Chapter 5
Emmett
PROFESSOR MARTINEZ'S VOICE FADES in and out as I stare at the whiteboard without seeing it.
The equations that should hold my attention scatter and reform into memories of last night.
I shift in my hard plastic chair, heat crawling up my neck as the kiss replays in vivid detail for the hundredth time today.
Two rows ahead, Serena tosses her hair, and for a disorienting moment, I forget why I even asked Kade to teach me how to flirt with her.
“And if we apply the fiscal multiplier effect here…” Professor Martinez drones on, his marker squeaking against the board.
My pen taps an erratic rhythm against my notebook. A glance down reveals I’ve drawn nothing but abstract spirals and sharp angles across what should be notes on government spending. I flip to a fresh page, determined to focus, but my mind refuses to cooperate.
I check my phone again, sliding it out of my pocket.
No messages from Kade. Not that I expect any—we don’t text unless it’s about groceries or Lulu’s walking schedule.
Still, some irrational part of me hoped for…
something. Acknowledgment. Confusion. Anything except this radio silence that leaves me drowning in my own thoughts.
“Mr. Grayson.”
My head snaps up to find Professor Martinez staring at me, one eyebrow raised in expectation. Twenty other students turn to look at me, including Serena, who pivots in her seat two rows ahead, those sharp hazel eyes fixing on me with interest.
“The answer?” he prompts, gesturing to a problem I haven’t even registered.
“I’m sorry. Could you repeat the question?”
Professor Martinez sighs. “I was asking about the potential long-term effects of extended quantitative easing on market expectations.”
I scramble for an answer, my brain switching to academic mode. “It could create dependency and distort market signals, leading to inflated asset values and potential bubbles.”
He nods, satisfied, and continues his lecture. Serena offers me a small smile before turning back around. Any other day, that smile would have sent a thrill through me. Today, it barely registers.
My phone vibrates against my thigh, and my heart leaps before I check the screen. Just an email notification. Not Kade. I shove the phone back into my pocket, irritated at my disappointment.
Since waking up this morning, I’ve orchestrated my entire day to avoid crossing paths with Kade.
I left before dawn, even though my first class didn’t start until ten.
I’ve taken routes between buildings, ducking into bathrooms and empty classrooms whenever I spot that familiar messy dark hair in the distance.
Like some kind of ridiculous spy movie, except the person I’m hiding from probably isn’t even looking for me.
When class ends, I take my time gathering my materials, watching as Serena chats with friends near the door.
Tomorrow is our date. The date I’ve been planning for weeks.
The date that prompted me to ask Kade for help.
Shouldn’t I feel excited? Nervous? Instead, all I feel is a hollow ache that has nothing to do with Serena and everything to do with the way Kade looked at me last night, just before our lips met.
“Hey, Emmett.” Serena approaches, her confidence wrapped around her. “Ready for tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Seven o’clock still good?”
“Perfect.” She toys with a strand of long brown hair. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too,” I say, and the words taste like cardboard.
She studies me for a moment, her head tilted. “You seemed distracted today. Everything okay?”
“Just tired. Been preparing.” At least that part isn’t a lie.
“Well, don’t work too hard. Save your energy for our date.” She gives me a wink and touches my arm, her fingertips light against my sleeve, before turning to leave.
It should spark something—desire, anticipation, anything.
Instead, all I can think about is how different it feels from Kade’s hands on me last night.
I find it strange, to say the least, because I’ve never been attracted to a guy before in my twenty years of life.
And starting it now with none other than my stepbrother is just ridiculous.
On my way home, I rehearse what I’ll say when I run into Kade. “Hey, about last night… It was good practice, right?” Or maybe, “Things got a little intense, but that’s what makes it convincing for Serena.”
Everything sounds stupid.
When I reach home, mom’s car and David’s truck are both in the driveway. Our parents leave for their weekend getaway soon. With any luck, I can help them load up and they’ll be gone before Kade returns.
Mom spots me through the window and waves, gesturing for me to come help. I paste on another fake smile and head inside.
“There you are!” She meets me at the door, already handing me a suitcase. “Can you put this in the trunk? David’s just finishing up some work calls.”
“Sure.” I take the bag, relieved for the simple, physical task. “Where’s Lu?”
“Backyard. I think she knows we’re leaving—she’s been moping all morning.”
I load the suitcase into Mom’s car, then grab one more from the hallway. David emerges from his home office, phone pressed to his ear, mouthing a silent greeting as he passes.
“I’ve left lasagna in the fridge,” Mom says, following me with a cooler bag. “And there’s plenty of dog food in the pantry. Don’t forget Lulu needs her heartworm pill on Sunday—I’ve left it on the kitchen counter with a note.”
“Got it.” I heave the last bag into the trunk. “We’ll be fine, Mom. It’s just two nights.”
“I know, I know.” She fusses with the arrangement of bags.
“We’ll be fine,” I repeat. “I promise not to murder Kade while you’re gone.”
She laughs. “That’s all I ask. Though maybe you could try getting along? Like last night?” Her eyes take on that hopeful gleam she gets whenever she talks about Kade and me bonding. “It was so nice to see you two watching a movie together.”
My face heats at the memory of what we were actually doing moments before she walked in. “Yeah, well. We’re trying.”
David joins us, finally off his call. “Everything loaded? Good man.” He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Remember, no parties while we’re gone.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I assure him, thinking of the date night I’ve planned with Serena—hardly a wild party.
“And keep an eye on Kaden,” he adds, lowering his voice. “He’s been…different lately. Quiet.”
I blink in surprise. Kade, quiet? That doesn’t track with the confident, loud stepbrother I know. Though, come to think of it, he had been subdued.
“I’ll check in with him,” I promise, unsure if I’ll have the courage to do so.
The sound of an approaching engine draws our attention. Kade’s ancient Honda pulls into the driveway, music thumping through the closed windows. He cuts the engine and emerges, backpack slung over one shoulder. My heart does a stupid little stutter-step at the sight of him.
“Perfect timing!” Mom calls out. “We were just leaving.”
Kade strolls over, dropping his backpack on the grass. “Need help with anything?”
“All loaded,” David says, checking his watch. “We should hit the road if we want to beat traffic.”
Mom launches into another round of instructions—emergency contacts, the name of their hotel, reminders about locking doors and setting the alarm. Kade nods along, his eyes flicking to me, then away again when I notice.
“Lulu’s in the backyard,” I say when Mom pauses for breath. “We’d better go check on her. Let her know not all of us are abandoning her.”
“We’re not abandoning her,” Mom protests. “We’re leaving her with her two favorite people.”
Kade snorts. “Second favorite, in my case. Lu only has eyes for Golden Boy here.”
The nickname sends an unexpected pang through me. Before last night, it was always laced with mockery. Now, I’m not sure what it means.
Finally, Mom and David are in the car and backing out of the driveway. Kade and I stand there waving like dutiful sons until they turn the corner and disappear from view.
The silence that follows is enormous, pressing against my ears like deep water. Kade bends to pick up his backpack, and I head for the guest house, desperate to put some space between us.
“Hold up.” His voice stops me in my tracks. “You’ve been avoiding me all day.”
“What? No, I haven’t.”
Kade crosses his arms, planting himself in my path. “Bullshit. I saw you duck into the library when I walked across the quad this morning.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “I had research to do.”
“And I suppose you suddenly needed to tie your shoe when I came into the cafeteria at lunch? For five straight minutes?”
I wince. So he had noticed. “I’ve been busy.”
“Stop acting weird,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “It makes this whole situation even more fucked up than it already is.”
“What situation?” I play dumb even though we both know what he’s talking about.
He gives me a look that says he’s not buying it. “Look, we got carried away last night. It happens. It was practice, like you said.”
Practice. Right.
“We’re cool,” he continues. “Let’s just move forward. In fact, I was thinking I could help you get the guest house ready for your big date tomorrow.”
I stare at him, unable to process what I’m hearing. He wants to help me prepare for my date with Serena? After what happened between us? That part stings more than I care to admit.
“You want to help me get ready for my date,” I repeat flatly.
“Yeah, why not? You went all out last night with that dinner setup. Might as well recreate it for Serena, right? But with a few upgrades.” He grins, oblivious to the turmoil churning inside me. “I was thinking string lights. Flowers. The works.”
“Sure,” I manage. “That would be…helpful.”
“Great!” He claps his hands together. “I snagged some decorations from Michaela—you know, the girl from my art class with the side business planning fancy campus events. She owed me a favor.”
Of course she did. Another in Kade’s long line of admirers, no doubt.