FORBIDDEN TIES {My brother's best friend}

Chapter 25

"I'm so sorry, but it's my dad. I couldn't disobey him," I said, looking at Marco through the phone. His expression was tight, clearly trying to keep his irritation in check.

"You're 18. You can choose to do whatever you want," he replied, his tone sharper than usual.

"Not in my family, Marc," I sighed. "You know how strict my dad is."

"Yeah, cool," he muttered, his eyes shifting away from the screen. I could tell he was annoyed, but he was trying to hide it.

"Um... we can still see each other tomorrow," I suggested, hoping to lighten the mood. "Maybe we can hang out then?"

Marco looked at me, his frustration softening a bit. "Wanna come to my house?" he asked suddenly.

"Your house?" I echoed, caught off guard. To do what Exactly.

"Just make it up to me tomorrow," he said with a small smile, trying to sound nonchalant.

"I'll have to make plans for that," I said, my mind racing with how I'd explain this to my family.

"Just figure it out," he said, nodding before ending the call.

I sighed, laying back on my bed. The idea of going to Marco's house felt exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. I'd need a solid plan to make it happen without raising suspicion. Maybe I could tell my brother I was meeting friends for a group study session after classes. That seemed believable enough and would buy me some time.

As I stared at the ceiling, I started mentally rehearsing my excuses, hoping they would hold up under scrutiny. I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety about what would happen tomorrow.

~~

The next day arrived with a rush of anticipation and anxiety. As the morning sun filtered through my curtains, I stretched and glanced at my phone to check the time. I needed to leave early for school to avoid any awkward run-ins at home.

I dressed quickly, opting for something casual but nice-a pair of jeans and a fitted top. After a quick breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed out, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in my stomach. I'd have to act natural, especially around Ezra, who had a knack for sensing when something was up.

School was the usual bustle of students chatting and rushing to classes. I met up with Eva, who raised an eyebrow at my apparent distraction.

"You seem jumpy," she noted, eyeing me over her coffee.

"Just trying to avoid trouble today," I muttered, adjusting the strap of my bag.

"Trouble with who? Your brother?" she asked, sipping her drink.

"Something like that," I said, giving her a vague smile. "Just need to keep things low-key."

Classes dragged on as I kept glancing at the clock, the minutes ticking by painfully slow. By lunchtime, I was fidgeting in my seat, my mind half on the lessons and half on my plans with Marco.

Eva noticed my restlessness. "Got somewhere to be?"

"Just a lot on my mind," I replied, dodging the question. I didn't want to go into details about Marco's invitation just yet.

Finally, the last class ended, and I gathered my things, heart pounding. I sent a quick text to Marco to confirm our plans, then made my way to the exit. As I walked towards the parking lot, I mentally rehearsed my excuse again, ready to head to his Car.

my phone buzzed with a message from Marco confirming our meet-up. Just as I was about to reply, I nearly bumped into someone standing in my path.

Cyrus stood there, his usual smirk on display. "Hey, you heading home?"