Connection | 18+

Chapter Four

OLIVIA:

   My brother, Daniel Camerson, is three years older than me. We may share our father’s last name, but I can guarantee on my own blood that he is not a person to share even something as small as a bag of chips. Especially with me.

   So, you can imagine my surprise when I receive an invitation to have dinner at his apartment for the first time in years.

   It’s been quite some time since he bought the unit next to mine. The prospect of this dinner hangs heavy in the air, its weight pulling at my curiosity, while also igniting a flicker of apprehension in my chest. What could possibly motivate him to extend an olive branch after all this time?

   As I ponder over the reason behind his little hoax, I slip into an oversized hoodie that drapes over me like a comforting blanket, covering me down to my knees. It feels familiar, almost like armor against the emotional turmoil that brews inside me. I pair it with a set of beige shorts that remind me of the countless casual days spent at home, hiding from the world. Initially, I planned on making some excuse to avoid this awkward encounter after what happened the last time we saw each other. But curiosity gnaws at me, and soon enough, it overpowers my hesitations.

   I have to know why, all of a sudden, he decided to invite me.

   I grab my keys and phone, the cold metal sending a shiver down my spine as I leave my apartment. The silence of the hallway feels deafening, amplifying my racing thoughts. I approach the door next to mine and knock. It's late, so I don't opt for ringing the bell and also because the sound of bells gives me the ick.

   I wait for a few seconds, my heart thumping louder with each passing moment, until the door creaks open.

   I’m ready to unleash a sarcastic remark as soon as Daniel appears, but my words hang in the air, my mouth left agape when I see who stands there instead.

   What the fuck was he doing here?

   Ethan stands in the doorway, his sharp gaze piercing into mine, and a slow, knowing smirk curls on his lips. The unexpected sight of him steals the breath from my lungs. I blink, caught off guard, and watch as his eyes drift down to my open mouth, as if he’s savoring every ounce of my surprise. The tension in the room thickens, a charged silence enveloping us, making my heart race even faster.

   In a pathetic attempt to regain some composure, I stammer out, “Ethan.”

   It's absurd, I know but it’s Ethan.

   How can anyone stand in front of this… this weirdly, but oh so godly creature?

   His tousled hair falls just above his intense eyes, which are currently filled with a mix of amusement and intrigue.

   How can a person be this strikingly handsome and yet exude an aura of danger that sends shivers down my spine?

   In an effort to calm my racing heart, I muster a smile.

   “What brings you here?” My voice barely rises above a whisper, as if the question carries weight I’m unprepared to handle.

   He arches an eyebrow, and even that conveys a sense of confidence. There’s no confusion or surprise in his demeanor—just an unwavering self-assuredness. Even now, standing in my brother’s house, he emanates dominance. It’s as if he owns the space rather than just occupying it.