Brother Confrontation

Nathan didn't sleep that night.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the conversation over and over.

The way Daniel looked at Sophia.

The way she smiled when he walked into the room.

The way they sat — not touching, not openly affectionate — but close.

Too close.

And the way she hesitated when he asked if they were dating.

That was the moment he knew.

Something was happening.

And he wasn't going to pretend he hadn't seen it.

By the next morning, Nathan had made a decision.

He was going to confront Daniel.

Not with questions.

Not with quiet suspicion.

With fists.

Because Daniel was his best friend.

And Sophia was his little sister.

And the idea that Daniel had crossed that line — without saying a word to him — made Nathan's chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain.

He had always been protective of Sophia.

She was the only sibling he had.

The only person who had ever truly understood him.

And now?

Now she was in love with his best friend.

And Daniel?

Daniel was letting it happen.

It happened outside Daniel's apartment building — a quiet street lined with trees, the kind of place where people walked their dogs and kids played in the summer.

Nathan didn't care about the peace of the neighborhood.

He didn't care about the birds chirping or the soft breeze in the air.

He only cared about one thing.

He marched up to Daniel, who had just stepped outside for his morning coffee.

And before Daniel could say anything, Nathan swung.

Daniel barely dodged it.

"Whoa, what the hell?!" Daniel shouted, stepping back.

Nathan glared. "You know exactly what this is about."

Daniel exhaled, setting his mug down.

"I didn't come here to fight," he said quietly.

Nathan's voice was low, dangerous. "Then why are you dating my sister?"

Daniel didn't deny it.

And that was the moment Nathan knew.

It was true.

They stood in silence for a beat.

Then Nathan swung again.

Daniel caught his wrist this time.

"Nathan, stop," Daniel said, voice firm.

Nathan yanked his arm free. "You went behind my back."

Daniel stayed calm. "I didn't want to."

Nathan's chest heaved. "You knew she loved you."

Daniel swallowed hard. "I didn't realize it until recently."

Nathan shook his head. "You're my best friend."

Daniel nodded. "I know."

"Then how could you do this?"

Daniel didn't look away. "Because I love her."

The words hit like a punch.

Nathan stared at him.

Daniel added, "I've loved her longer than I want to admit."

Nathan's jaw tightened. "You don't get to say that like it makes it okay."

Daniel didn't flinch. "I know it doesn't."

Liam and Noah — two of Daniel's coworkers and mutual friends — showed up just then.

They had gotten Daniel's text the night before.

"Nathan knows something's going on. He's going to lose it."

They hadn't expected him to show up at Daniel's door like a storm waiting to break.

"Hey, Nathan," Liam said, stepping between them. "Let's talk this out."

Nathan didn't move. "This is between me and him."

Noah raised his hands. "And we're here to make sure you don't do something stupid."

Nathan turned to them. "Are you serious right now?"

Liam gave him a long look. "We know how you feel. But Daniel's not lying."

Nathan's eyes burned with frustration. "He's dating my sister."

Daniel met his eyes. "I didn't plan for this."

Nathan took a sharp breath. "But it happened anyway."

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. It did."

They ended up at a small café down the street — not because Daniel wanted to talk over coffee.

But because Nathan needed to sit down before he did something he couldn't take back.

"You know how long she's loved you," Nathan said, voice lower now.

Daniel nodded. "Since she was twelve."

Nathan exhaled sharply. "And you just… let it happen?"

Daniel looked at him — really looked.

"I didn't let it happen," he admitted. "It just did."

Nathan shook his head. "You were supposed to be the one person I could trust."

Daniel's voice was quiet. "I still am."

Nathan looked away.

Daniel added, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't plan for this."

Nathan finally met his eyes. "Then what did you plan, Daniel?"

Daniel hesitated.

Then said, "To keep her safe. To protect her. To love her."

Nathan flinched.

Daniel continued, "I didn't want to tell you like this. But I'm not hiding it anymore."

Nathan stayed quiet.

And for the first time since the confrontation began, he didn't look angry.

He looked tired.

Like he had just lost something.

And maybe he had.

Later that evening, Nathan sat with Sophia in her dorm.

Mira, Zara, and Claire had left the room, giving them space.

He looked at her — really looked — and whispered, "You didn't tell me."

She swallowed hard. "I didn't know how."

He ran a hand through his hair. "He's my best friend."

She nodded. "I know."

He frowned. "And you're my sister."

She looked down. "I know that too."

There was silence.

Then he asked, "Do you think he's serious about you?"

She met his eyes — steady and sure.

"Yes."

Nathan exhaled.

Then said, "Then he better be."