Torn Between two brothers

Episode 2

EPISODE 2: Torn Between Two Brothers

The air between us broke with a bang—someone called my name from inside the house.

“Rory!”

It was Liam.

Perfect timing.

I tore my gaze away from Cameron and turned toward the sliding glass door just as Liam stepped out, holding a glass of champagne, his golden smile lighting up the space like he was born to belong in it.

God, he was everything I should want.

Safe. Loving. Constant.

The opposite of Cameron.

“There you are,” Liam said, slipping his arm around my waist like he didn’t just interrupt the most emotionally chaotic moment of my year. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Cameron’s eyes didn’t flinch. He didn’t move, didn’t say a word. Just lifted his glass again, casually.

Toasting fate’s cruel joke, I guess.

I tried to keep my voice steady. “Just needed some air.”

Liam turned his gaze toward his older brother and smiled—oblivious to the silent storm I was drowning in.

“I see you two have met.”

The words hit me like ice water.

Met?

He didn’t know.

He didn’t know Cameron and I weren’t strangers.

He didn’t know Cameron was the reason I learned to cry quietly.

Cameron gave a slow, unreadable nod. “We’ve... crossed paths.”

“Small world, huh?” Liam chuckled, pulling me closer. “My girl and my brother on the same balcony. Weirdest reunion ever.”

My girl.

My brother.

It felt like the universe was choking on irony.

I tried to breathe, but the weight of the moment was crushing. I was caught between two lives—one I had painfully buried, and one I was desperately trying to build.

“You okay, babe?” Liam whispered, noticing my stiff body.

I forced a smile. “Yeah. Just... long day.”

“Come inside,” he said. “Mom wants to talk wedding colors. Again.”

I nodded, letting him guide me away, but not before glancing back one last time.

Cameron was still standing there, silent, still watching me like he could read every thought screaming in my head.

And just before I disappeared through the door, he mouthed something.

"This isn’t over."

—

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror ten minutes later, heart racing, mind spinning.

Was I hallucinating?

Cameron Hayes. Back in town. In my life. Looking at me like I was the one that got away.

Except I didn’t get away. I stayed. I stayed and suffered and healed and found someone who wanted to give me everything Cameron couldn’t.

But Liam didn’t know the truth.

No one did.

And the guilt was already starting to rot me from the inside.

I loved Liam. I did.

But there were nights I still dreamed about Cameron. Still remembered the feel of his fingertips on my spine. The way he used to whisper my name like it was a secret.

I hated myself for remembering.

For still feeling.

For still wondering what if.

But even now, after everything, I couldn’t stop the tiny part of my heart that whispered—

It was always him.

---

End of Episode 2