Chapter 25: Should've Break to him Gently The past few days blurred together like a montage I didn't know how to process . The competition was subtle at first . Neil , ever - gentle , would shovel the snow from my steps before I could open the door . Zach , not to be outdone , would fix the crooked cabinet handle Liam had broken the week before . Neil cooked dinner twice - rosemary chicken and creamy pasta that made Liam lick the plate . Zach , of course , ordered delivery from the only decent diner in town and insisted on feeding Liam himself . And I watched . It was civil . Almost comical . Until it wasn't . It happened on a Saturday evening . Sitka had just turned pink with sunset when Neil came over again, this time with tubs of popcorn and a rare horror flick Liam had been begging to see . " He's asleep , " I told Neil with a sheepish smile . " Fell asleep waiting for you. " Neil chuckled , stepping in . " Then I guess it's just us . " He plopped on the couch , and I could feel Zach's presence before I saw him . " Didn't know we had guests , " Zach said from behind , voice low and smooth like bourbon . Neil turned and grinned . " Popcorn ? " " Pass ," Zach replied , eyes locked on me . " Arianne , can we talk ? " I followed him to the kitchen , but the moment we were alone , he closed the distance between us . " He's always here ," he hissed , not shouting - but it was close . " And you're not ? " I raised a brow . " You're the one who agreed to stay ." " For Liam ," he shot back . I folded my arms , defensive . " This again ? " Zach stepped closer , towering , heat radiating from his skin . " Tell me the truth . Are you falling for him ? " The breath caught in my throat . I didn't answer . I couldn't . Zach's jaw tightened . " You let him sit on my couch . You let him cook in my kitchen- " " It's not yours anymore ! " I snapped . He stepped back as if slapped . My words echoed louder than I meant them to . But before he could retreat further , I grabbed his wrist . " I never said I loved him ," I whispered . His eyes searched mine , voice strained . " Then who do you love ? " 19:48 Tue , Sep 30 I couldn't speak . Instead , I leaned in . And he didn't wait . The bathroom light flickered as Zach pushed me against the wall , mouths colliding like waves crashing against rocks . His hands knew my body like second nature - like memory written in skin and fire . The urge had simmered for days . Weeks . Maybe years . " You think I don't see how he looks at you ? " he growled against my neck , breath hot . " I didn't ask him to , " I gasped , tugging at his shirt . He pulled my hips flush against his . " But you let him . " " Just like I let you right now ? " He didn't answer . Because the next moment , he was lifting me , carrying me toward the counter , my legs wrapping around his waist like instinct . His kisses trailed down , feverish and desperate . His fingers unbuttoned me , shaky , frantic , reverent . " Tell me you're mine , " he murmured . " Yours ," I breathed , biting my lips profusely . Clothes fell to the tiled floor like forgotten promises . The air turned thick with steam and moans we tried - and failed - to silence . His touch , his body - it was all too familiar and yet newly electric . I bit his shoulder , clawed at his back , and let him in deeper than I'd ever let anyone in . And he made love to me like it was the last time he'd ever get the chance . Until the knock came . We emerged from the bathroom thirty minutes later , skin still flushed , hair still tousled . I tried to mask it with a robe and a ponytail , but there was no hiding the intimacy from Neil . He stood on the living porch with Liam still asleep on the couch , his eyes landing on our tangled fingers . His lips pressed into a thin line . " I should go . " I opened my mouth , but no excuse came out . Just silence . Zach only smirked , territorial . " Good night , Neil , " he said , smirking gloriously . Neil didn't reply . Just closed the door with a soft click that echoed louder than any slam . Several Days Later ... The air had grown heavier . Zach and I couldn't stop ourselves . Any moment alone turned into a whispered kiss , a touch too long , a groan pressed against the wall . We'd found each other again in ways I didn't think were possible . He'd whisper things in the dark . 213 91.4 % " Remember how I used to trace every inch of you like a map I never wanted to forget ? " " Yes ," I'd whisper in his ear . And then he'd do it all over again . Sometimes on the couch . Other times in the laundry room , when Liam was busy on his iPad . But it couldn't last forever . Neil grew colder by the day , still kind to Liam , still polite - but distant . One afternoon , I found him on the porch , eyes red , voice bitter . " So this is it ? You've already chosen . " " I didn't plan it- " " But it happened ," he reiterated . Disappointment etched in his face . I nodded . Neil smiled - sad and tired . " He's not going to change , Arianne . " I didn't answer . Because part of me believed him . But another part - the part that still ached for Zach's touch - wanted to believe otherwise . I was about to get inside but Zach appeared from the doorway . " I - I thought you were asleep ... ? " " I was waiting for you . " He strode toward me and continued , " I heard what he said to you . " I opened my mouth but the words didn't proceed . Zach held me tighter than ever before . " You don't have to choose between us , " he whispered into my hair . " Just ... let me stay little longer . That's all I ask of you . " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!