Chapter 2: Torn Between Two

Chapter 2: Torn Between Two

The next morning, Naomi awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, but their song did little to lift the heaviness in her chest. She had barely slept, her mind spinning with thoughts of Copper and Asher. She lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together how she had ended up in such a tangled mess.

Her plan for a quiet, uneventful summer had gone completely off course. Now, she was caught in the middle of something she hadn’t anticipated: her growing feelings for two brothers who were as different as night and day.

Copper, with his quiet intensity, had captured her attention the moment she stepped into the diner. He was the kind of person who didn’t need to say much to be heard, and every interaction with him left her feeling like she was on the edge of something significant. He made her feel seen in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Then there was Asher, with his playful smile and easygoing nature. Being around him was effortless. He had a way of making her laugh even when she didn’t want to, and with him, everything felt light and carefree. But now that she was beginning to understand how much more complicated this situation was, she realized that even Asher’s carefree demeanor couldn’t shield her from the difficult choices ahead.

Sighing, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and decided she couldn’t stay cooped up in her aunt’s house all day, worrying over what to do. She needed some space to clear her head.

After getting dressed and grabbing her sketchbook, Naomi set off toward the riverbank. The path through the trees was peaceful, the smell of pine and earth grounding her as she walked. The river had become her refuge, a place where she could think, away from the confusion and tension that seemed to follow her whenever she was near the Smith brothers.

But today, when she arrived at her favorite spot by the water, someone was already there.

Copper stood by the river’s edge, his hands resting on his hips as he stared out at the flowing water. He didn’t turn when he heard her approach, but Naomi could tell by the slight tension in his shoulders that he knew she was there.

For a moment, she considered leaving, giving him space and avoiding what was sure to be a difficult conversation. But something in his stance — the quiet intensity she had come to associate with him — made her pause.

"Hey," she said softly, stepping closer.

He glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Hey."

The silence between them stretched, heavy and awkward. Naomi shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of what to say. The last time they’d spoken, the tension had been palpable, and she hadn’t forgotten the way his eyes had darkened when Asher showed up.

"I didn’t expect to see you out here," she said finally, trying to break the tension.

Copper shrugged, turning his gaze back to the river. "Needed some air. Figured I’d come to the one place in this town where things are still quiet."

Naomi winced at the implication. "About last night," she began, her voice hesitant.

"You don’t have to explain," Copper interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "I get it."

"Do you?" Naomi asked, stepping closer to him, frustration bubbling up inside her. "Because I don’t. I don’t know what’s happening between us — between all of us. I didn’t plan for this."

He finally turned to face her, his eyes searching hers with that same intensity that always made her feel like he could see right through her. "I didn’t plan for it either," he admitted, his voice low. "But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s happening."

Naomi’s heart raced in her chest. "So what do we do?"

Copper looked away, his jaw clenched. "I don’t know. But I do know that Asher — he’s not like me, Naomi. He’s young, carefree. He doesn’t think about the future the way I do."

Naomi bristled at the implication. "You think I don’t know that? That I’m just stringing him along?"

"No," Copper said quickly, his gaze softening. "That’s not what I meant. I just—" He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I don’t want you to get hurt. Or him."

"And what about you?" Naomi asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Copper’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. The sound of the river, the rustling of the trees, even the chirping of the birds faded into the background. All Naomi could see was him — Copper, standing in front of her, his eyes full of emotions he was trying to keep hidden.

"I’ll be fine," he said quietly, but there was something in his voice that told her he wasn’t so sure.

Before Naomi could say anything else, the sound of footsteps approaching from behind made her turn. Asher appeared from the tree line, a broad smile on his face that faltered the moment he saw his brother.

"Hey, what’s going on?" Asher asked, his blue eyes flicking between Naomi and Copper.

"Nothing," Copper said, stepping back. "I was just leaving."

Naomi watched as Copper turned and walked away, his broad shoulders tense as he disappeared into the trees. She wanted to call out to him, to say something that would make everything better, but the words wouldn’t come.

Asher, oblivious to the weight of the conversation that had just taken place, plopped down on the grass beside her. "You okay?" he asked, nudging her shoulder with his. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Naomi forced a smile, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "I’m fine," she said, though the lie tasted bitter on her tongue.

Asher, ever the optimist, didn’t seem to notice her discomfort. He leaned back on his elbows, looking up at the sky with a contented sigh. "It’s a perfect day for a swim. You in?"

Naomi hesitated, her mind still spinning with thoughts of Copper. But the hopeful look in Asher’s eyes, the way he could make everything seem so simple, was hard to resist.

"Sure," she said, setting her sketchbook aside. "Why not?"

Later that afternoon, Naomi found herself sitting on a large, flat rock by the water, her feet dangling in the cool river. Asher had already jumped in, splashing around and calling out for her to join him, but she wasn’t quite ready.

Instead, she watched him with a mixture of fondness and guilt. Asher made everything so easy, so light. When she was with him, it was like the world was brighter, and she could forget — if only for a moment — about the complicated feelings swirling inside her.

But then there was Copper, always lurking in the back of her mind. His quiet strength, the way he looked at her like he could see right through all the walls she tried to put up. She was drawn to him in a way that both excited and scared her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was the one who really understood her.

"Come on, Naomi!" Asher’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. He was treading water a few feet away, his grin wide and infectious. "You’re missing out on the best part of summer!"

With a sigh, Naomi pushed herself off the rock and slid into the cool embrace of the river. The water wrapped around her like a refreshing balm, and for a moment, she allowed herself to forget about everything else. She splashed Asher, laughing as he splashed back, and for a little while, it was just them and the river, and the weight of her tangled emotions seemed to lift.

But as the sun dipped lower in the sky and the golden light began to fade, the reality of her situation crept back in. She was caught between two brothers, two different worlds, and she had no idea how to navigate the path ahead.

As she floated in the river beside Asher, her heart tugged in two different directions, and Naomi realized with a sinking feeling that no matter what she did, someone was going to get hurt — and she wasn’t sure if it would be Asher, Copper, or herself.

End of Chapter 2

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