The familiar hum of my gaming rig filled the silence as the Eidolon Nexus logo faded from my visor. With a soft sigh, I pushed the VR headset off my head and set it gently on its stand. The weight of the game world, battles, and emotional chaos all lingered in my chest, coiling tightly like a spring ready to snap.

  The faint glow of my monitor screens cast a dim blue light across my room. Posters of old anime and fantasy RPGs decorated the walls, and my desk was cluttered with empty energy drink cans, random art supplies, and my tablet half-buried under sketchbooks.

  I rubbed my temples, trying to shake the residual dizziness from logging out. But before I could stretch properly, a knock echoed at my door—sharp but hesitant.

  “It’s open,” I said softly.

  The door creaked as Devon stepped in, still dressed in a loose bck tank top and grey pajama pants that hung low on his hips. His dark hair was messy, sticking up in random tufts, and faint shadows lined his hazel eyes.

  For a moment, we just stared at each other. The weight of everything that happened in the game hung between us, heavy and unspoken.

  “You okay?” he asked, voice low.

  I nodded, though it felt like a half-truth. “Yeah.”

  Devon hesitated for a second before walking in fully and closing the door behind him. He dropped onto the edge of my bed, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, fingers threading through his hair.

  Neither of us spoke for a beat. The silence was suffocating.

  Finally, Devon broke it. “I messed up, didn’t I?”

  I blinked, startled by how raw and heavy his voice sounded. “What do you mean?”

  He exhaled sharply, running a hand over his face before looking at me. “When I told Selene about us… about the kiss… I wasn’t thinking. I just—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I was angry. And scared. And… I didn’t want to lose you.”

  My throat tightened. Seeing Devon—the guy who was always the sturdy rock, my anchor—look so vulnerable was jarring.

  “Dev…” I sat beside him on the bed, my shoulder brushing his. “I don’t regret the kiss. Not even for a second.”

  His head snapped up, eyes locking with mine. “You don’t?”

  I shook my head. “No. But… telling Selene about it like that? That was low, Dev. You hurt her, and you hurt me too.”

  His face crumbled slightly, his shoulders slumping. “I know. I know I did. And the thing is… I wasn’t trying to push her away. I just—” He paused, clenching his fists. “I didn’t want her to have you. Because… I want you.”

  My breath hitched at the quiet admission. There it was—the fragile truth id bare between us. Devon, my stepbrother, who knew me better than anyone, wanted me in a way that went beyond just sibling affection. And… deep down, I wanted him too.

  But something else was gnawing at me, something I couldn’t ignore.

  “Devon… you have to stop being so overprotective,” I said softly, my voice trembling slightly. “I know you’re trying to keep me safe—in the game and out—but sometimes… it’s smothering. And it makes me nervous.”

  His brows furrowed deeply, and I could see the sharp stab of guilt flicker across his face.

  “Nervous?” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

  I nodded. “You hover over me. You pull me back when I’m trying to move forward. I get that you’re scared to lose me—I’m scared to lose you too—but Devon… I need space to breathe. I need to learn to stand alone, even if that means falling sometimes.”

  Devon stared at me, his hazel eyes searching my face for something—reassurance, forgiveness, maybe both.

  Finally, he let out a slow breath and nodded. “You’re right. I’ve been… too much. I thought I wouldn't lose you if I stayed close and didn’t let go. But instead, I’ve been pushing you away without even realizing it.”

  We sat there for a moment, the silence between us less heavy now—softer, like a bnket instead of a weight.

  “There’s something else,” I said quietly.

  Devon lifted his gaze, his expression cautious.

  “I talked to Selene,” I continued. “We… we had a moment to clear the air. And while things aren’t perfectly okay, we both realized something.”

  He swallowed his Adam’s apple, bobbing.

  I hesitated, then forced the words out. “The three of us… we need to talk. About everything. About… our retionship.”

  Devon’s brows shot up, his mouth opening slightly as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

  “I care about her, Devon. And I care about you,” I said, my voice trembling but steady enough. “I don’t know how this works or if it even can work, but… I don’t want to lose either of you. And I don’t think you want to lose either of us.”

  His gaze softened, his lips parting slightly as he let out a shaky exhale. “You’re serious about this?”

  I nodded, my cheeks flushing. “Yeah. I am.”

  Devon leaned back slightly, his eyes fixed on mine. “Kiera… if that means I get to be with you—to have you still—then… I’ll consider it.”

  My chest felt tight, but relief washed over me like a wave.

  “We’ll figure it out,” I said softly. “When the time is right.”

  Devon gave a small, crooked smile and reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against my cheek. His touch was tender and filled with affection that my heart skipped a beat.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For everything. And… thank you for being honest with me.”

  I leaned into his hand. “We’ll be okay, Dev. We’ll figure it out together.”

  He nodded and stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets as he went to the door.

  Before he left, he turned back one st time. “You know… whatever happens, you’ll always have me, Kiera.”

  I smiled faintly. “Same here, Dev.”

  The door closed softly behind him, leaving me alone in the quiet hum of my room. My mind was spinning, my heart racing, but… there was a slight sense of peace, too.

  For now, it was enough.

  I gnced back at my VR headset, knowing I’d soon dive back into Eidolon Nexus. But for tonight, I curled under my bnket, letting my eyes drift closed as the weight of everything slowly faded into sleep.