It was too early for this shit. Liam leaned against the kitchen counter, cigarette between his lips and his phone in one hand. The house was dead quiet except for the buzz of the fridge. Siah walked in, hair a total mess, wearing nothing but loose gray sweatpants that sat way too low on his hips.

“Didn’t know you were up,” Liam muttered, taking a drag.

“Didn’t know you still smoked my packs,” Siah shot back, grabbing the lighter from the counter.

Liam rolled his eyes. “You’re such a dick in the morning.”

“And you’re always a dick, period,” Siah said, lighting his cigarette with a smirk.

The smoke hung heavy between them. They stood there, silent but tense, like every word could turn into a fight. Being stepbrothers didn’t help. They were stuck under one roof, pretending to get along when everyone knew they hated each other.

Siah started to walk out, but then turned back toward the hallway. “You got any clean boxers?”