willing to linger a little while longer, just to enjoy his company.

Finally mustering up the courage, I took another bite of my sandwich, savoring the taste as I savored the sweetness of the moment. When I glanced up, I caught Cyrus's gaze briefly before he quickly looked away, a hint of uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking in that moment. Was he feeling as awkward as I was? Or was it just my imagination? With a sigh, I pushed aside my thoughts and focused on finishing my meal, determined to enjoy the fleeting moment for as long as it lasted.

I suddenly sawEzra settling into the seat beside me, I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance at his intrusion. Couldn't he see that I was enjoying my time with Cyrus? But of course, being the annoying big brother that he was, he probably didn't care.

"Hey, don't you have a class or something?" he asked casually, reaching for my water without so much as a by-your-leave.

"Ask for permission, asshole," I retorted, rolling my eyes at his audacity. But he just shrugged off my comment, taking a long sip from my water as if he owned the place.

Having a brother – or in my case, four brothers – was a constant source of both amusement and frustration. Ezra was usually laid-back, but he could be irritating when he wanted to be. Reggie, on the other hand, had a tendency to be uptight and demanding, always insisting on respect even when he didn't deserve it. Blue was more easygoing, but he had his moments of annoyance too.