The evening sky was painted in streaks of pink and gold as I made my way to the small park near my house. I needed to think, to breathe, to try and untangle the mess in my heart. The wind whispered gently through the trees, but it did little to calm the storm inside me.
I didn't notice Carter until he was already there, sitting on the bench, hands folded over his knees. His eyes lifted as I approached, serious, steady, and somehow patient in a way that made my chest ache.
"Hey," he said quietly, his voice low and calm.
"Hey," I whispered back, my throat tight.
He gestured to the empty space beside him. "Sit," he said softly. "We need to talk."
I hesitated, then lowered myself onto the bench, my hands folded nervously in my lap. The park was quiet, almost serene, but the tension between us was palpable.
"I know things have been complicated," Carter began, his eyes never leaving mine. "And I know I can't compete with him. Jace… he's intense, fiery, unpredictable. He makes your heart race."
I swallowed hard. "Carter… I…"
He raised a hand gently, silencing me. "Let me finish. I don't want to pressure you, but I can't hide how I feel. I've always been drawn to you, Sienna. Not just because of your smile or your laugh, but because of who you are. And every time I see you getting pulled into his world, I feel like I'm losing a piece of you."
My eyes watered slightly, and I struggled to find words. "Carter… I care about you, more than I can explain. But Jace… he's different. I don't know why, but being with him makes my heart feel alive in ways I can't control."
Carter nodded slowly, his expression unreadable at first, but I could see the pain flicker briefly before he composed himself. "I know," he said softly. "And I'm not asking you to choose right now. I just need you to be honest with yourself — and with me. I can handle the truth, no matter how hard it is."
I bit my lip, torn. "I… I don't want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you."
"You won't," he said, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "I just need to know that you trust me. That you'll let me be here for you, even if you're confused, even if your heart is pulling you in two directions."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice called from the park entrance. "Sienna."
My stomach twisted. Jace was standing there, casually leaning against the tree, his hands in his pockets, his smirk faint but unmistakable. My heart raced instantly.
Carter's gaze followed mine, calm but alert. "Go ahead," he said quietly, almost reluctantly. "Talk to him if you need to."
I took a deep breath and walked toward Jace, my legs feeling heavy but my resolve growing stronger. He stepped forward slightly as I approached, his eyes scanning my face, reading me like he had always done.
"You've been avoiding me," he said softly, his voice low, teasing, but with a seriousness I could feel.
"I… I needed space," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. "To think. To… figure things out."
He tilted his head, a faint smile on his lips. "About Carter?"
I looked down, my heart pounding. "Yes… and about us."
Jace stepped closer, closing the distance, the air between us thick with unspoken words. "You don't have to decide anything right now," he murmured. "I just want you to feel. Don't hide from me. Don't hide from yourself."
I shivered, my heart caught between two fires. "It's… hard," I whispered.
"I know," he said softly, lifting my chin with his fingers so our eyes met. "And that's what makes it worth it."
For a moment, the world faded again. Just him, just me, the pull of something fierce and undeniable. But then my thoughts flickered to Carter, sitting quietly on the bench, his eyes full of steady care and concern. My heart twisted painfully.
"I… I can't ignore him either," I admitted, my voice barely audible. "Carter… he's always been here, always cared for me, always been steady. I… I feel guilty for even thinking about you this way."
Jace's eyes softened, but the fire in them didn't dim. "Sienna, feeling guilty doesn't mean you're wrong. It means you care. It means your heart is real. And that's okay. You don't have to apologize for it."
I swallowed hard, the truth pressing against me like a storm. "I just… I don't know how to choose."
He reached for my hand, brushing his fingers against mine lightly. "Then don't choose yet. Let yourself feel everything. Let your heart guide you, not fear or guilt."
My chest tightened, my mind swirling. "I'm scared," I admitted. "Scared of hurting either of you. Scared of losing one of you."
Jace's grip on my hand tightened gently. "Then trust me. I'm not going anywhere. And I'm not asking you to decide now. Just… let me be with you in this moment."
I nodded, tears threatening to spill. I wanted to lean into him, to let go, to feel safe and alive at the same time. But a small voice whispered in the back of my mind: Carter.
The storm wasn't over. Not even close. And yet, standing there with Jace, feeling the heat of his presence and the strength of his gaze, I realized I could survive it. Somehow, I would have to.
Because my heart belonged to both of them, in different ways, and this storm would not break me. It would show me who I truly was and who I was willing to fight for.