The following week, things were different. Lena couldn't stop thinking about that moment at the park, about Jace's confession. But now, more than ever, she was aware of the complexity of the situation. They were step-siblings. Her mother was married to his father. The relationship was already precarious, and exploring any feelings outside of family ties seemed like an impossible risk.
One evening, after dinner, Lena found herself in the living room, staring blankly at the TV. Her thoughts were tangled with everything that had happened in the past few days. As if on cue, Jace walked in, hesitating when he saw her sitting there.
"Lena..." His voice was soft, almost unsure.
She turned to him, her heart fluttering nervously. "Jace, I—"
Before she could finish, he crossed the room and sat next to her. There was a moment of silence, where neither of them spoke, but it was enough to understand what the other was feeling.
"I can't keep pretending," Jace finally said. His voice was steady, but his eyes were searching hers, vulnerable. "I care about you. More than I should."
Lena's breath caught in her throat. She had been holding her emotions back for so long, but hearing Jace say it out loud made everything feel real.
"I care about you too," she whispered, her voice trembling.
They sat in silence, the weight of the moment sinking in. It was complicated. Messy. But it felt right. Neither of them had an easy answer, but they both knew that something had shifted. They had crossed a line, but the question remained: where would it lead?
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