Ryan was still lost in thought about the strange encounter with Kaiden when someone suddenly grabbed him from behind. He stiffened, his heart racing, thinking Kaiden had come back for more. But then he heard a familiar laugh, low and teasing.
"Well, well, the king himself is finally here," the voice said.
Ryan turned sharply, feeling the grip loosen on his arm. He let out a breath of relief as he saw Jason.
His older brother, standing there with a mischievous grin on his face. Jason patted him hard on the back, pulling him into a firm hug.
"Missed me, huh?" Jason said, laughing as Ryan's tension melted away.
Ryan returned the hug, though his heart was still beating fast from the surprise. "You scared the hell out of me," he muttered, trying to cover up his nerves.
Jason chuckled, releasing him. "Come on, you should be used to it by now."
Before Ryan could respond, Jason's arm swung around him, pulling him close again. "Ryan, I want you to finally meet him," he said, his voice a bit softer now. "Kyle, baby, come here."
Ryan turned to see a tall guy stepping forward from the side, where he had been standing unnoticed. Kyle was... stunning. His fiery red hair stood out in the crowd, and his piercing green eyes glinted behind a calm, thoughtful gaze. He had a body that could've been carved out of stone—toned, strong, and effortlessly perfect. But something in his eyes looked uncertain, like he was still figuring himself out.
"Kyle, this is my younger brother, Ryan," Jason said, squeezing Ryan's shoulder. "Ryan, meet Kyle."
Ryan smiled awkwardly, reaching out to shake Kyle's hand. "Nice to meet you," he said, a little unsure of what to say to the guy who'd been in so many of Jason's stories.
"Likewise," Kyle said, his voice soft but warm.
Ryan couldn't help but glance between Kyle and his brother. He'd heard so much about Kyle from Jason. In fact, Jason had texted him constantly about him ever since they got together. The most recent text was still fresh in Ryan's mind.
" Kyle is everything I never thought I'd have. He's strong, smart, kind, gives me good sex and doesn't care what anyone thinks. He makes me better. As good as this soundsRyan... listen to me. Don't follow my path. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. I fought hard to be with Kyle, and not everyone will understand. Take your time, live your life, and don't let anyone push you into something you're not ready for."
Jason had always been honest with him. He knew the struggles Jason faced—how their family wanted him to find a girlfriend, settle down, and take over the family business. But Jason refused. He never loved women. He loved Kyle, and that was final. It had caused a rift in the family, but Jason stood firm.
As Ryan remembered the text, Jason caught his eye and seemed to read his thoughts. He pulled Ryan aside for a moment, his grip on his shoulder tight.
"Ryan," Jason said, his voice serious now. "Kyle's different. He's one of the best people I've ever met, you know that, never have I ever met anyone who wouldn't judge me Until I met him . We get each other in ways no one else does. But don't be like me, okay? Don't rush into things. Don't try to make sense of everything at once. You've got time to figure out who you are."
Ryan looked up at his brother, seeing the raw emotion in his eyes. Jason was always confident, always sure of himself, but this moment felt different. There was a vulnerability that Ryan rarely saw.
Before Ryan could respond, Jason smiled and lightened up. "Anyway, enough about me. How's the first day going?"
Ryan shrugged, trying to act casual. "Not bad, except for this guy... Kaiden. We bumped into each other, and it turned into a whole scene."
The moment Ryan said Kaiden's name, Jason's expression darkened. His smile faded, and his grip on Ryan's shoulder tightened.
"Kaiden?" Jason asked, his voice suddenly sharp.
Ryan frowned, confused. "Yeah... Why?"
Jason's eyes narrowed, and without warning, he pulled Ryan closer, almost pinning him against the lockers. Ryan's heart raced again, the sudden shift in Jason's demeanor sending a chill down his spine.
"Stay away from Kaiden," Jason said, his voice low and commanding.
Ryan's mouth opened, but no words came out. He had never seen his brother like this—so intense, so... scared. "What? Why?" he finally managed to ask, his voice shaky.
Jason didn't answer right away. He just stared at Ryan, his eyes dark, almost haunted. After a long pause, he let out a slow breath. "Just trust me, okay? Stay away from him."
Ryan's heart pounded in his chest. He had no idea why Jason was so serious about this, but he knew his brother wouldn't say something like that without a reason.
The bell suddenly rang, breaking the tension. Jason stepped back, releasing Ryan, though his eyes still held that same stern warning.
"I mean it, Ryan. Stay away from Kaiden," Jason said one last time before walking off with Kyle.
Ryan stood there for a moment, his mind spinning. Why was Jason so worked up about Kaiden? There had to be more to this than he knew.
As he headed to class, Jason's words echoed in his mind. Stay away from Kaiden. But something told Ryan that staying away was going to be harder than it sounded.