chapter 6

Ethan’s heart pounded so loudly in his ears that he almost didn’t hear Nathan’s question.

“I have to tell you something,” he repeated, voice quieter now, like it might vanish if he didn’t say it soon enough.

Nathan’s gaze sharpened. “What is it?”

Ethan sat up slowly, pulling the blanket over his legs, suddenly aware of how exposed he felt in this moment emotionally more than physically. “I don’t know where to start.”

Nathan shifted too, leaning back against the headboard. He was fully alert now, his brow slightly furrowed, waiting.

Ethan swallowed hard. “It’s about Lilly.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak.

“She… she told me something a few weeks ago. Something weird. I brushed it off at the time because I thought she was joking or maybe just being dramatic.” Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, trying to gather his thoughts. “But now, after everything last night, I can’t ignore it.”

Nathan looked at him, his tone even. “What did she say?”

Ethan hesitated. “She said… she wasn’t really interested in me.”

Nathan blinked. “Then why was she ?”

“She said she liked power,” Ethan interrupted. “Control. She said… and I quote… ‘The best way to control a man is to make him think he’s the one in charge.’” He gave a dry laugh. “Back then, I thought it was just a weird flirtation line.”

Nathan sat still, his body rigid.

Ethan continued, “But now I think she was never really into me at all. She was playing a game, and it had nothing to do with me.”

Nathan’s throat was dry. “So she told you all this and you still invited her tonight?”

“I didn’t plan to,” Ethan said quickly. “But Mom pushed me to bring her, and I thought it would be harmless. I thought maybe… maybe I’d been overthinking it.”

Nathan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “She flirted with me all night, Ethan. Openly. It wasn’t subtle.”

“I know.” Ethan looked down. “I saw it. That’s why I followed you to the bathroom. I didn’t say anything because… I wasn’t even sure what to feel.”

Nathan stared at him for a long moment. Then he reached out, placing a hand gently on Ethan’s shoulder. “So what are you feeling now?”

Ethan let out a long breath. “Angry. Confused. Embarrassed.” He looked up. “And… protective. Not just of me but of you, too. She’s not just manipulative. She’s dangerous in a subtle way. The kind of girl who wants to set things on fire and then pretend to be shocked when they burn.”

Nathan gave a slow nod. “Then I’m glad you see it now.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

“I just hate that she came into our space, our family, and treated it like some stage to act on,” Ethan muttered.

Nathan reached over, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “You didn’t do anything wrong. People like that are good at wearing masks.”

Ethan looked at him. “So… what do we do now?”

Nathan’s eyes darkened. “We cut her off. Entirely. No contact. She won’t be around this family again.”

Ethan nodded. “Agreed.”

But just as the weight between them seemed to settle, a new question floated to the surface, one neither of them had dared voice.

“What are we?” Ethan finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “You and me?”

Nathan stiffened, his hand falling away from Ethan’s shoulder.

“You mean…”

Ethan turned toward him fully. “I don’t know what last night was. Or the way we’ve been around each other. It’s been building for months, hasn’t it? That… closeness.”

Nathan looked away. “We shouldn’t be talking about this.”

“But we are.” Ethan’s voice was firmer now. “And we have to.”

Nathan stood up, pacing the room. “You’re right, okay? I’ve been avoiding it. Because I didn’t want to admit that something’s been happening between us. But it’s complicated. It’s not… appropriate.”

Ethan got to his feet too. “We’re not blood-related. You married into this family. I was already seventeen when you came into our lives. I’m not a child anymore.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” Nathan said, his tone sharp.

“I’m not saying it is,” Ethan replied. “I’m saying it feels real. And whether or not it’s right doesn’t change that it’s already there.”

Nathan looked at him, something raw in his expression. “It would destroy this family if they knew.”

“I know.”

Vanessa. Sarah. The entire illusion of a perfect family would all shatter.

And yet, standing here, they both knew they were already too far gone. There was no denying it anymore.

Nathan walked to the window and stared out. “We need to stop. Whatever this is. Before it gets worse.”

Ethan didn’t answer.

Because deep down, he knew it would get worse because it already had.

Nathan turned back to face him, his voice softer now. “Promise me, Ethan. No more late-night conversations. No more lingering touches. We have to act like nothing ever happened.”

Ethan’s voice cracked slightly. “Can you do that?”

Nathan didn’t answer right away. Then: “I’ll try.”

That wasn’t enough. But maybe it was all they could give each other.

They stood in silence for a moment longer before Ethan nodded, more to himself than to Nathan. “Okay. Then we’ll forget it.”

Nathan gave a stiff nod.

But as Ethan turned to leave the room, he felt the weight of Nathan’s eyes on him. Watching. Regretting.

And longing.

…..

Downstairs, Sarah sat on the couch, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone.

When Ethan walked past her, she didn’t look up, but her voice followed him like a shadow.

“You two were gone a long time last night.”

Ethan froze.

She looked up now, eyes sharp. “In the bathroom. Then again this morning.”

Ethan gave her a blank look. “So?”

She smiled. “Just seems like you’re spending an awful lot of time with your stepdad these days.”

Ethan turned fully to face her. “What are you implying?”

Sarah stood up slowly, walking over until they were just inches apart. “I don’t know yet,” she said softly. “But I am watching.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t falter. “Then I hope you enjoy the show.”

She smirked. “I always do.”

And with that, she turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Ethan alone with the heavy silence.

He exhaled.

The storm wasn’t over.

It was only just beginning.