Chapter 5: The Ultimatum

I knew I couldn’t fake my way out of this.

So I told Nicole everything, from the first time I’d mistaken Natalie for her and kissed her, to today, when a drunken Natalie fooled me again and we… I didn’t leave out a single detail, even as the words scraped my throat raw.

Nicole listened, eyes rimmed red, tears sliding down her cheeks.

"It’s not all my fault. Natalie came on to me. I didn’t expect her to…"

Another slap, sharp and angry.

"And after, she pretended to be you, just so she could get away. Doesn’t that prove she set me up?"

Another slap. I lost count. My cheek throbbed with heat and shame.

That last slap broke something inside me.

"Damn it, you sisters both love slapping, huh?"

I snapped, pain and frustration bubbling over. "I’m telling the truth—she seduced me, she played pretend, and I ended up sleeping with her. It’s not like I planned any of this. Seriously, where am I supposed to have gone wrong?"

Nicole said nothing, just started packing her things in silence.

Yeah, I should have known. Nicole never yells—when she’s mad, she goes cold, ice in her veins, focused. Nothing like Natalie’s drama.

And Nicole hardly ever made the first move in bed. No matter what, this was on me. I owned it.

I hugged her from behind, desperate. "Look, I know I messed up. I’m sorry, truly, but…"

She shrugged me off. "Let go. You’re disgusting."

Her voice was flat, dead as February ice. She didn’t even look back as she zipped up her duffel bag.

If I held on any longer, I’d just be beating a dead horse. There’d be nothing left to save.

I watched her pack and leave, feeling like I was running laps in hell.

It felt like I was stuck in Natalie’s twisted game, playing out the same scene on repeat.

Why?

Why would Natalie do this? Why set me up—even if it meant burning her own reputation?

Did she want to steal me from Nicole? Was this some twisted love triangle out of a cable drama?

I dialed Natalie’s number. It went straight to voicemail. Figures—she was always off the grid, doing her own thing.

Thinking back, Natalie was always a mystery—showing up out of nowhere, leaving chaos in her wake. Could she really have caught feelings for me?

No way. We’d only hung out a handful of times. The most that ever happened was that one mistaken kiss.

Was she into the thrill? Did she fall for me because of that one forced moment?

Just as I was tying myself in knots, my phone buzzed—a Facebook Messenger ping from Natalie.

[So, Derek? Isn’t it exciting to have an affair?]

[You’re nuts.]

[You slept with my sister, then with me. Isn’t that every guy’s fantasy?]

[You need to explain all of this to Nicole.]

[Fine. Tomorrow morning, 8 a.m., Silver Hollow Park. Face to face.]

The next morning, I found Natalie at Silver Hollow Park. Silver Hollow Park was all dew-soaked grass and the distant bark of someone’s golden retriever chasing a tennis ball. She wore a tight white crop top and low-rise jeans, ankles tucked under her on the park bench. A half-melted Starbucks iced latte dangled from her hand. The morning breeze was sharp, but she didn’t even shiver.

"Aren’t you freezing?" I asked, glancing at the goosebumps on her arms.

She waved the iced coffee at me. "Worried about me now?" There was a playful glint in her eyes.

She offered me her drink. "Want a sip?"

I pushed her hand away, refusing to play along. "Don’t mess around."

She shrugged, unfazed. "If you don’t drink, I’ll just head home and tell Nicole you forced yourself on me." She stood, turning as if to leave.

"Wait—fine, I’ll drink." My stomach twisted as I grabbed the latte, noticing the ring of lipstick on the straw. Her perfume still lingered on the cup. Grimacing, I turned the straw and took a sip, doing my best not to gag.

"Tell me, why did you do all of this?"

She smirked, leaning back. "Why else? Because I like you."

"That’s bull. We’ve barely even hung out."

She raised an eyebrow. "How many times did you see Nicole before you fell for her?"

I was stumped. She had me there.

"How many times you see someone doesn’t matter."

She tilted her head, a sly grin on her lips. "I’m your sister-in-law."

"We’re not even married."

She gave a dramatic sigh. "Still, I’m your girlfriend’s sister. Doesn’t that count for something?"

She stood and squared her shoulders, chin high. "Ever since we were kids, I’ve looked exactly like Nicole. Face, body, everything. What do I have that she doesn’t?"

I stood too, not backing down. "Yeah, you’re both beautiful. But what I love about Nicole isn’t just how she looks."

Natalie smirked, leaning in so close I could smell her cinnamon gum. She whispered in my ear, "I’m better in bed than she is. You know that now."

My face burned, embarrassment mixing with anger. "You’re insane."

I flung her latte into the trash, ready to walk away. "Give it up. Even if Nicole and I broke up, I’d never be with you."

She called after me. "If you leave, I’ll tell Mom you slept with both her daughters. Good luck marrying Nicole then."

My stomach dropped—this was blackmail, pure and simple. Was she really going to drag her mom into this?

"Do what you want. We’re done."

"Then I’ll call the cops and say you assaulted me."

I stopped in my tracks, fury flaring. "What do you actually want, Natalie?"

She hesitated, her voice softening. "Take responsibility."

"For what? I slept with your sister too. Who am I supposed to pick?"

She shrugged, almost mischievous. "Both."

"A three-way relationship? Are you nuts? Nicole would literally kill me."

She chewed her lip, thinking. "Then just be my boyfriend."

"No chance."

"Okay… can you at least pretend to be my boyfriend for a week?"

I sighed, looking at her—really looking at her. Under the bravado, she seemed almost fragile, lost.

"There are tons of good guys out there, Natalie. Why fixate on me?"

She went quiet, staring at her sneakers. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "Where are they, Derek? Why haven’t I found even one?"

My heart softened, just a little. "You will."

She grabbed my hand, her grip desperate. "Be my boyfriend. Just for seven days. After that, I’ll explain everything to Nicole. I’ll make sure you two get back together. She loves me—you know she’ll listen. Trust me."

"Really?"

She nodded, eyes shining. "I swear. If I don’t do it, may I get hit by a car when I cross the street—"

I clamped my hand over her mouth, shuddering. "That’s enough. Don’t say things like that. Fine. I promise."

She grinned, catlike, and before I could react, she licked my palm. I jerked my hand away, rolling my eyes, and wondered just how deep I’d fallen into this rabbit hole. But as Natalie’s sly grin lingered, I realized—I might not be the one calling the shots anymore.