Chapter 4: The Storm Breaks

The days that followed were like walking on glass. The summer sun still shone down on Riverbend, but for Naomi, it had lost its warmth. Every moment spent around the Smith brothers was tense, each of them pretending things were still normal, though the rift between them was obvious.

Asher had grown distant. He still smiled when they crossed paths, still tried to make light conversation, but the easy banter they had once shared was gone. Naomi could see it in his eyes, the hurt that lingered beneath the surface, the unspoken question: Why hadn’t she chosen him?

Copper, too, kept his distance, though his silence was different. He wasn’t angry like Asher, but more reserved, withdrawn into himself. He still came around the diner where Naomi worked, occasionally sitting at the counter with a quiet cup of coffee. Their exchanges were brief, polite, but they lacked the electricity that had once sparked between them. Naomi missed that — missed the intensity in Copper’s gaze, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the room.

She felt as if she were being pulled in two directions, trapped between two worlds that could never coexist.

One late afternoon, after yet another strained encounter with Asher at the barn, Naomi couldn’t stand the tension any longer. She needed space — room to breathe, to think. She grabbed her sketchbook and headed for the river, the one place where she could still find some sense of peace.

The riverbank had become her sanctuary, the steady flow of water offering a brief respite from the storm inside her. She sat on the rock that had become her favorite spot, legs curled beneath her, and opened her sketchbook. Her pencil moved over the page automatically, drawing lines that blurred together into a mess of tangled emotions. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t concentrate.

Her mind kept drifting back to Asher and Copper, to the weight of the decision she hadn’t yet made but that loomed over her every moment. She had tried to avoid thinking about it, hoping time would somehow untangle the knot in her chest, but the longer she waited, the worse it became.

A soft rustling in the trees behind her broke the silence, and Naomi turned, half expecting to see Asher, his usual grin hiding whatever sadness still lingered beneath the surface. But it wasn’t Asher. It was Copper.

He stepped out from the shadows of the trees, his eyes already locked on hers. There was something different about him today, something more purposeful. Naomi’s heart leapt into her throat as he approached, his footsteps slow but deliberate.

“Hey,” he said quietly, stopping a few feet away from her.

“Hey,” Naomi replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the gentle rush of the river and the soft chirping of the birds in the trees. Naomi’s heart pounded in her chest, the tension between them thick, but not uncomfortable. There was something unspoken hanging in the air, something that felt like it had been building for a long time.

“Why did you come here, Copper?” Naomi asked finally, her voice shaky but determined. She couldn’t keep dancing around this anymore. She needed answers, needed to understand what was happening between them.

Copper hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting to the water before returning to her. He didn’t sit down, didn’t come any closer, but the intensity in his eyes was undeniable.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said slowly, as if weighing every word. “About you. About Asher.”

Naomi’s breath caught in her throat, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I didn’t want this to happen,” Copper continued, his voice low. “I didn’t want to get in the way of you and Asher. But... the more I tried to stay out of it, the more I realized I couldn’t.”

Naomi’s heart raced, her mind swirling with confusion and hope. “What do you mean?”

Copper finally stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a look that sent a shiver down her spine. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Naomi. I’ve tried, but it’s impossible. And I know it’s not fair to Asher, and it’s not fair to you, but I’m not going to pretend anymore. I’m not going to step aside.”

His words hit her like a tidal wave. For so long, Naomi had been waiting for something — some sign, some moment that would make everything clear. And now here it was, laid bare in front of her. The weight of Copper’s confession hung in the air, and yet, instead of the relief she had expected, all Naomi felt was panic.

Because it wasn’t just Copper. It was Asher too. Asher, who had been there for her from the start, who had shown her kindness and warmth when she had needed it most. Asher, who had smiled through his pain, not wanting to make things harder for her.

“I don’t know what to do,” Naomi whispered, her voice breaking. “I never wanted to hurt either of you. I care about you, Copper. But I care about Asher too. How am I supposed to choose?”

Copper’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he was struggling with something. Then, slowly, he crouched down in front of her, his eyes softer now, full of understanding.

“You don’t have to choose, Naomi,” he said gently. “Not right now. Not if you’re not ready.”

Naomi blinked, caught off guard by his words. “But—”

“I’m not going to push you,” Copper said, cutting her off. “I’m not going to make you feel like you have to pick between us. This isn’t about forcing a decision. It’s about being honest. I want you to know where I stand. But I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

Naomi’s chest tightened, her emotions crashing over her like waves. Copper’s words were a balm to her aching heart, but they didn’t take away the pain of knowing that no matter what happened, someone was going to get hurt. And the thought of hurting either of them was unbearable.

She looked into Copper’s eyes, searching for something, anything that would help her make sense of it all. But all she saw was sincerity, a quiet strength that made her feel safe and vulnerable all at once.

“I don’t deserve this,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. “I don’t deserve either of you.”

Copper reached out, his hand gently brushing her cheek, wiping away the tear that had fallen. “That’s not true,” he said softly. “You deserve more than you know.”

Naomi closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, feeling the warmth of his hand against her skin. For a moment, the world felt still again, like everything was going to be okay. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t that simple. It never would be.

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That evening, Naomi sat alone by the river, the sky darkening as the sun dipped below the horizon. She had left Copper at the riverbank after their conversation, needing time to herself to process everything.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, each one pulling her in a different direction. She thought of Copper, of the way his words had soothed her, made her feel like she didn’t have to rush into a decision she wasn’t ready to make. And then she thought of Asher, of the hurt in his eyes when he had realized that things weren’t as simple as he had hoped.

The truth was, Naomi didn’t know how to choose between them. Copper and Asher were both good men, both offering her something she needed in different ways. With Asher, she had found joy and laughter, a lightness that made her feel like she could let go of her worries. With Copper, she had found something deeper, something that made her feel understood in a way she hadn’t expected.

As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Naomi sighed, hugging her knees to her chest. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: the storm that had been building all summer was far from over.

And when it finally broke, there would be no going back.

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End of Chapter 4

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