Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 45

(Hande's POV)

I'd never liked team-building activities. They were supposed to be about bonding and working together but in here, they felt more like an obligation. A way for the staff to keep tabs on us and make sure we were all still "healing" or whatever. Today's activity was a "Trust Walk," where one person was blindfolded and their partner guided them around obstacles. It was meant to be about letting go of control and trusting someone else to lead, but really, it was just an excuse to trip over your own feet.

I stood with my arms crossed and watched everyone else who'd already paired up. I swear if they tried to make me partner with Ava, I'd walk out. I'd rather take my chances alone.

"Need a partner?" Eddie's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He was grinning like an idiot with one eyebrow raised in that cocky way he always did.

"Are you kidding me?" I scoffed but didn't put any real heat into it. "You'd probably run me into a wall just for laughs."

He smirked. "Would I do that?"

"Yes. Yes, you absolutely would."

"Well, lucky for you, I'm in a generous mood today," he said as he tied the blindfold around his eyes. "You get to guide me first."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. "Fine. But if you trip, it's not my fault."

We started walking and I guided him through the maze they'd set up, giving directions like, "Left, no, your other left," and "Eddie, if you don't stop swerving, I'll let you walk into that chair." "Oh, come on, Hande," he teased. "I thought you'd be better at this."

retorted. "You're just impossible

remember the last time I'd laughed this much, not since... well, before I ended up here. Before everything went sideways. "You know," Eddie said suddenly

surprised by the shift. "You went to

But I kind of... I don't know, lost interest. Started hanging out with the wrong crowd

I get that. I was always the loud one in my friend group, you know? The one who'd drag everyone out to parties even when we had exams the next day." "You? A party girl?" He sounded genuinely amused. "I don't

guess I got lost in it. I thought if I was loud enough and fun enough, no one would notice how messed up I really was." His hand brushed against mine and I felt a spark. "I notice," he said quietly. "You

this stupid center, that a whole room of people was watching us.

your turn," I said abruptly and shoved the blindfold into his hands. "Let's see if you're any good at

I'm amazing,

let him take my hand and guide me through the maze. "And don't think I'll be easy on you just because you're cute," he added,

squeezed my hand

...

(Angel's POV)

reflection in the bathroom mirror and splashed water on my face like it would somehow wash away everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. But no matter

cheeks, trying to will away the blush creeping up my neck. This wasn't okay. None of this was okay. I couldn't keep thinking about him like this. He was my brother-no, stepbrother-but

felt relieved. The other part... the other part was terrified that he was avoiding me and that maybe I'd pushed him too far. I kept telling myself that I'd talk to him, that I'd find him and we'd figure this out. But then I thought about what I'd

I couldn't even finish that

twist. "I'll expose you," she'd said, like she had some kind of