Chapter Five: The Fallout
962 Words
The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. Camilla stirred, stretching beneath the sheets, her body still humming from the night before. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she felt Ethan’s arm draped protectively over her waist. It was a feeling she wanted to bottle up and keep forever—warmth, security, love.
Ethan shifted beside her, his breath tickling the back of her neck. “Morning,” he murmured sleepily, pressing a soft kiss to her shoulder.
Camilla smiled, turning to face him. “Morning.” Her fingers traced along his jaw, memorizing the way his stubble felt beneath her touch. “Last night…”
He caught her hand in his, bringing it to his lips. “Was perfect.”
She was about to respond when a loud bang erupted from downstairs. The front door slammed open, followed by the unmistakable sound of heavy boots stomping through the house.
A chill ran down Camilla’s spine. She knew that walk. Knew the barely-contained fury behind it.
“Camilla!”
Her blood ran cold.
Ethan sat up instantly, his muscles tensing. “Shit.”
Before she could say anything, the bedroom door burst open, nearly coming off its hinges.
Jake stood in the doorway, chest heaving, eyes wild as they darted between his little sister and his best friend. His best friend—who was very clearly in bed with her, half-covered by the sheets.
The room fell into a deafening silence, thick with unspoken words and the weight of betrayal.
“What. The. Hell,” Jake growled, his voice dangerously low.
Camilla scrambled to sit up, clutching the sheet to her chest. “Jake, I—”
“Don’t,” he snapped, his gaze locking onto Ethan, who had swung his legs over the side of the bed and was already reaching for his jeans. “Tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”
Ethan met his glare head-on, shoulders squared. “Jake, listen—”
Jake didn’t let him finish.
With a furious snarl, he lunged.
Camilla screamed as Jake’s fist connected with Ethan’s jaw, sending him sprawling back onto the bed. “Jake, stop!”
Ethan groaned, shaking his head as he wiped his mouth. “Okay. I deserved that.”
Jake wasn’t done. He grabbed Ethan by the collar, yanking him up. “How long?” he demanded, his voice shaking with rage. “How long has this been going on?”
Ethan didn’t fight back. He didn’t try to stop the blow he knew might come next. Instead, he held Jake’s furious gaze. “Since last night.”
Jake’s grip tightened. “You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth,” Camilla interjected, her voice pleading. “Jake, please—”
“You shut up!” He turned on her, and for the first time in her life, Camilla saw something in her brother’s eyes she had never seen directed at her before—betrayal. “You’re my sister! He’s my best friend! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Tears stung her eyes. “I love him.”
Jake flinched as if she had physically struck him. He let go of Ethan, stepping back as he ran a shaking hand through his hair. “You’re joking,” he muttered, almost to himself. “This is a joke.”
Ethan stood then, rubbing his sore jaw. “It’s not a joke, Jake.”
Jake turned on him, fists clenching again. “You had no right!”
Ethan took a step forward, but not in defense. In resolution. “I love her,” he said firmly. “And I didn’t plan for this, but I’m not going to pretend it didn’t happen.”
Jake let out a humorless laugh. “You love her? That’s rich. You’re leaving in less than two weeks, Ethan! You enlisted, remember? You’re going to ship off and leave her here to pick up the pieces!”
Camilla’s stomach twisted. She had known this would be a problem, but hearing it thrown in her face felt like a blade to the chest.
Ethan’s jaw tensed. “I’m not abandoning her.”
Jake scoffed. “Oh, really? What happens when you get deployed? When you’re gone for months? Years? You think she can handle that? You think she deserves that?”
Ethan swallowed hard. “She deserves someone who loves her.”
“And that’s you?” Jake seethed. “Because last I checked, you were the guy who swore up and down that she was off-limits. That she was like a sister to you.”
Ethan’s expression darkened. “She’s not my sister.”
Jake lunged again, but this time, Camilla threw herself between them, her hands on Jake’s chest. “Stop it!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face. “Just stop it!”
Jake’s breathing was ragged, his body shaking beneath her hands. For a moment, he looked at her, truly looked at her, and his fury cracked just enough for his anguish to show.
“You were supposed to be safe,” he whispered, voice breaking. “I was supposed to protect you.”
Camilla’s heart shattered. “I don’t need protecting from him.”
Jake shook his head, stepping away. “I can’t do this.”
She watched as he stormed out of the room, heard the front door slam shut a moment later. Silence fell over the house, leaving only the sound of her shaky breaths.
Ethan’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. “Are you okay?”
She nodded against his chest, but deep down, she knew things would never be the same.
Her brother knew. And nothing would ever be the same again.
- Writer
