Setting: The living room remains quiet, with Celeste still fast asleep on the couch. Angelo and Briar's conversation fades into silence, but Lia, who has been pretending to sleep, lies still, processing everything she just heard. The room feels heavy with tension, as if the air itself is holding its breath.
Lia’s POV:
I wasn’t supposed to hear this.
But once Briar and Angelo started whispering, I couldn’t help but listen. It wasn’t like I meant to eavesdrop—it’s just that their voices were so soft, so full of something unspoken, that I felt drawn in.
Now, lying here, with my back to them, I feel a pit forming in my stomach. I close my eyes and try to steady my breathing, keeping it even so they won’t know I’m awake. But inside, my mind is racing.
Lia’s Internal Conflict:
I knew something was off between them. Ever since Briar showed up, I noticed the way Angelo looked at her, the way his attention shifted when she was around. But this? Hearing them talk about dreams and a connection that runs deeper than this lifetime? That’s something else entirely.
My heart aches for Celeste, for what this could mean for her. She’s asleep, completely oblivious to the conversation that’s happening a few feet away from her. If she knew…
No, I can’t let her find out like this.
Lia’s Struggle:
I want to jump up and say something. Confront them, maybe even call them out for hiding this. But part of me is conflicted. What if they’re telling the truth? What if there really is something larger at play, something beyond the three of them? It sounds crazy, but I’ve seen the way Angelo acts around Briar. I’ve seen the hesitation, the uncertainty in his eyes when Celeste’s not looking.
But Celeste is my best friend. She’s been by my side through everything. I can’t just stand by and let this happen, can I?
Lia’s POV (Internal):
I listen as Angelo's voice lowers, his words soft but clear. He talks about their shared dreams, the connection between them that spans lifetimes. My heart twists painfully. How am I supposed to handle this? Angelo and Celeste have been together for so long, and now Briar shows up, and everything changes?
What am I supposed to do with this information?
My chest feels tight, and I force myself to keep my breathing steady. If Briar and Angelo knew I was awake, it would change everything. So I stay still, pretending to be asleep, my mind a chaotic swirl of emotions.
Angelo’s Words Linger:
Angelo’s final words hit me harder than I expected. “It changes everything,” he said. He’s right—it does. But what’s going to change for the rest of us? For Celeste? For me?
I steal a glance at Celeste, her face peaceful in sleep, completely unaware of the storm brewing right beside her. I bite my lip, torn between loyalty to her and my own curiosity. Part of me feels betrayed, but another part of me feels like I just discovered something I wasn’t supposed to know.
Lia’s Decision:
I know I can’t tell Celeste—not yet. Not like this. But I also can’t ignore what’s happening. Tomorrow, I’ll have to figure out what to do, how to confront this without blowing everything up. Maybe I can get to Briar first, talk to her, and figure out what’s really going on before things spiral out of control.
But one thing is clear: I won’t let Celeste get blindsided by this. Not if I can help it.
Setting: The morning sun filters into the kitchen, casting a warm glow over the countertops. Briar is by the stove, frying eggs and bacon, while Lia is mixing pancake batter at the kitchen island. Celeste and Angelo are still asleep in the living room, their soft snores filling the otherwise quiet house. The scent of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon fills the air, but the atmosphere between Briar and Lia feels heavy, simmering with unspoken tension.
Briar’s POV:
I stirred the eggs, watching them scramble in the pan, trying to focus on the mundane task of making breakfast. Last night’s conversation with Angelo kept replaying in my mind, making me feel restless and anxious. I glanced toward the living room, where I could just make out Angelo’s sleeping form.
Why did everything have to feel so complicated?
As I reached for the spatula to flip the bacon, I noticed Lia moving more deliberately than usual, mixing pancake batter with an intensity that seemed… off. I could feel her eyes on me, watching my every move, but she hadn’t said much since we started cooking.
The silence between us was becoming unbearable.
“Everything okay?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
Lia didn’t respond right away. She set down the whisk and turned to face me, her expression unreadable.
Lia’s POV:
I hadn’t slept much after what I heard last night. My mind was still buzzing with the weight of the conversation between Briar and Angelo. Now, standing here in the kitchen, watching Briar act like everything was fine, it made something inside me snap.
No, everything is not okay.
“Briar,” I started, my voice low but steady. “We need to talk.”
Her hand paused mid-flip, and she turned to look at me, her brow furrowed in confusion. But I could see it—the flicker of guilt in her eyes.
“About what?” she asked, her voice cautious.
I crossed my arms, leaning against the counter, choosing my words carefully. “About last night. About you and Angelo.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and I saw her grip tighten on the spatula. She opened her mouth to say something, but I didn’t give her the chance.
“I heard everything.”
Briar’s POV:
My stomach dropped. She heard everything. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like I was backed into a corner. What was I supposed to say? How was I going to explain any of this? The dreams, the memories—none of it made sense to me, let alone trying to explain it to someone else.