HIDDEN HEARTS

Episode5 AFTERMATH

The first thing Lena noticed was warmth.

Not the flickering heat of last night’s dying fire, but something solid and steady wrapped around her. She blinked against the pale morning light filtering through the cracked blinds—then froze.

Ethan’s arm was slung over her waist, his bare chest pressed against her back. His breath stirred the hair at the nape of her neck, slow and even with sleep.

Oh God.

The memories crashed over her like the waves outside—the game, the kiss, the way his hands had slid under her sweater before the power went out. They’d fallen asleep like this, tangled together on the rug, too exhausted and adrenaline-drunk to care about lines they’d crossed.

Carefully, she tried to slip free.

Ethan’s grip tightened. “Don’t.” His voice was rough with sleep, his lips brushing her shoulder.

Lena’s pulse skittered. “We should—”

“I know.” But he didn’t let go.

Her phone buzzed on the floor beside them, shattering the moment. Ethan finally released her as she grabbed it, her stomach dropping at the notification.

Claire (8:03 AM):

Heard about the storm. Be there in 20 with supplies.

Lena shot upright. “Claire’s coming.”

Ethan sat up, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “What?”

She shoved the phone at him. The text glowed on the screen, innocuous and damning.

Ethan cursed. “She can’t get through. The roads are flooded.”

“You think that’ll stop her?” Lena scrambled to her feet, her sweater still rumpled from his hands. “She knows, Ethan. She knew the second she saw us in the kitchen.”

He stood in one fluid motion, crowding her against the wall. “Let her come.” His thumb brushed her lower lip, still swollen from last night. “I don’t care who sees.”

Lena’s breath hitched. “We can’t.”

“Why?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Because it’s wrong? Or because you’re scared to admit this is real?”

A horn blared outside.

They broke apart as tires crunched on gravel.

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Too late.”

Through the broken window, Lena saw Claire’s red Jeep roll to a stop, its bumper streaked with mud from flooded roads. Claire stepped out, her designer boots sinking into the wet earth as she hauled a duffel bag from the backseat.

Lena turned to Ethan, panic clawing up her throat. “What do we do?”

He caught her face in his hands, his gaze burning into hers. “This isn’t over.”

Then he was gone, striding toward the front door just as Claire’s knock echoed through the house.

Lena pressed a hand to her racing heart, her lips still tingling from his touch.

One thing was certain—Claire hadn’t come here to play hero.

She’d come to start a war.