BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS AND A PAST

Chapter 9: Tangled Lies

(Julia POV) (the present)

A constant humming sound filled my cubicle in the office like a slow-moving tide of keyboards and muffled voices.

I sifted through hordes of emails as my fingers hurtled towards the end on their own, while my thoughts moved away. I think of Luke's soft "Good morning" accompanied by that almost hurt smile he had given me earlier, which caught me off guard.

I already see him, from the first week of Kane Enterprises, guiding me through the maze of corridors, throwing light quips just what I needed to ease me when I'd been a jittery mess about his bad lighting from above.

Then there was Andrew. His sharp "Get it done" cut through the air this morning, tone icy, dark eyes locking with mine for a brief second before flicking away. He really hadn't paid much attention to me that first day, but something about him intrigued me, a mystery I couldn't quite let go of. I chewed my lip, tangled in the push and pull of their opposites.

Why did they both carve out space in my head?

In the break room later, I poured coffee into a chipped mug, the machine's low gurgle filling the quiet.

Two coworkers lingered nearby, their hushed chatter drifting over. "Heard Andrew's tying the knot with Sophie Ellison soon, you know, that loaded blonde." My grip faltered, a splash of coffee hitting the counter.

A bitter twist coiled in my stomach, sharp and uninvited. Sophie Ellison, I'd scrolled past her online once, all flawless curls and high-end labels. Naturally, Andrew would go for someone like her. But why did it claw at me? He was just the guy signing my checks, nothing else. I swiped at the spill with a napkin, my teeth clenching. Why did I even care?

Back at my desk, the screen glowed blankly as my mind spun around the gossip. “What's it to me? Andrew's a stranger, just a name stamped on memos. Still, picturing him with Sophie, beaming, content, dug in deep, like a thorn I couldn't pluck out. Was it Jake stirring this up? Or something murkier I didn't want to face? I shook it off, forcing my eyes to the inbox. The hours bled together, messages stacking up like unread chapters.

Picking Jake up from school, I let his chatter about recess and crayons tug me out of the spiral. Our apartment welcomed us with its familiar clutter, Legos strewn across the rug like tiny landmines. Jake crouched there, snapping pieces into a spaceship, the clicks steady and sure. His blue eyes flicked up to mine. "Mom, how come I don't have a dad to build stuff with?"

The words landed hard, knocking the air out of me. My memory jolted back, five years ago, a crowded room, bass thumping, a masked guy with a grin that promised trouble. He'd pulled me in, made everything electric for one reckless night, then he vanished, leaving a keychain and a scribbled note. Now, with Jake watching me, that moment hung heavy. I mussed his hair, forcing a grin. "Someday, kiddo," I said, keeping my voice even as my chest tightened. "Someday." How long could I dodge this?

Dinner was quiet, then came bedtime tales, Jake's astronaut obsession lighting up his face. When his breaths finally softened, I eased his door shut and I sank onto my bed. The silence pressed in, his question echoing. I hated feeding him half-truths. But what was the alternative? "Your dad's one of two guys, and I'm still guessing"? He'd get it eventually, just not tonight.

My eyes slid to the closet. That box sat there, untouched for years. Maybe it was time. I dragged it down, dust smudging my hands as the lid groaned open. There they were, the keychain, glinting faintly, and the note: "My name is Kane." I ran my thumb over the "K," the past rushing back, beats pounding, laughter, that wild rush. I'd been fearless then, stupidly so. Now I was here, raising Jake alone in a life tied to that name. Two Kanes, not one. How had it knotted up like this?

I gripped the keychain, resolve settling in. "I'll track you down," I murmured. "For him." No more sidestepping. Luke's warmth, maybe I could start there, test the waters. But if he was Jake's dad?. And Andrew, brittle, unreachable Andrew. If it was him, would he even blink? My thoughts churned. Luke had dropped something about Andrew's engagement party this weekend. Maybe I'd spot something there, a flicker, a tell.

Days went by, and Jake's curiosity wasn't pausing. I slumped back, the keychain cool against my palm. I needed a move, quick.

A sharp ring cut through the stillness, the doorbell. I frowned, clock showing it being too late for company. Setting the keychain aside, I padded over, pulse ticking faster. My mom stood there, coat still buttoned, catching her breath. "Julia, Jake's teacher called me."

"What?" My voice barely carried. "Why?"

She stepped in, closing out the night. "He's been asking about his dad at school. He's telling kids he's a superhero, lost somewhere. The teacher's concerned, he's digging for answers."

I pressed my fingers to my temples, a dull ache spreading. "I thought I had longer time, Mom."

"You've got to figure out who he is," she said, steady and unyielding. "For Jake."

"I know." My words shook. "I'm working on it."

She wrapped me in a hug, but the pressure didn't budge. Jake's school talk, the keychain, Luke and Andrew, it was all crashing in. Time was running thin, and I couldn't duck it anymore. I had to move. Fast.