Hidden Flames..

Chapter 14

Ethan stood there in the quiet of the backyard, the cool air doing little to calm the heat that had settled in his chest. His thoughts were a whirlwind of contradictions, each one pulling him in a different direction. He had to let it go—he had to ignore the pull toward Lily, the way his heart raced every time she came near, the way his body reacted when she smiled at him. But as much as he tried, the images of her, of those moments they shared, kept replaying in his mind like an endless loop.He clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling up inside him. *She's Jake's sister,* he reminded himself again. *And she's off-limits. Always has been. Always will be.* But the words rang hollow, like a broken record. No matter how many times he said them, they didn't make the feelings go away. They only made them stronger.He could still feel the warmth of her presence, the way her eyes had softened when they spoke earlier, how her laugh seemed to echo in the quiet of the restaurant. He remembered the way she had leaned in to ask about his career, the way she had looked at him as if she truly saw him for the first time in years. And then, when Jake had left them alone, it was like the world had shifted—like everything between him and Lily had changed in the span of a single glance.*This is madness,* he thought, running a hand through his hair. He needed to clear his head, to focus on something else—anything else. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw Lily, and every time he pushed it away, it only came rushing back stronger.Ethan took a few deep breaths, trying to center himself. He walked further into the yard, the gravel crunching beneath his boots as he paced back and forth. He couldn't keep doing this. He couldn't let himself feel this way about her—not when he had a friendship with Jake that meant everything to him. And yet, the harder he tried to bury it, the more he felt like he was sinking into something he couldn't escape.*What if she feels the same way?* That question hovered at the edge of his mind, daring him to consider it. He couldn't deny that there had been moments—small moments—when it seemed like there was something more than just friendship between them. She had looked at him differently tonight, the way she held his gaze, the way she seemed to search his face for something—something deeper. But Ethan didn't know how to navigate that. He wasn't even sure he could. His whole life had been about keeping things simple, avoiding complications, and here he was, standing at the edge of a precipice, about to dive into a world of emotions and relationships that could tear everything apart.He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts aside. *This is crazy,* he thought. *I can't—* But then, there it was again—*the pull*. The thing he couldn't ignore, no matter how hard he tried.Ethan let out a long breath, realizing the truth that he had been trying to avoid. *It's already too late.*The tension between him and Lily was real, undeniable, and no matter how much he tried to fight it, it was only growing stronger. If he didn't confront it soon, it was going to consume him. But how could he? How could he face the possibility of losing his best friend over something like this? How could he risk everything he had with Jake—his closest friend—for a woman who had always been off-limits?*But she's not just "Jake's sister" anymore,* he thought bitterly. *She's Lily. And I don't know how much longer I can keep pretending I don't feel this way.*With a deep, almost imperceptible sigh, Ethan walked back toward the house, his heart heavy with the weight of the decision he knew he'd eventually have to make. But for now, he couldn't face it. Not tonight. He had to bury it a little longer, at least until he could figure out how to move forward—if he could move forward without tearing everything apart. He walked into the house, the door clicking shut behind him, but the conflict within him, the magnetic pull toward Lily, remained, waiting for him to confront it when the time came. And deep down, Ethan knew that time was coming faster than he could ever be ready for.