Emily's PoV:

I glanced back one last time, seeing Alyssa holding Mason, tears staining her face as she tried to comfort him. My heart twisted, but I didn't stop. Aiden was storming down the street, and I knew exactly what was happening in his head.

His protectiveness over Alyssa wasn't just about being a big brother. He carried guilt, guilt from her last relationship-the one he introduced her to. He blamed himself for how it ended, for the heartbreak she went through. And now, the fact that it was Mason, his best friend, the one person he trusted implicitly, was like a double-edged sword.

To Aiden, Mason wasn't just a best friend. He was a brother from another mother, someone Aiden could count on for anything. Mason was supposed to be the person who would protect Alyssa when Aiden couldn't. But instead of just protecting her, he'd fallen for her-and she for him.

I didn't blame either of them. Honestly, I thought they were perfect together, but Aiden wasn't ready to see that. And right now, his anger was clouding everything else.

"Aiden!" I called out, my voice echoing in the quiet night.

He didn't stop, his pace only quickening. His fists were clenched, his posture rigid with fury.

"Aiden, can you slow down?" I pleaded, jogging to catch up with him as he veered toward a small playground on the corner of the block.

"Go away, Emily!" he snapped, his voice sharp and full of venom.

I stopped for a moment, startled by the anger directed at me. But I wasn't about to back down.

"Aiden, we can talk," I said softly, trying to keep my tone calm.

He spun around so fast I flinched. His face was red, his eyes wild with fury. "Get the fuck away from me! I need to be alone!"

His words stung more than I wanted to admit. He didn't even give me time to respond before turning back around and stalking further down the street.

"Well... FUCK YOU!" I shouted after him, my voice cracking through the stillness of the night.

He froze mid-step, the streetlights casting a shadow over his face as he turned back toward me. Slowly, he walked back, his expression hard, guarded.

"Why are you even following me, huh?" he demanded, his voice low but cutting. "What do you want from me, Emily? My best friend and my sister are fucking each other, and you think I want company?!" His voice rose with every word until it echoed in the quiet street.

"I'm here to be with you, Aiden," I said, meeting his glare. "Whether you want silence or opinions or just someone to sit next to you, I'm here. But you're being a goddamn asshole right now!"

His eyes widened slightly, the anger in them wavering for a split second before he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He looked around as if searching for an escape before finally slumping down onto one of the swings in the playground.

I followed him and sat on the swing next to him, letting the silence stretch between us. I wasn't going to force him to talk-I'd wait until he was ready.

After a few long moments, his voice broke through the stillness. "I'm sorry," he muttered, his head hanging low. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

I glanced at him and saw the regret written all over his face. His shoulders were slumped, his hands gripping the chains of the swing tightly.

"Apology accepted," I said softly, offering him a small smile.

He let out a long breath, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke again. "This is just... so twisted, Em. It's like the two people I trust most in the world betrayed me."

I nodded, understanding his words.

"Mason's been my best friend since I can remember," he continued. "I never thought he... I never thought he'd go behind my back like this." He paused, his voice growing quieter. "I trusted him to tell me everything."

"And he didn't," I finished for him.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "He didn't." His voice cracked, and I could see him trying to fight back tears.

"You trusted him to take care of her," I said gently, watching his expression shift. "But it's more than that, Aiden. Mason isn't just taking care of her-he loves her."

Aiden's head snapped toward me, his brows furrowed. "You knew?"

"I had a hunch," I admitted. "I only found out for sure two days ago."

"She lied to you too?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yeah," I said quietly, the sting of those days still fresh.

"What did you do?" he asked, his voice softening slightly.

"I was hurt," I admitted. "But after that... I was happy for them."

He snorted, the disbelief clear on his face. "You're joking."

"I'm not."

"You're telling me you were happy about this? About them sneaking around behind our backs?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "Because once I got over being mad, I could see it for what it is. Mason is in love with your sister, Aiden. And Alyssa? She's happier with him than I've seen her in years."

He shook his head, still resistant. "It could've been anyone. Anyone but him."

"No," I said. "It had to be him. Or it would've been no one."

He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean that out of everyone in the world, Mason is the only person you trust with Alyssa," I said. "Not Luke, not Jaden, not Cameron-Mason. Because you know he'll protect her like you do."

He was quiet, his grip on the swing chains loosening slightly.

"Mason was always quiet," I continued. "You probably never noticed, but whenever Alyssa was around, he was always watching her, making sure she was okay. And now? He's not just watching her-he's loving her. And if Mason is the person who makes Alyssa happy and safe, then... shouldn't you be happy for them too?"

He didn't say anything for a long time, his gaze fixed on the ground. Finally, he sighed, running a hand over his face.

"I don't know if I can do this," he admitted.

"You don't have to figure it out right now," I said. "But you owe it to them-and to yourself-to try."

Aiden nodded slowly, his anger softening into something else-confusion, maybe even acceptance. There was still a rawness in his eyes, but it was no longer blazing.

"Do you think he really loves her?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

"Oh, please. He's practically drooling over your sister half the time-it's hilarious," I said, hopping off the swing with a grin, hoping to lighten the mood.

He let out a small huff, something between a laugh and a sigh, his gaze thoughtful as he stared at the ground. I took the opportunity to lay down on the soft grass nearby, staring up at the night sky. The stars were brighter tonight, scattered like glitter across a velvet canvas.

"What are you doing?" Aiden's voice broke the silence, curious but still guarded.

"Looking at the stars," I replied simply, not breaking my gaze from the constellations above.

I heard a rustle of movement, and suddenly, Aiden was beside me. He stretched out on the grass, mirroring my position. When I turned my head, I saw him watching me. I smiled softly, and for a fleeting moment, he returned it before shifting his gaze to the sky.

"So," he said, his tone light, "what exactly are we looking at?"

"That depends on what you're focusing on," I replied, gesturing upward.

He squinted, pointing toward a cluster of stars. "That one's Orion, right?"

My lips curled into a smile. "Yeah, that's right."

"I like the story," he said, his voice quieter now. "It's tragic, but there's something about it..." He trailed off, his words lingering in the cool night air.

My heart skipped a beat. Aiden didn't seem like the type to know constellations, much less their stories. But he did. And not just any constellation-my favorite one.

"How do you know about Orion?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though my chest felt like it was ready to burst.

"I'm, uh..." He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "A huge fan?" He said it like a question, and I raised an eyebrow, not buying it.

"Uh-huh. Sure."

He sighed, defeated, and gave me a sheepish grin. "Okay, fine. I'm not. I just... remembered you mentioning it at the party at Mason's. You were talking about it with Kyle, and I got curious. So, I looked it up."

My breath caught in my chest, warmth flooding my cheeks. Thank the gods it was nighttime and he couldn't see my blush. "I told you about Orion?"

"Not directly," he admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. "You were talking to Kyle about it."

"Kyle?" I repeated, the name ringing no bells.

"You don't remember him?" he asked, and when I shook my head, he smirked. "Good. That's probably for the best. He's not exactly worth remembering."

"Was he that bad?" I teased, sitting up on my elbows to glance at him.

Aiden frowned, his jaw tightening. "He was flirting with you all night, and you... weren't exactly in a position to notice."

I couldn't help it-I giggled. "You sound jealous."

"What?" His head snapped toward me, his eyes wide and defensive.

"I mean," I said, trying to suppress my grin, "if it bugged you that much, you could've just asked me about Orion instead of going all Sherlock Holmes and looking it up yourself. I love talking about constellations."

He blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh. Right. Sorry."

I shook my head, laughing softly. "
Next time, just ask. I'd happily tell you the story-and more."

"More?" he echoed, his tone intrigued.

"Sure," I said with a shrug. "Constellations, Greek gods, whatever you want to know."

There was a pause, and I felt his gaze lingering on me longer than it should have. "You'd really do that?" he asked, his voice quieter this time, almost vulnerable.

"Of course," I said, glancing back up at the stars to avoid meeting his eyes. "Anything you want."

We lay there in silence for a while, the tension slowly giving way to something calmer, something almost peaceful. And for the first time since the chaos of the night began, it felt like Aiden was finally starting to let go.