The stepbrother I shouldn't want

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Ghost in Scrubs

"Oh my God... what did I just do?" I whispered.

I stood frozen in the dimly lit pathology lab, staring at the empty space where the mysterious man had been only seconds ago.

My wrist still tingled from his grip. My chest still burned where he had pulled me against him. That electric charge lingered like static beneath my skin, refusing to fade.

I pressed my fingers to my lips, replaying every word.

"You think I’m attractive?"

"You saved my life tonight, Eliora."

"I like you, Eliora. You look beautiful. I like you. I would’ve taken you out... but it’s a bad time for me today."

A small, foolish smile crept onto my face before I could stop it. I shook my head hard.

What is wrong with me?

The way his dark eyes had held mine, as if he could see every secret I’d ever tried to hide... the smile crept back before I could stop it a second time. I shook my head again, harder, mortified with myself.

"You’re so stupid, Eliora," I whispered into the empty room, pacing a small, agitated circle beside the trolley. "Why would you cover up for someone you don’t even know? You should’ve called security the second those men left. You should’ve screamed for Dr. Simon. Only God knows who he is or why they were chasing him. He could be dangerous. A criminal. Anything. And you just let him walk out of here like it was nothing."

I sank onto the stool beside the trolley and buried my face in my hands. My mind kept circling back to that moment when he pulled me close... the strength in his grip, the warmth of his body, the way his breath had brushed my ear, the sheer intensity in his gaze when he called me beautiful.

I was still lost in thought when the lab door opened.

"Eliora?" Dr. Simon called as she stepped inside, looking exhausted but professional as always. "How’s the cadaver check going? I told you to finish the notes before you leave."

I straightened quickly, my heart racing.

"I... I just finished, Doctor," I replied, reaching for my clipboard to make the lie look convincing.

She walked over to the trolley and frowned at the crumpled sheet lying on the floor.

"How many cadavers were supposed to be here tonight?" she asked, glancing up at me.

"Two," I answered quickly.

Dr. Simon glanced at her clipboard, frowning deeper.

"That’s strange," she murmured. "I wrote three. One older male, one female, and one younger male, John Doe. Where’s the third?"

My stomach dropped.

Him.

He’d been the third one. The one who wasn’t supposed to be there. He’d used the trolley as a hiding place.

"It must’ve been a mistake during intake," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "I only saw two when I came in."

Dr. Simon crouched down and touched a small smear of blood on the floor beside the trolley.

"What’s this?" she asked, rubbing it between two gloved fingers. "A fresh delivery?"

I froze.

"I... maybe," I answered.

"They don’t have any fresh deliveries scheduled tonight, right?" she asked, standing back up.

"No fresh deliveries," I confirmed, my voice tighter than I meant it to be.

"That’s strange," she said. She looked around the room once more, then shook her head and let it go. "Call the cleaner on your way out. We can’t leave biohazards like this."

"Yes, Doctor," I replied.

She gave me a tired smile.

"You look exhausted, Eliora. Go home and get some rest. You’ve been working too hard lately."

"I will," I said. "Thank you."

The moment she left, I released a long, shaky breath.

I quickly wiped away the bloodstain as best I could before gathering my things. My hands were still trembling when I locked the lab door behind me.

......

The drive home was a blur of streetlights and racing thoughts.

When I finally collapsed onto my bed, my phone rang.

It was my mother.

"Eliora, sweetheart! I have news," she said the moment I picked up, her voice brighter than I’d heard in years.

I slowly sat up, trying to sound normal.

"What’s going on, Mom?" I asked.

"I’m getting married," she said, then paused for effect. "In a few weeks."

I blinked in surprise.

"What?"

She laughed softly, the sound nervous yet hopeful.

"His name is James Smith," she said. "He’s a wonderful man. Kind. Stable. He treats me like I matter. We’ve been seeing each other for months, but I wanted to be absolutely sure before I told you."

I rubbed my temple, still trying to process everything that had happened that night.

"Mom. Are you sure?" I asked. "I don’t want you to make the same mistake twice. I don’t want you getting hurt again."

"Oh, honey," she said gently. "James is nothing like your father. He’s a good man. He feels like the father you never really had. I’m happy. Really happy."

I smiled faintly despite myself.

"I’m glad you’re happy," I said. "I just worry."

"I know," she replied. "But I need you to loosen up a little. Let go of some of that trauma, okay? For me?"

I swallowed hard.

"Okay. I’ll try."

"Oh... and one more thing," she added, her tone brightening even further. "You’re officially getting a step-sibling. He’s twenty-five. Only three years older than you. It’ll be nice, won’t it? You always wanted a sibling when you were little."

Three years.

I slowly closed my eyes.

"I don’t know, Mom," I admitted. "I don’t think we’ll get along. I don’t even want that."

My mother chuckled warmly.

"Just give it a chance," she said. "You never know. Maybe it’ll be good for you."

We talked a little while longer before I hung up.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind continued to spin.

A stepbrother.

After everything that had happened that night, the last thing I needed was another complication in my life.

But the moment I closed my eyes, all I could see was the mysterious man’s face... his dark eyes, his teasing smirk, the way he had said my name as though he’d known me forever.

I had a terrible feeling my life had just become a lot more complicated.

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