48. Caden
Caden
Ipark three houses down like I’m casing the place instead of meeting her family.
The thing is, I’m not normally like this.
I don’t get sweaty palms, I don’t rehearse conversations in my head, but I also don’t do this—walk into a house full of people who are going to measure me up and decide if I’m good enough for the girl I’ve already fallen for.
The sidewalk is quiet as I trek down it, second-guessing the bottle of whiskey and homemade bread in my arms. I push down the thoughts of how this could all go sideways and just focus on seeing her.
It’s been two weeks since I told her I loved her.
Extra cars sit in the driveway, and as I approach the front steps, shadows move behind the curtains in the cracked-open window. Laughter faintly spills through, and the freshly painted front door swooshes open before I can knock.
Fia steps onto the porch, a coy smile playing on her pink lips. My own pull into a smile without restraint. A long blue-and-white sundress sways around her legs and bare feet. Her copper hair flows down her back, and her green eyes light up like night stars as she closes the gap between us.
Fia’s arms slide around my neck, her body fitting against mine like it was made to.
And just like that, I know there’s no backing out of this dinner, I’m already sucked into her orbit tonight.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show,” she teases, caressing my face, which has fully healed.
“I told you I’d be here.”
I kiss her gently, resisting the urge to drop everything I brought so I can wrap my hands around her waist.
But the door behind her might as well be a warning sign with her family on the other side. And even if she has made this night sound casual, I know this matters to her a lot.
She leads me graciously down the hall to the kitchen, the sound of voices growing louder. My heart picks up speed, but I don’t slow down. Fia glances over her shoulder, giving me a small encouraging smile that fills me to the brim.
“Okay,” she says, cheeks flushed, gesturing around. “Everyone, this is Caden.”
Three sets of eyes turn my way. A small blonde with Fia’s nose, a tall tattooed guy I’ve seen twice now, and another guy who looks identical to the blonde. Fia takes the whiskey and bread from my arms and nods to the guy next to me.
“This is my brother, Danny.”
I shake his hand. He smiles, but subtly sizes me up. As an older brother should.
“And you and Jesse have met before, but let’s just pretend that this is the first time,” Fia says as Jesse reaches for my hand. Another solid, assessing handshake.
“And my sister, Penny.”
The small blonde takes my hand, amber eyes sharp and glossy mouth in a hard line. Then her gaze flicks to the bottle of whiskey Fia set on the counter.
“So,” she says slowly, “you came to a family dinner and brought . . . liquor.” I nod and she releases my hand. She taps on the glass container next to the bottle. “And is that focaccia bread?” Penny narrows her eyes, and behind her Fia tilts her head to the side.
“Yes, it is,” I reply, matter-of-fact.
Penny purses her lips, and it’s quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
“Did you buy it or make it?”
I don’t hesitate. “Made it this morning. It’s a new recipe I’m trying out so don’t hold it against me if it’s bad.”
For a second, she studies me. Then she turns to Fia and cracks a tiny grin. “I like him.”
Everyone laughs, and Fia rolls her eyes.
“Well, I’m glad I got the queen’s approval,” Fia spats, but the sisters smile at each other, and an ease falls around the kitchen.
“Ank!” Daisy screeches from the living room, high and delighted. I turn instinctively, already smiling.
“They exiled you over there all by yourself?” I ask, then see the massive gray-and-white dog stretched out beside the playpen.
“That’s Tank, or as Daisy says, Ank.” Fia chuckles, sliding into my side. I wrap my arm around her. “He’s her best friend. I’m sorry—if he’s here, you’re chopped liver.”
She’s right. After offering me a toothy grin, Daisy is back to fixating on Tank.
Penny rounds the kitchen island, handing me a mixed drink in a glass tumbler.
“You strike me as a guy who would like an old-fashioned,” she says, and I take the drink.
“I’m warning you now, man, that will knock you on your ass.” Jesse eyes the glass as Penny grins mischievously.
“Hey, let the man decide what he can handle. I mean if he can handle Fia, he can handle one of my cocktails.”
“What do you mean?” Fia scoffs. “I’m a freaking delight.”
I take a sip, and they aren’t wrong, it’s strong. But I take it as a peace offering.
As we settle in, the questions start rolling in—about where I’m from, the business, surfing . . .
But the familiar tightening in my chest when I’m in the spotlight doesn’t creep up. In fact, I smile, my body at ease with my arm around Fia, happy to answer questions.
Happy to be here.
“Fia said you have a beautiful property,” Penny says, gazing at me as she sips her cocktail.
I nod. “Yeah, I enjoy it.”
“Maybe I can see it one day,” Penny replies, and Fia gawks at her sister.
“Penny, you can’t just invite yourself over.” Fia dips her head, hand on her forehead, looking sideways at me. “I’m sorry my family is insane.”
But I just laugh. “I was actually thinking about throwing a barbecue at the end of summer.”
Fia glances at me, brows raised high. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, someone once told me that I have a perfect house for pool parties and that it was a shame I don’t entertain.”
“How fun,” Penny muses.
“Alright, I’m going to check the grill. Everything should be ready in a few.” Danny grabs a large platter and heads out back.
Fia pulls me towards the playpen where Daisy stands on her tiptoes, trying to be part of the action. Fia stares at me expectantly.
“It’s only one party. And it will be small and simple, so don’t get your hopes up,” I say, keeping my face straight, but Fia puckers her lips, suppressing a smile.
“No, no, that’s good.” She eyes me up and down. “You’re growing up, Brooks. I’m proud of you.” She winks and I grab her sides, making her burst out in laughter.
She stops and gets serious, turning away from her family. “You doing okay?” she asks softly, like she’s ready to pull me out if I need it.
I don’t have to stretch the truth for her.
“I’m doing great.” I smile down at her, and relief floods her face.
“Thanks for doing this.”
I steal a kiss when no one is watching.
“Dinner is served folks.” Danny busts through the back door with a tray full of grilled food. Fia scoops Daisy from the playpen, kissing her gently as we all make our way to the dining room.
We gather around the big oak table in the house Fia grew up in, the one that still smells faintly like lemon cleaner and old memories. It’s loud in the good way—chairs scraping, Daisy being passed to Penny’s lap, Danny animatedly telling a story about work.
I take it all in quietly. These are the people who shaped Fia, the ones who know her history without her having to say a word.
Admittedly, I watch her more than I should. She’s quiet, maybe taking the place of the youngest sibling.
“So,” I say, leaning back to drape my arm around the top of her chair, “how does it feel being back in this big house after being confined to a tiny guesthouse?”
She stills.
Not dramatically, but enough that I clock it and regret opening my mouth, hoping I didn’t put her on the spot.
Daisy bounces on Penny’s knee while Fia sets her fork down carefully.
“Well . . .” Fia laughs quietly. “It’s funny, actually . . .”
Her siblings watch her, attentive and silent.
“I love this house . . . especially now with air-conditioning that works.” She laughs, looking at me directly. “But being away from it was kinda a gift, too. I got to see what was really important. And it’s not all the stuff that Nan hoarded.” She glances at her siblings, and they smile pensively.
Fia runs her finger up the condensation on her water glass, then looks at Penny.
“Actually, I was thinking, maybe we should do an estate sale. Make more space in here.”
Penny just blinks, leaning back in her chair.
“It would be great to get rid of clutter, make room for more of my own stuff. And if I ever move, I don’t want to be burdened with decades of stuff,” Fia continues.
Silence stretches, then Jesse nods once, firmly. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Penny looks at me, eyes slightly narrowed. Like she’s trying to figure out what’s happening.
“Yes, agreed. That’s a great idea,” she finally adds.
“I can take a lot of stuff. My new place is pretty empty.” Danny rubs the back of his neck, glancing towards his little sister.
Fia mouths, Thank you, to him.
After dinner, when the plates are cleared and Daisy’s halfway to sleep in her aunt’s arms, Fia walks me out.
The night air is cool and quiet, and we linger by my Jeep like neither of us wants to be the one to end it.
“Your family’s really great,” I say. “You’re lucky to have them.”
She nods, understanding what I don’t say. That dinner with mine wouldn’t look like this. Her hand lifts, fingers brushing my jaw, thumb resting just at my bottom lip. Her touch is gentle and sweet, like her.
“I am lucky,” she agrees.
Then she kisses me, slow and unhurried, pulling back before I can even catch my breath.
“Good night, Caden.” She slips her hand from mine.
“Good night, Fia,” I reply, slowly getting in my car.
I watch her walk back inside, light spilling around her, and for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I’m standing between two worlds with Fia.
It feels like we’re in the same one. It’s messy and beautiful, and the lines aren’t blurry.
I know exactly who I want, what I want.
Her. Always her.