Preston's POV
It's been two years since I last saw him. Two whole years. We talk every night before bed, and I cherish those moments, but it's not the same as having him here. I still miss him so much. My high school graduation is coming up soon, and so is my 18th birthday. He promised he'd be there for my graduation. Just the thought of seeing him again makes me smile.
As I sat on my bed, staring at my phone, my heart felt warm. I'd set one of his pictures as my screensaver—a photo I found of him online. He looked so confident, so… perfect. I didn't even realize I was smiling until Annabel snuck up behind me and snatched my phone.
"Why are you grinning at your brother's picture like that?" she teased, waving the phone in front of me.
"Annabel! Give it back!" I jumped to grab it, but she held it out of reach, laughing.
She raised an eyebrow at me. "Wait… don't tell me you like like him."
I froze, my face growing hot. "What? No!" I stammered, looking everywhere but at her. "How can you say that? He's my brother! I love him, but not that way."
Annabel smirked and sat down beside me, handing the phone back. "Preston, you're an open book. I can tell when you're lying. And right now, you're lying."
Her words hit me like a punch in the chest. I buried my face in my hands, my voice barely a whisper. "Do you think something's wrong with me?"
Annabel's teasing tone softened. "Wrong with you? No, Preston. There's nothing wrong with liking him like that. It's not like you're blood-related or anything."
I lifted my head, my eyes brimming with tears. "But… it feels so wrong. I don't know how it started, but I can't imagine seeing him with anyone else. Remember that rumor about him being with that girl? I was so angry, and I cried over it. He told me it was just a rumor, and I believed him, but I can't help it. Am I a bad brother for wanting more?"
Annabel put an arm around me, pulling me into a side hug. "Preston, you're not a bad brother. Feelings aren't something you can control. You're human. And honestly? I don't think Caleb would ever want you to feel like you have to hide from him."
I shook my head, my voice trembling. "He doesn't feel the same way. I'm sure of it. I mean, look at him. He's 28 now, Annabel. He's perfect, and I'm just… me. And when I move in with him, what if he notices? What if it ruins everything? I can't lose him. I just can't."
Annabel tilted her head, studying me. "You're assuming he doesn't feel the same way, but you don't know that for sure. Think about it, Preston—he's 28 and hasn't had any serious relationships. What if he's waiting for you to come of age? What if he feels the same way but doesn't want to hurt you by saying it?"
Her words made my heart race. The thought had crossed my mind before, but I'd always pushed it away. "You really think so?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
She nodded. "I do. But here's the thing, Preston—love can't be forced. It has to be felt. So don't feel guilty for how you feel, and don't try to bury it. Move in with him, see how things go, and take it one step at a time. If he feels the same way, you'll know. And if he doesn't? You'll still have him in your life. That's what matters most, right?"
I wiped my tears, trying to steady my breathing. Annabel was my best friend, the only person I could talk to about this. Her words gave me a glimmer of hope, but they also terrified me. What if she was wrong? What if I ruined everything?
Still, I nodded. "Yeah. One step at a time."
But deep down, I knew this wasn't something I could hide forever.