Dared to Kiss His Brother, Now I'm Addicted

Chapter 2

I stood at the entrance of the amusement park, disappointment and frustration bubbling inside me. James had bailed again. Not the first time, and I had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to shake it off. I wasn't going to let him ruin my day. If he didn't want to show up, fine, I'd have fun on my own.

Just as I stepped through the gates, I spotted a familiar figure.

Victor.

He was standing a few feet away, waving with that easy, charming smile of his.

"James asked me to hang out with you," he said, walking over. "Something came up last minute. He couldn't make it."

A wave of bitterness surged through me. James didn't even have the decency to call or text me himself. Typical.

Still, something about Victor's presence, the way the sun lit up his face, how effortlessly he smiled, made my mood lift just a little.

We ended up riding the roller coaster together. The wind, the screaming, the thrill, it all felt like a breath of fresh air I hadn't realized I needed. For the first time in a while, I was genuinely laughing.

Victor bought me cotton candy, handing it to me with a grin like it was some kind of treasure. The sugary fluff melted on my tongue, and for a second, it was like I was a kid again, carefree and full of joy.

We walked and talked about everything, work, family, random little things. The conversation flowed so easily, it surprised me. And somewhere along the way, I caught myself sneaking glances at him.

In the golden light of the setting sun, his profile looked almost... breathtaking.

And just like that, the memory of that kiss flashed in my mind, my heart skipped a beat.

Victor noticed my stare and turned to meet it with a smile that made my breath catch.

We rode the Ferris wheel as the sky turned a soft orange. From the top, the view was stunning, lights twinkling below, laughter echoing in the air. I didn't even notice when he reached for my hand. I didn't pull away.

Later, he suggested the haunted house, and I agreed, pretending it was for the thrill. But truthfully, I wanted to stay close to him. Inside the dark corridors, I instinctively leaned into him, his warmth grounding me in the shadows.

When we stepped out, we shared a look, a quiet, knowing smile like we'd just been through something intimate together.

On the way home, I realized I hadn't thought about James once.

Victor walked me to my door. There was a moment of hesitation before he leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I watched him walk away, my heart fluttering. A strange warmth settled in my chest.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

It was James.

"Sorry, a friend from abroad came back unexpectedly. I couldn't get away."

I stared at the message and let out a cold laugh. Of course. Another excuse.

I couldn't stop thinking about Victor, the way he made me laugh, how present he'd been all day. It was such a stark contrast to James's constant absence.

I debated whether or not to tell James about the day. In the end, I stayed silent.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Victor.

"Did you have fun today? I hope I didn't let you down."

A smile tugged at my lips.

"I had a great time. Thank you for being there."

His reply came almost instantly.

"My pleasure. Let's do it again soon?"

My heart skipped again. Something was happening, something I wasn't ready to admit out loud.

Over the next few days, Victor kept texting. Every message was warm, thoughtful, sweet. We talked about everything, our dreams, our favorite movies, our worst workdays. It felt so easy, so natural.

Meanwhile, James... faded into the background.

I knew I was drifting toward a dangerous place, but I couldn't help it. Every word from Victor felt like a jolt to my heart, pulling me deeper.

I started wondering, what if it was him? What if Victor was the one I was supposed to be with?

But just as I was getting lost in that thought, Victor sent me a photo.

It was James.

Holding another girl.

Comforting her.