Kota unbuckled his seatbelt slowly, the soft click echoing in the sudden quiet of the McLaren's cabin. He paused for another beat, staring through the windshield at the sprawling mansion that loomed like a monument to excess. The infinity pool in front caught the morning light, its water a flawless sheet of blue that blended seamlessly with the horizon, as if the property extended forever. He could hear the faint trickle of a hidden waterfall feature somewhere along its edge, and the air outside smelled crisp—fresh-cut grass mixed with the subtle tang of chlorine. Theo was already out, circling the front of the car with that nervous energy he always carried, keys jingling in his hand.
"Come on," Theo said, voice light but edged with impatience. "It's not going to bite."
Kota pushed the door open—the hinge so smooth it felt weightless—and stepped out onto the circular drive. The pavement under his Jordans was heated, probably some underground system to melt snow in winter or just to make every step feel like luxury. He closed the door with a solid thunk, the sound muffled by the sheer scale of the space around him. Thirty thousand square feet. Four floors. Twelve garages. The numbers swirled in his head, each one a reminder of how far this was from his world. The main entry was flanked by massive stone columns, and above them, balconies wrapped around like observation decks, offering views of the rolling lawns that stretched into the distance. Birds chirped from invisible speakers, or maybe real ones—he couldn't tell. Everything here blurred the line between nature and engineering.
His eyes drifted to the pool again, drawn by a subtle splash. There, floating lazily on an oversized inflatable lounge chair shaped like a flamingo, was a young man—maybe nineteen, tops. He was completely naked, skin pale and smooth under the sun, lounging with the kind of effortless confidence that came from never having to worry about anything. A wide-brimmed sun hat shaded his face, and oversized sunglasses perched on his nose, reflecting the water's shimmer. He drifted aimlessly, one hand trailing in the pool, the other holding a colorful drink with a tiny umbrella. The water lapped gently against the floatie, and he didn't seem to notice or care about the car pulling up.
Kota blinked, then nodded toward the pool. "Who's that?"
Theo followed his gaze and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ignore him. That's Beckett. The youngest. Spoiled rotten. He doesn't do much except lounge around the pool with no clothes on, sipping whatever fruity concoction the staff mixes up for him. Thinks he's some kind of bohemian artist, but really he's just waiting for his trust fund to kick in fully next year."
Kota raised an eyebrow. "Naked? In January?"
Theo shrugged. "The pool's heated. Geothermal system. And Beckett... he's always been like that. No boundaries. No shame. Dad tried to get him into business school last year, but he dropped out after two weeks. Said it 'stifled his aura.' Now he just floats around, literally and figuratively."
Kota watched Beckett for another second. The younger brother shifted on the floatie, stretching languidly, his body catching the light in a way that was almost artistic—if you ignored the complete lack of tan lines or effort. It was a stark contrast to Theo's fidgety nervousness; Beckett exuded the kind of lazy entitlement that came from growing up in a place where every whim was catered to. Kota wondered briefly what it would be like to live without the constant grind, the early mornings, the bus rides. But the thought felt foreign, like trying on someone else's skin.
Theo cleared his throat. "Anyway, he's harmless. The real worry is... the twins."
Before Kota could ask what that meant, the massive front doors of the mansion burst open with a dramatic whoosh. Two figures tumbled out, laughing and shoving each other playfully, their ginger hair catching the sunlight like twin flames. They were identical—twenty years old max, with sharp features, freckled skin, and bodies that screamed privilege: lean but toned from private trainers, hips flared dramatically in the post-Vanishing way, asses projecting shelf-like in their matching designer shorts. Elliot and Grayson, Kota assumed. They moved with synchronized energy, like they'd spent their lives practicing how to enter a room—or a driveway—as a unit.
One of them—Elliot, based on the slightly longer hair—spotted Kota first and stopped dead, eyes widening with theatrical surprise. "Theo! You sneaky bastard. Who's this delicious specimen you've dragged home?"
Grayson elbowed his brother, grinning wickedly. "Yeah, bro. Keeping secrets? Why didn't you tell us about such a... nice young man? Look at him—tall, dark, and brooding. Like something out of those old romance novels Mom used to hide in her study."
They descended the marble steps in unison, bare feet padding silently, and circled Kota like sharks scenting blood. Theo stepped forward, hands raised. "Guys, come on. This is Kota. He's... a friend. From school. Leave him alone."
Elliot ignored Theo completely, stepping close enough that Kota could smell his cologne—something expensive and citrusy. "A friend? Oh, please. With that jawline? Those shoulders? This has to be your new boy toy, Theo. Admit it. You've finally upgraded from those boring admin assistants."
Theo's face turned beet red. "N-no! He's not— I mean, we're not— Elliot, Grayson, stop it!"
Grayson laughed, a bright, melodic sound, and sidled up to Kota's other side, brushing a hand lightly against his arm. "Boy toy or not, he's gorgeous. Hi, Kota. I'm Grayson. That's Elliot. We're the fun ones in the family. Theo here's always been the serious type—principal and all that. But you... you look like you know how to have a good time."
Kota felt heat creep up his neck. He wasn't used to this—being flanked, being flirted with so openly, so aggressively. The twins' eyes roamed over him without shame, lingering on his chest, his hips, his face. Elliot leaned in closer, batting his lashes dramatically. "Seriously, though. What's a guy like you doing with our stuffy big brother? Come on, spill. Are you his secret fling? His rebound? Or just here for the pool? Beckett's already claimed it, but there's room for more."
Grayson nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Join us. We could make it a party. Theo never brings anyone fun home. You're the first in... what, years? Tell us everything. What's your story? Construction family? Athlete? Model? You have that whole rugged vibe going on. It's hot."
Kota shifted his weight, trying to step back, but the twins moved with him, their presence overwhelming. "Uh... just a student. At Westfield."
Elliot gasped, hand to his chest. "A student? Theo, you dog! Picking up strays from your own school? That's bold. I like it."
Theo's stuttering kicked in full force. "S-stop! He's not— I didn't— Guys, this isn't funny!"
Grayson waved him off, focusing on Kota with a wink. "Ignore him. He's jealous we're stealing your attention. So, Kota... single? Available? Because if Theo's not claiming you, we might have to fight over dibs."
Elliot nodded. "Totally. I call first dance. Or first dip in the pool. Clothes optional, like Beckett over there."
Kota's face burned hotter. Flustered didn't begin to cover it—he felt cornered, exposed, the twins' teasing hitting nerves he didn't know he had. Part of him wanted to snap back, tell them to back off, but another part—the one still reeling from the mansion's scale—froze under the attention. Their flirting was relentless, playful but edged with genuine interest, and it made his pulse race in a way that was equal parts uncomfortable and intriguing.
Theo's jealousy boiled over visibly. His hands clenched at his sides, face twisting from embarrassment to frustration. "E-Elliot! Grayson! Enough! He's my— my guest! Not your entertainment! G-get back inside and leave us alone!"
The twins exchanged a look, smirking, but didn't budge. Grayson leaned even closer to Kota. "Ooh, protective. Must be serious."
Elliot added, "Yeah. Come on, Kota. Ditch Theo and hang with us. We'll show you the real fun parts of the house."
Theo exploded—stuttering but loud. "N-no! Stop it right n-now! He's with m-me! Go bother Beckett or something! I-I'm serious!"
Before Kota could respond, Theo grabbed his wrist—firm, possessive—and yanked him toward the steps. The twins laughed behind them, calling out taunts like "Have fun, lovebirds!" and "Don't do anything we wouldn't do!"
Kota stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the sudden pull, his arm tingling where Theo's fingers dug in. Theo dragged him up the marble stairs, through the massive doors, and into the cool, echoing foyer without looking back. The twins' laughter faded outside, but Kota's fluster lingered, heart pounding as Theo hauled him deeper into the mansion.