Two Claims

I didn't sleep after the birthday party. How could I?

Ethan's words kept replaying in my head. _My brother and I are going to have a talk. And then we're going to come find you._

Jace had driven me home in silence, his hands tight on the steering wheel. He kept looking at me like he wanted to say something, but every time he opened his mouth, he stopped himself.

Now it was midnight and there was a soft knock on my apartment door.

I knew who it was before I opened it.

Jace stood there, alone. His hair was still messy. He looked like he hadn't slept either.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

I stepped aside. He walked in, but he didn't sit down. He just stared at me.

"Aria, what did Ethan say to you upstairs?" His voice was strained.

I swallowed. "Nothing. He was just... being Ethan."

"Don't lie to me." Jace stepped closer. "I know my brother. I saw the way he looked at you at the party. The way he's ALWAYS looked at you."

My heart started pounding. "Jace..."

"I've been in love with you for ten years, Aria." The words burst out of him. "Ten years. Since you were fifteen and you fell asleep on my shoulder watching movies. I was waiting. I was trying to do this right. To wait until you were ready. To not be like..."

"Like Ethan?" I whispered.

"Like a man who takes what he wants without asking," Jace said, his jaw clenched. "But now... if I don't say it now, I'm going to lose you. To him."

Before I could answer, there was another knock on the door. Slow. Confident. Three taps.

Jace went completely still. His eyes went to the door, then back to me.

"He's here," Jace said, and it wasn't a question.

I walked to the door with shaking hands and opened it.

Ethan stood there in a black shirt, his sleeves rolled up. He looked at me, then past me at Jace. He didn't look surprised to see him at all.

"Good," Ethan said calmly. "You're both here. We need to talk."

He walked into my small apartment like he owned it and closed the door behind him.

"What the hell are you doing here, Ethan?" Jace snapped, stepping in front of me.

Ethan ignored him. His eyes were only on me. "Aria, did Jace tell you how he feels?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

"And?" Ethan asked.

"I... I didn't answer him yet," I said.

Ethan finally looked at his brother. "I told you I was done staying away from her, Jace."

"You can't just decide this for her!" Jace said, his voice rising. "She's not a deal, Ethan. She's not one of your business mergers."

"I'm not deciding for her," Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm giving her a choice you were too scared to give her."

He turned back to me. "Aria, look at me."

I did.

"My brother loves you. He loves you sweetly. He will give you flowers, and dates, and a safe life. He has loved you since you were kids." Ethan's eyes burned into mine. "And I... I have wanted you since the day I realized you were not a kid anymore. I don't love sweetly, Aria. I love obsessively. Completely. I will ruin any other man who tries to touch you. I will give you everything I own if you let me."

My knees felt weak.

Jace grabbed my hand. "Aria, don't listen to him. He doesn't know how to love anyone."

Ethan grabbed my other hand. And suddenly I was between them. Jace's hand warm and familiar. Ethan's hand strong and possessive.

Two brothers. Two hands. Both holding me.

"Aria," Jace whispered, "choose me."

Ethan's grip tightened slightly. He didn't say anything. He just looked at me, and his eyes said _choose us._

And in that moment, with both of them holding me, I realized the most terrifying thing.

I didn't want to choose one.

I wanted both.

I pulled my hands away from both of them, breathing hard. "I can't... I can't do this tonight. You both need to leave."

Ethan studied my face for a long second, then nodded. "We'll leave. Tonight." He walked to the door and opened it, looking back at Jace. "But tomorrow, Aria? Tomorrow you won't be able to run from this. From us."

Jace lingered, his eyes hurt. "I'm sorry," he whispered to me, and then he followed his brother out.

The door closed, and I slid to the floor, my heart racing.

Shared by the brothers? That was impossible.

So why did it feel like it was already happening?