Chapter Eight: Broken Bonds
927 Words
The silence in Camilla’s apartment was suffocating. The weight of the morning’s confrontation with her parents still pressed heavily on her chest. She sat curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the untouched cup of tea in her hands. The words her father had said replayed over and over in her head, each one cutting deeper than the last.
Ethan sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee, his touch grounding her. He hadn’t said much since they’d left her parents’ house, but his presence alone was enough to keep her from spiraling.
“They’ll come around,” Ethan said finally, his voice low and steady.
Camilla let out a bitter laugh. “You didn’t see their faces. My dad looked at me like I was a complete stranger. Like I had betrayed them.”
Ethan clenched his jaw, shifting slightly. “Because I’m not the guy they wanted for you.”
She turned to face him, searching his face. “That’s not it. It’s because you’re leaving. Because they think I’m going to get my heart broken.”
Ethan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I wouldn’t hurt you, Cam. You know that.”
“I do.” She reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “But they don’t. And Jake sure as hell doesn’t believe it either.”
A muscle ticked in Ethan’s jaw at the mention of Jake. Camilla knew the two of them hadn’t spoken since the fight. A part of her wished Jake would calm down and listen, but she also knew how stubborn her brother could be.
As if on cue, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She hesitated before picking it up, her stomach twisting when she saw Jake’s name on the screen.
“Are you going to answer it?” Ethan asked, watching her closely.
She nodded and swiped to accept the call. “Jake?”
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice clipped. “Are you home?”
Camilla swallowed. “Yeah.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
The call ended before she could say anything else. She stared at her phone for a long moment before setting it down.
Ethan exhaled through his nose. “I should go.”
“No,” she said quickly, gripping his hand tighter. “I don’t want to do this alone.”
He hesitated but nodded. They sat in tense silence, waiting for the inevitable knock at the door.
When it came, it was sharp and demanding. Camilla braced herself before standing and walking over to open it. Jake stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his expression unreadable.
His eyes landed on Ethan immediately. “Of course, you’re here.”
Ethan stood, his posture tense. “Not going anywhere, Jake.”
Jake scoffed. “Figured as much.” He turned his attention to Camilla. “Mom’s been crying all day. Dad won’t talk to anyone. You realize what you’ve done?”
Camilla’s throat tightened. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jake let out a humorless laugh. “Didn’t do anything wrong? You let him”—he jerked his chin toward Ethan—“walk into your life knowing damn well he was going to leave again.”
“I love him,” Camilla shot back, anger bubbling beneath her skin.
Jake’s expression darkened. “Love doesn’t change reality. He’s a Marine, Cam. His life is out there, not here. And when he leaves, you’ll be the one left behind, picking up the pieces.”
Ethan stepped forward. “You don’t get to decide what’s best for her.”
Jake turned on him, fury flashing in his eyes. “And you do? You think because you slept with her, you have some kind of claim?”
“Jake, stop!” Camilla’s voice wavered.
Ethan’s face hardened. “I don’t claim her. But I do love her.”
Jake shook his head, disbelief written all over his face. “This isn’t some fairy tale, Ethan. You think you can promise her the world and then just disappear for months? Years? You don’t get to do that to her.”
Ethan’s hands balled into fists at his sides, but he kept his voice calm. “I know what I’m asking of her. And I wouldn’t have let this happen if I wasn’t willing to fight for it.”
Jake laughed coldly. “Fight for it? You mean leave and hope she’s still here when you get back?”
Camilla stepped between them, her voice firm. “Enough! This is my choice, Jake. Not yours, not Mom’s, not Dad’s. Mine.”
Jake looked at her for a long moment, something like hurt flickering in his eyes before he exhaled sharply. “You always said you wanted stability. Someone who would be here.”
Camilla’s heart squeezed. “I want Ethan.”
Jake clenched his jaw and nodded once. “Then I hope you know what you’re doing.”
He turned and walked out without another word, the door slamming behind him.
Camilla let out a shaky breath, her body trembling. Ethan was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair.
She shook her head, burying her face in his chest. “It’s not your fault.”
They stood there for a long time, wrapped in each other as the storm raged outside.
Because even though Jake had walked away, Camilla knew this fight was far from over.
- Writer
