Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother novel Chapter 303

**TITLE: Wrong person 303**

**Chapter 303**

I really shouldn’t be looking at her this way.

But despite my better judgment, I can’t help it. Each and every time, I find myself drawn to her.

Even now, as I stand beneath the harsh, buzzing fluorescents of the studio hallway, I can’t tear my gaze away from her. Her cheeks are flushed from rehearsal, a rosy hue that makes her look even more ethereal. The gauzy fabric of her costume slips off one shoulder, creating an image that feels like something pulled straight from a dream. I look. I always do.

–

Penny.

The rules are clear, and I know them all too well. It doesn’t matter that she’s head over heels for someone else. It doesn’t matter that I would never dare to cross that invisible line. I can’t.

She’s like… the breath held in a cathedral, a moment suspended in time. Like sunlight filtering through stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the ground. She’s a secret I want to keep, even if it means shattering my own heart in the process.

I tell myself I’m here for Mila.

And, for the most part, I am.

But Penny lingers in the background, a part of the equation that I can’t quite figure out. She’s a ghost, yet she feels so undeniably real.

When she spots me, her eyes light up with recognition, and that radiant glow on her face as she rushes into my arms hits me like a punch to the gut. It feels like a forgiveness I haven’t earned.

“Booms!” she exclaims, throwing her entire small frame against me. She’s light and vibrant, a burst of energy that I can’t resist.

I wrap my arms around her tightly, inhaling her scent—coconut, vanilla, and something that is entirely her. It washes over me like a wave, bringing warmth and a longing I know I shouldn’t entertain.

She pulls back slightly, a playful grin lighting up her features. “What are you doing here?”

I open my mouth to respond, but for a moment, the words escape me.

What am I doing here?

Probably just searching for an excuse.

But then Mila interjects, her presence electric and confident. “We’ve been talking. And he’s hot, so now he’s taking me for sushi.”

Ah, yes. That’s the excuse I’m using.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts. Penny blinks at Mila, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. Then she looks at me, and back at Mila, her jaw dropping slightly before she bursts into laughter—a sound that is pure, genuine, and beautiful. It shakes something loose inside my chest.

She hugs Mila goodbye, throws me a wink, and jokingly mentions something about not breaking me. Mila, with her characteristic wild humor, makes a joke about taking full advantage, and I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks. I know I’m blushing. As we walk away, Penny’s laughter trails behind us down the hallway, a melody I almost recognize.

But the weight of her presence lingers in my chest.

It never truly leaves.

Later that night, I lie in bed, the lights turned off, the gentle hum of the fan spinning lazily above me. My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts.

Mila: Next time, I’m picking the restaurant. Sushi was cute, but I need spice. Like fire. Like death. Like noodles that melt your tongue off.

I can’t help but chuckle, my thumb hovering over the screen as I consider my response.

Me: So… That?

I steal a glance toward my dresser drawer. The one I promised myself I wouldn’t open again.

But curiosity gets the better of me.

I slide it open just a fraction and stare down at what’s tucked away in the back corner.

Penny’s scrunchie.

I shouldn’t have kept it. It slipped off her wrist weeks ago, and I told myself I’d return it the next time I saw her. But then I didn’t.

Because I’m weak. Or foolish. Or perhaps something in between.

It still carries her scent.

For a brief moment, I press it to my face, inhaling her essence, before hastily dropping it back into the drawer and shutting it as if it might burn me.

That chapter is closed.

Or at least, it should be.

Because there’s a new chapter unfolding now. One filled with storm-colored eyes, laughter that crackles like static, and lips that speak nothing but the truth.

Mila.

She’s going to ruin me, but in an entirely different way.

And maybe, just maybe, I want her to.