A Tough Choice

Chapter Sixty Six

I let out a sigh of relief as I finally made it home. That shift had been particularly long, I was lucky that I had been able to leave on time and not told to work overtime like Ethan. I just wanted to curl up on the sofa in my pyjamas with a good book. My life was so complicated lately that I found myself longing to escape into a fantasy world for a while. I was struggling to deal with everything that was going on. Not having anyone to talk to was beginning to take a strain on me. How could I talk to Caleb after everything that had happened? How could I trust someone that stole from his own brother?

I took of my shirt and stared at my reflection. I hadn't been intimate with Ethan for a couple of weeks, I couldn't bear to, knowing that he would hate me if he knew what I knew. My confidence was shattered. I jumped as I saw Caleb's reflection in the mirror as he stood in the doorway behind me.

"Stop it." I said as I caught him staring at me.

I glared at him as he continued staring.

"Is there something you wanted?" I asked as I quickly put on my pyjama top.

"I wanted to see if you were okay, we haven't really spoken lately?" he asked gently.

I stared at him for a moment. Of course I wasn't okay. Ethan and Caleb hated each other, Kirstie had issues with Caleb and to be honest so did I. The constant tense atmosphere was beginning to get to me. I couldn't deal with it on top of everything else.

I jumped as I saw Caleb standing in front of me, I hadn't even heard him cross the room.

"Talk to me." he whispered.

"I'm fine." I lied.

I sighed as he placed his hand on my chin and tilted my face so that I was looking at him. I watched as his face slowly inched closer to mine.

"Don't." I whispered as I quickly turned away.

"Sorry." he whispered.

I quickly looked away from him. He wasn't a nice guy, he'd treated Ethan and me like crap. He was reckless, irresponsible and impulsive. So why was I attracted to him? What was it about him that was drawing me in? I felt a pang of guilt as I realised that Ethan would be gutted if he knew that I was attracted to Caleb.

"I need to use the bathroom." I whispered, not looking at Caleb.

I quickly walked into the bathroom and locked the door.

Ethan's POV

"You're late!" Kirstie exclaimed as I finally made it home.

"Yeah work was crazy." I admitted.

"I guessed that." she smiled.

"Have you killed Cal yet?" I asked her.

"Nope." she grinned.

"Speak of the devil." I whispered as Caleb entered the room.

"Nibbles." he said.

"What?" I snapped.

He grinned and shrugged.

"Where's Emma?" I asked them.

"She said she was going to use the bathroom." Caleb told me.

"But she's been in there over an hour." he added.

"She's probably having a bath or something." I said quietly.

I quickly walked upstairs, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong. She'd been acting really strange lately, distant and definitely not her usual self.

I knocked on the bathroom door. No response.

"Emma are you okay?" I asked as I knocked again.

"Yeah I'm fine!" she exclaimed quickly.

"What's wrong?" I frowned.

"Nothing!" she cried.

"I'm coming in." I told her. I turned the doorknob and realised that it was locked.

"Emma let me in." I said.

"You can't come in here." she said nervously.

"Why not?" I asked.

"For god sake Ethan, go away and leave me to have a bath in peace!" she exclaimed angrily.

I instantly let go of the doorknob, shocked and hurt at her tone. I only wanted to check that she was okay because I cared about her. I sighed and wandered back downstairs.