Page 73 of Never Enough

Celeste then pivots on her designer heels with a huff, striding towards the door. Each step seems deliberate as if she’s trying to retain some semblance of control. As she reaches for the doorknob, the door swings inward abruptly. Victoria is outside my door, a dark silhouette framed by the hallway light, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression unreadable.

“Talk some sense into him,” Celeste snarls without looking back, brushing past Victoria as though the encounter has cost her all the energy she could muster.

And with that, she storms off, leaving me standing there, feeling raw and exposed. My chest heaves with the effort of keeping myself composed. I lean against the doorframe as I try to shake off the remnants of her toxic presence.

Victoria locks her gaze onto mine, and there’s a glint of something that isn’t quite sympathy but isn’t malice either. “Oh, don’t worry. I will,” she replies, her tone even, betraying nothing of her thoughts.

I let her inside and shut the door behind us. We’re sealed into the stillness of my space, yet my pulse throbs in my ears—a silent reminder of the chaos that just exited and the new storm that has entered.

“Not you t-too,” I mutter, my voice full of weariness.

Surprisingly, she cuts to the chase. “How long have you been in love with Daphne?”

My chest tightens, constricting around a truth I’ve guarded so fiercely. With a deep breath, I let it surface, giving life to the words. “S-since the m-moment I first s-saw her.” It feels like a confession, one that strips away the façade I’ve clung to for far too long.

There’s a pause, heavy with things unsaid, before we both move towards the couch, sinking into the worn cushions together. The proximity is uncomfortable, a forced intimacy that neither of us wants, yet here we are. I can’t help but glance at Victoria, taking inher sharp features softened slightly by the dim light, wondering if she understands the gravity of what I’m about to reveal.

“Daphne and I—” I begin, my throat dry. “We’ve been in a s-secret relationship for the p-past few weeks.” The memories flash through my mind—stolen moments filled with passion and promises, now tainted with the sting of loss. “But she d-d-dumped m-me a few d-days a-ago.”

The silence that follows is suffocating. I can feel Victoria processing the information, her mind undoubtedly racing with implications and accusations. And I’m left here, my defenses crumbling, exposing the raw edges of a pain I can barely comprehend myself.

“Eww, Alex! What the fuck?” Her upper lip curls in disgust.

“W-What do you mean?”

“Not only did you date the poor pathetic scholarship girl, but you got dumped by her?” She gets up and starts pacing. “Okay, okay, I’ve got it. She was your rebound from Celeste. You must have only dated her for like, a week. You were desperate, and Daphne knew you are waaaay out of her league.”

“Vic, no—” I start, before she interrupts me.

“Yes,” she firmly says. “You couldn’t possibly have been happy with her. What you need is a good lay. Either go back to Celeste or…” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I can’t believe I’m offering because you’re my brother and it’s so gross, but I’ll beyour wing woman so you can hook you up with someone even hotter than Celeste.”

The thought of sleeping with anyone who isn’t Daphne makes my stomach twist so badly I think I’m going to die. To not have her pussy be the last one my dick touches sounds like the worst sort of hell imaginable.

I’d rather rip my teeth out with plyers. “P-please leave,” I tell my sister. “I ne-need to b-be a-alone.”

Victoria rolls her eyes and takes a few steps backward, out of my doorway, to leave. Just before she leaves, she cocks her head to the side. “I almost forgot. Daphne asked me to look out for you. Why?” Her words are straight to the point. Blunt.

“Know w-what, Vic?” I ask before closing the door in her face. “Don’t w-worry about it.”

I feel bad for cutting her off right now, but I meant it when I said I need some time alone.

Chapter twenty-nine

Daphne

It’s been a week since Alex and I broke up.

The pain still stabs my chest whenever I think of him, but I have to continue with my classes. After all, no matter how badly I just want to lie in bed and cry all day, I’ll lose my scholarship if I don’t keep up my grades.

Unfortunately, I’m in strings class with Celeste, Eden, and Victoria right now. I say unfortunately because I don’t want to see them, not even Eden. I have my class with Alex tomorrow, but I think I will end up skipping that one. If I can hardly bear the sight of his ex-girlfriend and sister, how can I bear the sight ofhim?

Spoiler alert: I can’t.

At least I’ve been practicing my harp every day. All week, I’ve been working on a piece I composed myself. Since I can’t stop the feelings inside of me, I’ve put them down on paper. So, when my professor tells us that he wants to hear us warm up, one by one before we practice for our upcoming SpringConcert, I get an idea.

The strings feel cold under my fingers. I glance up at the professor, his face all hard lines and impatient eyes. “Can I play something of my own?”

He curtly nods. The room’s silent as I sit before my harp, the familiar curve of its neck against my shoulder. I place my hands on the strings, take a breath, and begin.

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