Isla 

The drive to Dustfield was long and silent. Rain pelted the windshield, blurring streetlights into golden smears. My chest ached, and tears refused to stop. Every blink smeared them further, leaving streaks across my cheeks. My thoughts were a tangled mess of betrayal, fear, and curiosity. 

After an hour and some minutes, I arrived at Sienna's seaside home. I drove straight into the driveway,  parked and proceeded to walk towards the door.

The door swung open before I could even knock. Sienna's eyes went wide, taking in my soaked clothes, clinging hair, and shivering frame.

"Isla! Oh my God, come here!" She pulled me into a fierce hug, pressing me against her warm chest. I could feel the tremor in my body, my wet hair sticking to her sweater. "You're freezing! Look at you! What happened out there?"

I didn't answer, just let her guide me inside. She helped me peel off my drenched blazer, scolding softly, "God, you're a mess. You need a shower. Now. Hot water. And after that, tea. What do you want? Lemon, ginger... or chamomile? Something to warm you from the inside."

I nodded, my lips trembling. I could barely form words. She pulled me towards the bathroom, never letting go of my hand. Once I was in the bathroom, she left the faucet running, the steam and warmth enveloping me. I sank into the bath, letting the water chase away the cold, the fear, and the heartbreak.

Minutes later she arrived with the tea.

I took a sip, letting the warmth spread through my chest. My hands shook, and I felt tears brimming behind my eyes again. Sienna stood against the wall beside me, her hand brushing mine. "Okay, babe. Spill. What did he do this time to make you leave your job and run here?"

The question made the floodgates open. My voice was raw, shaking, as I whispered, "He... Silas... got married today."

Sienna's eyebrows shot up. "Silas? Got married?"

As if trying to piece my words together, Sienna froze mid-sip, her eyes narrowing. "Wait... what?"

I nodded, sniffling. "Yes. Today."

She blinked, incredulous. "So... you're telling me that the gig he helped you get, the big wedding event you were photographing-was his wedding?"

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat nearly choking me. "Yes... I... I had to cover the photos. I didn't know... until it was too late."

For a moment, Sienna's face was blank. Then it cracked open in pure, unfiltered fury. Her hands flew up, fists clenching, her voice trembling with outrage.

"That dick head!" she spat. "You covered his wedding? And he... he... Don't tell me you guys had sex this morning before he left the house?"

I flinched, but the words tumbled out anyway. "He... he almost... before the ceremony. I had to leave. I couldn't-"

Sienna slammed her own tea cup down, the clatter echoing in the bathroom. "How dare he! How dare he do this to you! You didn't deserve this. Not ever! That arrogant, selfish... dick!"

My face crumbled at those words...how could I not see this coming?

Her face softened slightly as she grabbed my hands again, holding them tight. "I've never liked him, Isla. From the very beginning. And now... now I see why. That man has no idea what it means to love anyone but himself."

I let out a shaky laugh, wiping my face with the back of my hand. "At first I thought maybe... maybe I was imagining things, you know my poor eye sight. But...even when I removed my glasses today...I saw the whole truth, my sight wasn't playing tricks on me, Sienna."

Sienna shook her head, her voice low and dangerous, like she wanted to march into Seattle herself and give Silas a piece of her mind. "Truth? The truth is he's a cheating, lying dick who's lucky he got away with anything all these years. And he had the audacity to do this while marrying someone else? I swear, Isla, if I ever see him..."

I wiped my eyes, splashing water on my cheeks, trying to chase away the tears. "I get it, Sienna. Really. You've always been right. About everything. Maybe you're even... jealous? That's it, isn't it?" I let a small, bitter laugh escape. "Maybe you never liked him because you wanted me for yourself."

Her face froze for a fraction of a second before she softened. "Jealous? Isla... don't be ridiculous. I've got nothing to do with him or you in that way. You don't...That dick! I can't believe he had the audacity! Who does that to someone they say they love?"

"I... I trusted him," I whispered, voice breaking. "I can't believe he could do something this cruel to me. I thought... I thought our love was forever. And now... now I'm just... nothing."

"Nothing?" she hissed, fuming. "You're everything, Isla! You're amazing! And him? He's... he's a selfish, arrogant-ugh, I just want to-ugh!" She flailed dramatically, pacing back and forth. "I swear, if I ever set my eyes on him, I will make sure I knock all his teeth out..."

I tried to smile weakly through my tears. "Sienna... please. Just... Can we breathe for a second?"

She softened, coming over to sit beside the tub. "Okay, fine. Breathe. But you know what? You're not alone, never alone with me. And that dick? He's lost you. Can't you see? You're free. You don't need him."

We sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound the faint drip of water from the tap and the steam rising from the tea Sienna had poured. I let the warmth seep into me, feeling a fragile comfort in her presence.

Just as I was gathering the strength to continue, the low rumble of a car engine rolled into the driveway. My head snapped up, heart skipping a beat.

"Who?" I asked, wary. My eyes darted toward the window. From what I knew, Sienna's parents were still in Michigan.

Sienna walked to the window, peering out with a small smile. "Zayne," she said casually, almost mischievously. "He's in town."

I frowned at the name. "Zayne?"

"Oh, Sienna's older brother," I muttered under my breath. I'd never seen him before, but from the way Sienna had described him over the years, he wasn't exactly... appealing. Always annoying, overbearing, a bit of a know-it-all. Honestly, I'd never cared enough to meet him.

Sienna smirked at me from the window. "Yep. That's him. Don't worry-you'll meet him soon enough. Try not to roll your eyes too hard."

Zayne

I hated rain. Always had. But tonight, as I pulled into Dustfield, I didn't even notice the slick, wet streets or the faint drizzle settling on the windshield. 

I parked outside the house, hands tight on the wheel. My chest was a little tighter than usual, and I hated the faint pulse of relief that rushed through me when I saw the warm lights inside. 

I stepped out of the car, the air cold against my skin. My shoes clicked against the wet concrete as I approached the front door. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I fumbled for it just to see Silas's message:

Silas: You left before the pictures. Can't believe my best man ditched before the main show.

I typed back immediately. 

Me: I hate rain. You already know that.

Silas: How the fuck was I supposed to know the forecast would change?

Me: Not my problem. Just fix me in there. You've got your wife, be happy with that.

I shoved the phone back into my pocket, and Sienna's voice drifted from inside before I even rang the bell.

"Zayne! About time!"

I exhaled softly, trying not to let her energy get under my skin. 

The door swung open, and there she was. 

Isla.

She looked.... lighter. Whatever problem she had from earlier wasn't gone, not entirely, but the tension in her shoulders had loosened slightly. Her wet hair clung to her face, but she held herself with quiet dignity, her eyes pinned on my face. 

Did she recognize me? 

"You're here," Sienna said, bouncing on the balls of her feet like a child announcing something exciting. "Zayne, meet my best friend. Isla. Isla, this is the infamous older brother."

I inclined my head slowly, observing her from the doorway, letting my gaze linger a second longer than necessary. I knew who she was. I'd known the second she stepped into Sienna's stories years ago. The moments Sienna had tried to describe her, her stubbornness, her humor, that fiery way she refused to be sidelined-I knew. And I'd never expected to meet her like this again, suddenly, in a home far from the chaos of the wedding she'd fled.

"Yeah," I said finally, my voice calm, measured, carrying the faintest trace of amusement. "I know."

Sienna frowned at me. "Of course, you do. You always do."

I smirked. A little. Not at her, at Isla. She stiffened ever so slightly under my gaze, though I saw the flash of curiosity, the quickening heartbeat that betrayed her nerves. 

Perfect.

Sienna continued without noticing, chattering away about random things, her words flowing like water over rocks. I let her talk. My eyes stayed on Isla.

Looking at her properly now, she was prettier than I'd imagined. And Sienna hadn't done her justice. The soft curve of her cheek, the way the light caught her damp hair, the faint redness from earlier tears-all of it drew my attention. And for the first time in years, I realized how easy it was to forget my own rules.

I folded my arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. Sienna noticed me watching and elbowed me lightly. "Don't even think about it," she said. Her voice was teasing, but there was an edge to it. "She's mine first."

I glanced at her, unimpressed. "I'm aware," I said smoothly.

Sienna huffed and waved me inside. "Whatever. She's better than you think. You'll see."

Isla's gaze met mine again, and I felt that faint jolt again. Not recognition-she wouldn't have recognized me-but the subtle awareness of someone studying her. I could read it: the slight hesitation, the quick inhale, the glance to Sienna, and back to me. She didn't know me yet, but she sensed there was something there. 

I gave her a slow, polite nod, letting my eyes linger just long enough to unsettle her before turning back to Sienna.

"Alright, I'm going upstairs," I said, voice even and casual. "You two keep each other entertained."

Sienna rolled her eyes but winked at me. "Don't be too mean, Zayne. She's fragile."

I smirked faintly, but I could see Isla stiffen at that word. Fragile. Not broken, not weak-fragile. That was different. That was human. And she was human. 

I made my way up the staircase, deliberately slow, giving her time to collect herself. But she didn't look away. She kept staring at me, and that in itself was interesting.

Once upstairs, Sienna followed me a few steps behind. "Honestly," she muttered, "you're annoying. Always have been. And she's not what I'd call fragile."

"Maybe she isn't," I said softly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "But she's different from what I expected. And that counts for something."

Sienna paused, caught off guard by my tone. "Uh-huh. Well, you're lucky. I'm not impressed so easily."

I chuckled. "I wasn't trying to impress you. I was observing."

She narrowed her eyes. "Observing what exactly? Her, or the way she makes you shut up for more than five seconds?"

I leaned against the wall, hands in my pockets. "Maybe both."

"Zayne," she said, lowering her voice, "don't mess with her. Isla doesn't do well with... your type of games."

"My type?" I echoed, amused.

She rolled her eyes. "The brooding, half-interested, half-vanishing act you call a personality. She's kind. She's the type that will overthink everything you say, and you'll make her feel like she's the problem."

I tilted my head, meeting her gaze evenly. "You talk like I'm planning to date her or something."

Sienna folded her arms. "Aren't you?"

"No," I said simply. "I just want to understand her."

She blinked, skeptical. "You don't 'understand' people, Zayne. You study them. Like puzzles, you get bored halfway through."

A faint smirk tugged at my mouth. "Maybe she's not the type you get bored with."

That earned me a long, knowing look. 

"Wow. You're in deep denial already."

"Relax," I muttered. "I'm not planning a proposal. I'm just saying she's... interesting."

Sienna raised a brow. "Interesting," she repeated, as if testing the word. "That's how it starts. Just do me a favor-treat her well while she's here. She's not like the girls you're used to."

I pushed off the wall and walked past her toward the window. "Don't worry. I've got no reason to hurt her."

"You say that now," Sienna murmured behind me, "but I've seen that look before."

I glanced back, lips curving slightly. "Then you know I don't fake it."

She sighed, half frustrated, half resigned. "Yeah. That's what scares me."

Isla's POV

I fumbled with my glasses, brushing damp strands of hair behind my ear. I glanced toward the staircase as though to check if Sienna was coming down the stairs, but then a tall silhouette disappeared around the corner.

After what felt like minutes, Sienna finally descended, her steps light, effortless, like she hadn't just spent the last ten minutes upstairs with her brother, the same brother she'd warned me about my entire life.

Her grin was annoyingly bright. "Finally... you meet Zayne."

"Yeah..." I hesitated, eyeing the stairs again. "But he's not ugly like you said."

Sienna stopped mid-step, her mouth falling open in mock outrage. "Yes, he is."

I arched my brow. "Ugly?" I echoed, remembering the way she'd once described him-too serious, too cold, the kind of guy who thought 'smiling' was a chore. But even as I said it, I could feel the lies twisting through her tone, the flicker of something unspoken in her eyes.

Sienna scoffed, tossing her hair dramatically. "Ugly. Grumpy. Old man energy. Don't let that face fool you."

I bit back a smile. "Old man energy? He's what, twenty-nine?"

"Exactly. That's ancient."

"Sienna," I said, trying to sound serious, "I think you just don't want to admit your brother's... actually kind of attractive."

She gasped, dramatic as ever, clutching her chest as if I'd just said the unthinkable. "Did you just-no. No, Isla. Don't tell me you're already-ugh! You're not looking properly. He's still ugly."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Sure."

She narrowed her eyes, her lips twitching. "You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are."

I pressed my fingers to my cheeks, and of course the heat gave me away instantly. "You're delusional."

Sienna crossed her arms, smug. "Delusion is thinking that Zayne's attractive. That's a medical emergency."

I rolled my eyes. "You make it sound like finding your brother good-looking is a felony."

"It should be," she said without missing a beat, then sighed. "Because right now you've been going on and on about Zayne. Every other sentence starts with 'your brother this,' 'your brother that.' I'm starting to get suspicious."

"Oh, please." I laughed, leaning back on the couch. "Not like I'm planning to date him or something. Silas's trauma is enough to keep me focused."

Her expression softened, the humor fading from her eyes for a moment. "Good. Because my brother is off-limits, Isla. And you're really not the type to break promises."

Her words hit heavier than she probably meant them to. 

"I know," I murmured, managing a small smile. "I wouldn't."

She nodded, studying me for a beat longer before letting out a light laugh to diffuse the tension. "Good. Because I'd rather not walk in on you two making googly eyes at each other over breakfast. I'd choke on my coffee."

I chuckled, pretending her words didn't sting in some quiet way.

I was about to fire back when his footsteps echoed again from upstairs, steady, unhurried, like each one carried the weight of intention. I didn't look up, but I felt it, the awareness that he was there, listening. Maybe even amused.

The living room suddenly felt smaller.

Sienna plopped down beside me on the couch, pulling her legs up and hugging a pillow. "Anyway, don't take him too seriously. He's been in Italy for what-three years? Maybe four? He thinks he's mysterious now."

"Italy, your mom's side?"

She nodded, flipping through her phone. "Yeah, work stuff. I don't know exactly what. He doesn't tell me much anymore. All I know is he sends me expensive things when he feels guilty about ignoring my calls."

I smiled faintly. That sounded like the same Zayne she always described, cold but caring in hidden, twisted ways.

But still. Something didn't add up.

Because when he'd brushed past me earlier, even in that fleeting moment at the door, I'd caught it, his cologne. That same intoxicating cologne....it was familiar. 

I tilted my head, recalling. "You said he's been in Italy?"

"Yeah," Sienna said absently, not looking up.

"Did he just return?"

"Mhm. Came in last night. Why?"

I hesitated, the memory flashing again-Silas's wedding, that scent trailing past me near the alley. Although I couldn't see his face, the height and the scent is a match. Or am I just adding things up? 

"Because..." I began slowly, "I think I've smelled that cologne before. At Silas's wedding."

Sienna looked up at me, her brows knitting. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I mean, it was probably nothing, but..." I trailed off, shrugging to hide the strange pull in my chest. "It smelled exactly the same. It's so distinct."

She gave me a skeptical look, tapping her chin. "You think Zayne was there?"

"Well, you said he was in Italy until last night..."

Sienna tilted her head. "He told me he was attending an event this week. Maybe that's what he meant. But I doubt it was Silas's wedding."

I frowned although my chest loosened a bit, staring at the staircase again. "Still... maybe I'll just ask him myself."

Her eyes widened. "Ask Zayne? Yourself? Oh, this I have to see."

"Don't make it weird."

"It's already weird. You're curious. That's weird as fuck."

I rolled my eyes. "It's just a question."

"Right," she teased, grinning. "Just like how you 'accidentally' stared at him for a full minute earlier."

"I didn't!"

"You did."

I sighed, shoving a cushion into her face. "I'm not having this conversation."

Her laughter filled the room, bright and contagious. For a while, it felt easy again, the way it always was with us. But then, mid-laughter, she switched gears completely.

"So," Sienna said slyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "let's see if you still remember the Italian I taught you."

I groaned. "Oh no."

"Oh yes," she said, her grin wicked. "Come on. I need to make sure those endless lessons aren't a waste."

"I remember the basics."

"Good. Say 'I think your brother is handsome.'"

My jaw dropped. "Sienna!"

"What? Educational purposes."

"I'm not saying that."

She laughed so hard she nearly fell over. "Fine, fine. Say 'I missed my best friend.'"

I sighed dramatically. "Mi è mancata la mia migliore amica."

Sienna blinked. "Okay... not bad. Still sounds like you swallowed a vowel, though."

I threw a pillow at her. "Stop it"

She caught it midair. "And you're blushing again."

"Stop saying that!"

Just then, footsteps sounded again from the top of the stairs. Instinctively, I glanced up, just in time to see Zayne descending this time, his phone in one hand, the other shoved casually in his pocket. He looked...effortless, tattoos trailed from his neck down to his chest and arms, grey pants, hair slightly tousled as if he'd run his hand through it too many times.

His gaze flicked over the room once before settling, right on me. It was one second. Maybe two. But it felt longer.

That same unexplainable recognition rippled through me again, and I hated that my heart reacted before my mind could. Heat crawled up my neck as I lowered my gaze a bit from looking at his body.

"What the," Sienna said, noticing the pause. "You're coming down again?"

Zayne gave her a look that made her roll her eyes immediately. "I forgot my charger," he said simply, his voice low, calm, and deliberate.

He crossed the room, grabbed a small cable from the shelf, and turned to leave. But before he disappeared, his eyes flicked toward me again.

"Nice to finally meet you, Isla," he said.

I blinked. "You-uh-Yeah, likewise"

He smirked faintly. "Have fun"

Sienna groaned. "Zayne, could you please put on your shirt from now on please?"

He ignored her, gaze still lingering on me, just for a heartbeat too long. Then he left, vanishing up the stairs again, leaving behind a trail of silence thick enough to drown in.

I sat back slowly, trying to exhale the air I hadn't realized I was holding.

Sienna nudged me with her elbow. "See? Told you. Annoying."

I swallowed hard, still staring at the staircase. "Mhm. Sure."

But as the evening wore on, Sienna chatted endlessly beside me, I couldn't shake the way Zayne had looked at me, like he'd seen me before, somewhere beyond this room, beyond this version of me.

And the strangest part?

I had the haunting feeling that he had.