Hidden Flames..

Chapter 32

The evening was tense before it even began. Ethan and Lily had spent the entire day mentally preparing for what they were about to do. Telling Jake wasn't going to be easy—he was Lily's brother and Ethan's best friend. But they knew they couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer.

Ethan had arranged for a quiet dinner at his place, something casual to keep Jake at ease. The table was set, and the air was thick with the smell of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread. As they waited for Jake to arrive, Ethan noticed Lily's leg bouncing nervously under the table. He reached out, taking her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"It's going to be fine," Ethan said softly, though his own stomach was in knots.

Lily nodded, giving him a weak smile. "I know. I just... he's always been so protective. What if he doesn't understand? What if—"

Before she could finish, the doorbell rang. They both froze for a moment before Ethan stood to answer it. Jake walked in, casual and cheerful as usual, a grin on his face.

"Smells good in here! What's the occasion?" Jake asked, shrugging off his jacket.

Ethan and Lily exchanged a glance, and Ethan forced a smile. "No occasion. Just thought it'd be nice to catch up over dinner."

Jake didn't seem to notice the tension in the room as he sat down, helping himself to the food. For a while, the conversation was light, mostly about Jake's work and stories from his latest adventures. But as the meal neared its end, the atmosphere shifted.

Lily cleared her throat, her voice shaky. "Jake, there's something we need to tell you."

Jake paused, his fork hovering mid-air as he looked between the two of them. His brow furrowed. "Alright... What's going on?"

Ethan took a deep breath, deciding to take the lead. "Jake, this isn't easy for us to say, but... Lily and I have been seeing each other."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Jake's face went blank for a moment, as if he were processing what he'd just heard. Then, his expression hardened.

"You're joking, right?" he said, his tone sharp. When neither of them replied, his voice rose. "You're serious?"

Lily reached out, her voice trembling. "Jake, please—"

Jake stood abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor. "How long has this been going on?"

"Not long," Ethan said quickly, trying to keep his tone calm. "We didn't plan for this to happen, Jake. It just... did."

Jake's jaw clenched, and he turned to Lily. "You knew how I'd feel about this, Lily. He's my best friend. You're my sister. Do you know how messed up this is?"

"Jake, I'm not a little kid anymore!" Lily shot back, her voice rising. "I don't need your permission to date someone, even if it's Ethan. I love him."

The words hit Jake like a punch. He turned to Ethan, his eyes filled with a mix of betrayal and anger. "You're supposed to be my best friend. How could you keep this from me? You know how much she means to me. How could you risk hurting her—or ruining our friendship—for this?"

Ethan stood, meeting Jake's glare. "Because I love her, Jake. And I couldn't pretend I didn't. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't know how. You mean a lot to me too, and I didn't want to hurt you."

Jake shook his head, pacing the room as if trying to make sense of it all. "This is unbelievable. You guys didn't even think about how this would affect me, did you?"

Lily stood now, her voice firm despite the tears welling in her eyes. "Jake, this isn't about you. I love Ethan, and he loves me. I know this is hard for you, but I need you to try to understand."

Jake stopped pacing, his shoulders tense. He looked at the two of them, the hurt evident in his expression. "I don't know if I can," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "I need time to process this."

Without another word, Jake grabbed his jacket and walked out the door, leaving Ethan and Lily standing there, unsure of what to say. The room was silent except for the sound of the door clicking shut.

Ethan turned to Lily, his face etched with worry. "Do you think he'll forgive us?"

Lily wiped a tear from her cheek and leaned into him. "He will. He just needs time."

Ethan held her close, hoping she was right, though the weight of Jake's reaction lingered heavily in the room.