Isabella's POV
I dragged myself out of bed around nine and stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. It was my turn to use a concealer in covering the worst of the marks.
I wore a high-neck top, long jeans. When I finally went downstairs, the kitchen smelled of pancakes and bacon.
Dad was at the island, scrolling emails on his phone. He only went to work when it was very important.
Camilla was pouring orange juice into glasses, looking calm, and it was like last night had been a dream.
I won't lie she was beautiful and pretty, Dad really got eyes for good things.
She looked up when I walked in and smiled. The same warm, motherly smile she always gave me in the morning.
"Good morning, darling. Sleep well?"
I nearly choked on air. Wasn't it too early. "Yeah," I croaked. "Fine. You?"
"Like a baby," she said sweetly, jiggling her curvy waist. She handed me a glass of juice, her fingers brushing mine just a second longer than necessary.
Her eyes moved to my neck, right where the concealer was light.
"New necklace?" she asked innocently.
I touched the spot reflexively.
"Just… a rash. Allergies." I lied.
She nodded. I exhaled within me, gald she didn't press on.
"Must be something in the air." Dad looked up from his phone. "You okay, sweetheart? You look a little flushed."
I forced a smile. "Hot shower. I'm good."
He shrugged and went back to his emails.
Camilla leaned against the counter beside me, so close that her hip brushed mine. She whispered. "Headache gone?"
My breath hitched. "Yeah. I feel better than ever."
She smiled, secretive and filthy. "That's my baby girl." My knees almost snapped.
Maria dashed in with a fresh stack of pancakes. "Eat up, everyone! The twin's returning soon."
Dad sighed. "Speaking of trouble."
I rolled my eyes and nodded in agreement, I wasn't sure I was ready for them. They were indeed a bunch of trouble.
Camilla laughed lightly. "They may be trouble, but they are sweethearts, isn't that right, Isabella?"
I frowned, not expecting that. "I… guess." I replied, uninterested.
I sat at the table and tried to eat. Every bite tasted like cardboard, Camilla sat across me, our knees touched under the table, and she didn't move away, neither did I.
After breakfast, I felt like I was walking through quicksand made of guilt and leftover heat.
I avoided Lila's gaze whenever she crossed the yard. I wasn't even in the mood for my dance lessons.
And I told myself I was fine. Like totally fine.
I was just a girl who'd had one wild night and now needed to pretend it never happened. This way difficult than solving equations.
Ethan and Noah returned in the afternoon like some celebrities going to a concert. They rolled in with two black SUVs, windows down, music blaring loud enough to rattle the roses.
They were identical on paper. They had the same dark hair, same six-foot-three frames that made every doorway feel smaller, same sharp jaw line.
But they wore it differently.
Ethan had this quiet aura that came with an intensity and eyes that saw too much. He wasn't loud he was careful.
While Noah is the live of every party. He was loud charm, grinning like he knew every secret in the room and planned to use them for fun, and he was also fucking lousy.
They burst into the kitchen like they owned it (which technically, they kind of did).
"Isabella!" Noah shouted, dropping his duffel bag and scooping me into a hug that lifted me off the ground. "Missed you, little sis."
I laughed despite myself. "Put me down, idiot. You smell like airport and bad decisions."
He set me down but still kept one arm slung over my shoulders.
"That's the scent of freedom baby. Finals are over. Summer's here. And I brought gifts."
"I hope you also brought "Don't bug me with you"?
Noah laughed. "By the way you look sexier."
I snorted. Ethan walked in behind him, quieter carrying his bag with one hand.
He smiled real.
"Hey."
"Hey." I said back, suddenly aware of how close Noah still was.
Ethan's gaze flicked to the spot where Noah's arm rested on me, then back to my face.
Camilla appeared in the doorway, robe swapped for a linen dress, looking like she'd been expecting them all along.
"Boys," she said warmly. "Welcome home."
Noah let go of me and pulled her into a hug.
"Camila. Still too beautiful for this family."
She laughed lightly, I could tell it was practiced.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, and would work on your little girlfriends."
Ethan hugged her next, twas brief, polite and then looked at me again.
"You good?" He arched his brow.
I nodded too fast. "Yeah. I'm good."
Dad walked in from the study, still holding his phone in his hand.
"You two made it. How was traffic?"
"Shitty," Noah said. "But worth it. Isabella's been holding down the fort without us?"
"Hello… I'm right here." I chipped in.
"She's been… managing," Dad said, glancing at me with that half-smile that used to make me feel safe.
Now it just made my chest ache. "I guess this house be better, if you guys can keep my name outta your mouths." I shot back and walked away.
Noah's POV
Dinner was loud, the way it always is when we sat in the same table to eat.
Dad was at the head, talking about some merger no one cared about.
Camilla sat across from him, smiling and pouring wine like that was the only thing she was good at.
Isabella beside me, looking adorable as she picked her food, eyes darting everywhere except at me.
She didn't look the same from last Christmas I saw her.
Not louder, still quiet when she wanted to be. But the spark in her eyes was different like she was on guard and hungry dir something.
I leaned over, voice low. "You're quiet tonight. What's up?"
She shrugged. "Just tired, and sad you chose to come home rather than go to hell."
"Liar, and nice way of saying you miss me."
She looked at me me then, quick and sharp. "Don't start."
I grinned. "Too late."
After dessert everyone scattered. Dad went to his study to work. Camilla to make calls, Ethan disappeared upstairs with with his bag.
And me? I had unfinished business. I followed Isabella to the hallway outside her room.
She stopped dating the door. And turned. "What?"
I stepped closer. "You've been avoiding me since we got here."
"I haven't. We literally just ate on the same table."
"That's not what I mean."
She crossed her arms. "I've been busy."
"With what… or who?"
"Stuff."
I reached out, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers lingered on her. "Are you blushing."
She slapped my hand off like I'd burned her. "Stop."
"Why should I?"
"Because."
I stepped closer again. "Because why?"
She looked up at me, her eyes wide, pupils dark. "Because it's wrong."
I smiled slowly. "Since when do you care about wrong?"
I leaned in and kissed her, hard, and desperate. Like I'd been holding it in since the last time I saw her.
She froze for half a second, but didn't push me away. Instead she kissed me back, hands fisting in my shirt. Mouth opening under mine.
I pushed her against the wall, placing one hand on her hip, the other sliding up under her shirt, she wasn't wearing anything under.
She moaned into my mouth. I broke the kiss just enough to whisper against her lips. "Tell me to stop."
She didn't. Great.
I kissed her again, deeper, my James going higher, cupping her firm soft breast. Her niople hardened under my thumb.
She pressed into me. We heard footsteps echoing down the hall. And broke apart fast.
Ethan stood at the top of the stairs, watching. His eyes moved between us. Dark. Unreadable.
He didn't say anything. Just turned turned and walked back to his room.
Isabella's face went white from embarrassment.
I touched her cheek. "Hey… "
She shoved past me, ran into her room, and slammed the door.
I stood there in the hallway, hands on my hips, heart pounding, tasting her on my lips.
Ethan had seen everything. And he sure as hell wasn't going to let it go.