𝙏𝙀𝙈𝙋𝙏𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 • 𝙇𝙍𝙃

22. game changer

GAME CHANGER

"you have to hide!"

emma loosened her grasp around luke's neck as they approached the driveway. luke let the girl down slowly, confused as to why he had to hide, and where he had to hide.

"why?"

"ethan is sitting on the step up there," emma pointed towards a black silhouette. "and he'll kill me if he knows i was with you so just — hide in that bush"

emma gave luke no chance to respond before nudging him in the direction of the shrub. he crouched down behind it, scrunching his face as his ass hit the dirt.

"the things i do for you" luke murmured.

emma caught ethan's eye once the motion light went on and illuminated the driveway. he quickly stood up and patiently waited for emma to reach him.

"where've you been?" he asked her.

"out. what are you still doing here?"

ethan gave his sister a blank look. "you disappeared on everyone after getting a phone call, i wanted to make sure you were okay"

emma's brother had always been protective of her, especially after their father passed away. and since it was difficult to keep an eye on her while she was across the country, he had a lot to make up for now that she's been home.

emma told ethan the dirty details about her and luke's breakup when it first happened, and the boy now had a strong disliking for the blonde.

he, like everyone else, thought luke and emma were endgame.

ethan loved luke, considered him a brother, until he broke his baby sister's heart. ethan wouldn't be able to forgive luke for that, not ever.

and he had the feeling that emma's strange disappearance had something to do with luke.

"you reek of alcohol and i can tell you haven't been drinking tonight" ethan's tone was stern, as if he was about to dive into a lecture emma could care less about.

"i went to the bar — a friend needed my help"

"and was this friend blonde, six-foot-four and an ex-boyfriend, by chance?"

emma rolled her eyes. "ethan, i love you, but you're not my dad. you don't get to give me a speech about my life choices so just stop, okay?" she brushed past him, wanting to sink into bed.

he grabbed her elbow. "i know, i'm sorry, it's just... i want to look out for you. you loved him and he hurt you — please don't let yourself fall for it again"

emma gave a single nod, knowing damn well she was already in the process of falling for it —him — again.

"i won't"

"the way he looks at you, emma," ethan let out a deep breath, noticing the way emma's pupils dilated at the mention of luke. "just be careful. you're engaged and things could get messy fast" 

she nodded once more, pulling the overprotective brother that she loved more than life in for a hug. "thank you. for being here, and looking out for me always. you are the best brother a girl could ask for"

ethan smiled, returning the hug and ruffling emma's hair in the process.

"is caleb awake?" emma asked.

"don't think so. he wanted to wait up for you but i told him not to worry about it"

"okay, thank you" emma smiled.