Andrew's POV
It's a knock I expect. But just not this early.
I'm mid-coffee, hair still damp from the shower, and wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants when I open the door.
And there he is.
Nick.
My best friend. His fists clenched. His jaw tight.
This won't be a friendly visit.
"Morning," I say cautiously.
He steps inside without asking, without speaking, just pacing once before spinning on me like he's been holding back a storm.
"You and my sister," he spits. "Are you serious?"
I shut the door behind him slowly. "Nick..."
"Don't," he snaps. "Don't give me some half-assed excuse. Just tell me the truth. How long?"
I exhale. "Since she came back."
His nostrils flare. "You mean since we were hanging out, drinking beers, playing dumbass video games, you were sneaking into her room behind my back?"
"That's not what happened"
"Oh really? So you didn't lie to my face? You didn't pretend this whole time like you weren't... " He breaks off, running a hand through his hair. "God, I trusted you."
"I didn't plan this," I say, voice low. "And neither did she. It just... happened."
"You don't touch your best friend's sister, man. That's rule number one."
I take a step forward. "And what if she's not just your sister to me?"
He stares hard at me. Cold. Betrayed. "Don't."
"I'm not playing games, Nick."
"You think that makes it better? That this is serious? That you've got feelings for my sister?"
I nod once. "Yeah. I do."
Silence.
Then, a bitter laugh. "Unbelievable. You think that makes you a better person? Like it's less of a betrayal because you caught feelings?"
I don't respond.
Because deep down, I know it doesn't change anything.
"I should hit you," he says suddenly. "Right now."
"If it'll make you feel better, do it."
He steps closer, his fists shaking. I brace myself.
But he stops. Just short. Breathing heavy.
"I can't," he growls. "Because no matter how pissed I am, no matter how messed up this is... you're still like a brother to me."
My throat tightens.
"And she's my sister," he adds. "So you don't get to play hero, Andrew. You don't get to protect her, or love her, or screw her behind my back like it doesn't matter."
"I'm not screwing her," I say sharply. "I love her."
That's the first time I've said it out loud.
It sounds raw. Real.
Nick's face goes blank. "You what?"
"I love her."
He laughs again, but there's no humor left. "You're insane. This is insane."
"It doesn't make it wrong."
"It makes it everything that's wrong."
We stare at each other. Our years of friendship crumbling in seconds.
"You're going to ruin everything," Nick mutters. "You already have."
Then he turns and walks out, slamming the door.
And just like that, I lose my best friend.
****
Penelope's POV
I hear the door slam from my room.
It's 8:17 a.m.
Nick's car peels out of the driveway.
And my stomach sinks.
I rush down the stairs just in time to see Andrew's message pop up on my phone.
☎️He knows. We talked and it's bad.
I knew this was coming.
But that doesn't make the impact hurt less.
I call him immediately.
He answers on the second ring. "Hey."
"What happened?"
"He showed up. He was angry... hurt. He knows it's not just a fling. I told him everything."
I sit down, heart hammering inside my chest. "And?"
"And I think I lost him."
I close my eyes.
This was always the risk.
"Do you regret it?" I whisper.
"I don't. Not for a second."
Tears prick the corner of my eyes. "He's my brother, Andrew."
"I know. And I'll fix it somehow."
But can it be fixed?
Can something broken this deeply be put back together?
Later That Night
At Home, dinner is silent.
Mom hums to herself as she stirs pasta on the stove.
Nick sits across from me, not touching his food.
He hasn't looked at me since I came downstairs.
"Did something happen?" Mom finally asks, glancing between us. "You two are quiet."
I open my mouth, then close it.
Nick speaks first. "Why don't you ask Penelope?"
My fork freezes.
"Nick," I say under my breath.
He leans back in his chair, arms crossed. "Tell her. Or I will."
Mom turns to me. Confused. Concerned. "Tell me what?"
My mouth goes dry.
"Andrew and I… we've been seeing each other."
Silence.
Utter, complete silence.
Mom sets down the spoon. Slowly.
"Since when?"
"A few weeks," I say quietly. "It wasn't supposed to be serious, but… it is."
Nick scoffs. "Wow. Wasn't supposed to be serious. That's your defense?"
"Enough," Mom snaps, voice sharper than I've heard in years.
She looks at me. Then at Nick.
And then she says the one thing I wasn't ready for.
"I always knew."
I blink. "What?"
"The way you look at each other. I'm not blind." She sighs. "I just hoped it wouldn't turn into something real."
Nick's face is a mix of disbelief and betrayal.
"You're okay with this?" he asks.
"I'm not okay with it," Mom says. "But I also know fighting it won't stop it."
She turns to me. "Just don't make me choose between my children. I can't survive that."
My throat tightens. "You won't have to."
Angry, Nick gets up. His chair screeches back loudly.
He grabs his keys and walks out the door again.
This time, he doesn't slam it.
But it still feels like something broke.