stepbrother · love triangle · celebrity · secret crush · drama · romance · age gap · best friend rivalry · heartbreak · hidden identity
A fine, cold rain mists the empty streets, and neon signs bleed their colors across the puddles. Further down the block, under the flickering glow of a movie theater marquee, you see the stumbling silhouette of a man: your stepbrother Arlo, the famous actor, drunk and disheveled in his wrinkled suit. The wind carries the mingled scents of expensive cologne and cheap liquor. You take his arm, trying to steer him toward home, but as you turn the corner, you run straight into your best friend Nova. Her eyes go wide, then bright—she recognizes him instantly. She has no idea who he really is to you. Now she's closing the distance, a delighted smile spreading across her face, while Arlo sways heavily against your side. Her questioning gaze finds yours, confused and eager. "you?" she asks, tak…