Chapter 77: Crashing Waves Jake POV

I slammed my car door shut, the metal thud reverberating through the empty street, my boots crunching on loose gravel as I stormed toward Ethan’s building. My fists clenched tight, knuckles whitening, my pulse pounding in my ears—Sophia staying here, choosing him over me, the thought clawing at my gut. I yanked my hood up, pulling it low over my eyes, my breath puffing out in sharp bursts as I climbed the steps, my hand banging on his door, the wood shuddering under my fist.

The door creaked open, Ethan standing there, his shirt wrinkled, a sketchbook dangling from his hand, his eyes narrowing as they landed on me. "Jake?" he said, stepping forward, tossing the book onto a table with a soft thud, his jaw tightening.

I didn’t give him a chance—my hands shot out, shoving him hard against the wall, his back slamming into it with a loud bang, air rushing out of him in a grunt. "What the hell are you doing with her?" I yelled, my voice raw, ragged, my fist swinging fast, clipping his jaw with a sharp crack, the sting buzzing through my knuckles.

He stumbled, grabbing my arm, shoving back, his shoulder ramming into my chest, knocking the wind out of me. "Back off, Jake!" he shouted, his voice rough, swinging a fist that grazed my cheek, the burn sharp and instant.

I shoved him again, harder, my hands gripping his shirt, slamming him back, a picture frame crashing off the wall, glass shattering across the floor in a jagged spray. "She’s mine, not yours!" I roared, my throat burning, my fist flying again, smashing into his shoulder, his grunt loud and pained in my ears.

"Jake, stop!" Sophia’s voice sliced through, high and panicked, her hands grabbing my jacket, yanking me back, her nails digging into my arm like claws. I stumbled, my boots slipping on the hardwood, my elbow knocking a lamp off a table, the crash deafening as it splintered on the floor.

I spun around, her face flushed red, tears streaking down her cheeks, her hands shoving at my chest, pounding against me. "What are you doing?" she screamed, her voice breaking, cracking like glass, pushing me toward the door, her palms smacking my ribs.

"What am I doing?" I barked, wrenching free from her grip, pacing a tight circle, my hands raking through my hair, tugging hard at the roots. "You’re here—with him! You’re tearing me apart, Soph!"

Ethan straightened, wiping blood from his lip with his sleeve, his breath heaving, ragged. "Get out, Jake—she doesn’t want this," he said, stepping forward, his fists still balled, his eyes locked on mine, dark and defiant.

I lunged again, my shoulder slamming into his, knocking him back against the couch, the frame creaking loudly as he caught himself on the armrest. "She doesn’t want you!" I yelled, my voice splintering, swinging another punch, missing as he ducked, his elbow jabbing into my ribs, sharp and bruising.

Sophia grabbed me again, her arms wrapping around my waist, dragging me back, her voice trembling, desperate. "Stop it, Jake—please!" she begged, her hands shaking, pulling me toward the door, her sneakers squeaking against the floor, her strength surprising me.

I twisted, shoving her off, my hands trembling as I pointed at Ethan, my finger jabbing the air. "You don’t get her!" I shouted, my chest heaving, kicking a stray book across the room, the pages flapping wildly as it slammed into the wall.

"She’s not yours to claim!" Ethan fired back, stepping closer, grabbing a glass from the table, slamming it down so hard it cracked, shards skittering across the wood.

"Enough!" Sophia screamed, shoving between us, her hands pushing Ethan back, then me, her eyes wild, wet with tears. "Both of you—stop!" she cried, her voice raw, her fists pounding the air.

I backed up, my boots scuffing the floor, my fists unclenching, the fight draining out of me as her sobs hit me like a punch to the gut. "You’re choosing him," I said, my voice low, breaking, grabbing my hood, yanking it tighter over my head, shielding my eyes.

"I’m not choosing anyone!" she sobbed, her hands covering her face, her body shaking as she sank to her knees, her cries echoing in the wrecked room.

I turned, pacing to the door, my hand gripping the knob, twisting it with a jerk. "I’m done, Soph," I said, my voice splintering, shoving the door open, the hinges groaning as I stormed out, my boots thudding down the stairs, the cold air slamming into my face like a wall.

I hit the street, my breath ragged, kicking a trash can as I passed, the metal clanging as it tipped, spilling wrappers onto the pavement. My hands shoved into my pockets, my fists balling tight, my jaw clenched so hard it ached. Headlights flashed behind me, tires crunching gravel—Melissa’s car pulling up, the engine rumbling as she rolled down the window, her voice cutting through the haze. "Jake, what the hell happened?"

I kept walking, my head down, my boots pounding the ground, ignoring her as Sophia’s cries rang in my ears, Melissa’s car trailing me, a shadow I couldn’t shake.