Chapter 5 #2
“Let’s get started then,” I say, resigned to the fact that whatever happened between us was one-sided. The heat, the connection I felt—it was just Kade being a good teacher, showing me how to make someone feel wanted. And I, the eager student, fell for the demonstration.
We head to the guest house, Kade chattering about his ideas for the space transformation. I follow in silence, watching the animated way he gestures, the confident set of his shoulders. This is the Kade I know—brash, enthusiastic, untouchable. Last night’s vulnerable version seems like a dream now.
Lulu meets us at the front door, her whole body wiggling with delight. At least someone’s happy to see me.
Inside, Kade dumps his backpack on the floor and starts pulling out supplies—fairy lights, candle holders, even a small vase.
“Where did you get all this?” I ask, surprised by his thoroughness.
“Like I said, Michaela. She does these fancy dinner setups for snooty students who want to impress their dates.” He winks at me. “Sound familiar?”
I ignore the jab. “I’ll bring the ladder.”
For the next few hours, we work in tandem, transforming the guest house into something from a romantic movie.
Kade drapes string lights across the ceiling while I chop vegetables for tomorrow’s dinner prep.
He arranges roses in crystal vases (where did he even find those?) while I marinate chicken and clean the bathroom until it sparkles.
“Hand me the hammer,” Kade calls from atop the stepladder. He’s securing hooks for the lights, his t-shirt riding up to reveal a strip of skin above his jeans.
I avert my eyes, grabbing the tool and passing it up to him. Our fingers brush during the exchange, and the simple contact sends electricity racing up my arm. Kade doesn’t seem to notice, continuing his work as if nothing happened.
“Hold the ladder steady,” he instructs, reaching farther than is safe.
I grip the sides of the ladder, trying not to stare at the way his muscles flex as he stretches. This close, I can smell him—that unique mix of his woodsy deodorant and something inherently Kade that made me dizzy last night.
“Earth to Emmett.” Kade waves a hand in front of my face. “I need the next strand.”
“Right, sorry.” I fumble with the lights, passing them up, embarrassed at being caught staring.
This continues for hours—me catching glimpses of Kade, him watching me when he thinks I’m not looking, both of us glancing away when caught. We work around each other, close but never touching, speaking but never about anything that matters.
As night falls, the transformed space comes alive. Tiny lights twinkle across the ceiling like stars. Candles wait on every surface, ready to be lit tomorrow. The kitchen is prepped with everything I need.
“One final touch.” Kade disappears into his room, returning with a small speaker. “For mood music. I made you a playlist.”
“You made me a playlist?” Something warm unfurls in my chest.
“Don’t get excited. It’s just songs that aren’t too lame but also won’t scare her off.” He connects his phone and hits play. Soft ambient music fills the room. “See? Not too aggressive, not too sappy. Perfect for a first real date.”
I nod, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my stomach. Every thoughtful gesture just reinforces that he’s committed to helping me succeed with Serena.
“I think that’s everything,” Kade says, surveying our work with satisfaction. “You’re all set for Operation Get Laid.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, too exhausted to call him out on the crude phrasing.
He stretches, arms reaching toward the ceiling, another flash of skin that I ignore. “I’m beat. Think I’ll shower and crash.”
“Yeah, me too.” Though I know, sleep will be impossible.
We part ways, neither sure how to end the evening. I take my time in the shower, letting scalding water pound against my shoulders, trying to wash away the confusing tangle of emotions that’s been building all day. It doesn’t work.
Hours later, I’m still wide awake, staring at the ceiling, replaying every moment of interaction with Kade. The casual touches that weren’t casual at all. The glances when he thought I wasn’t looking. The careful distance he maintained all evening.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m out of bed and padding down the hallway in my softest t-shirt and pajama bottoms, hair still damp from the shower. I pause outside Kade’s door, hand raised to knock, then decide against it. If I hesitate, I’ll lose my nerve.
I push the door open without knocking. With his laptop balanced on his thighs, Kade sits up in bed, its blue light illuminating his bare chest. He’s wearing only sweatpants, the defined muscles of his abdomen disappearing beneath the waistband.
Some anime plays on the screen, characters shouting in Japanese with English subtitles.
He looks up, surprise flashing across his face. “Hey. Everything okay?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” I hover in the doorway. “Thought maybe I could hang out here for a bit.”
Kade studies me for a moment, something unreadable in his expression. Then he shifts over, making room beside him on the bed. “Sure. Just watching Attack on Titan.”
I slide into the space he’s created, hyperaware of how close we are, our shoulders brushing. The heat of his skin radiates through my thin t-shirt. I try not to stare at his chest, at the definition of muscle that’s both familiar and foreign in this context.
“Which episode?” I ask, forcing myself to focus on the screen.
“Season four, episode six. They just revealed—” He launches into an explanation of the plot that I only half follow, too distracted by the rhythm of his voice, the way his body shifts as he gestures.
Gradually, the tension seeps out of me. Kade’s rambling commentary soothes my frayed nerves. I lean more heavily against him until my head rests against his shoulder. He doesn’t pull away, just adjusts his position to accommodate me.
“Do you think your mom saw us?” Kade asks suddenly, during a quiet moment in the show. “Last night, I mean.”
I consider this, remembering Mom’s expression when she walked in. “I don’t know. Maybe not the actual kissing, but…the candles, the wine, the way we jumped apart. She saw something.”
“It’s weird that she didn’t freak out, right? If she thought we were…you know.”
“Yeah.” I shift, turning to look at him. “Maybe the idea of us kissing is so absurd to her it didn’t even cross her mind.”
Kade chuckles. “Probably. Can’t imagine the Golden Boy going for the family fuck-up.”
The self-deprecation in his voice makes me frown. “You’re not a fuck-up.”
“Tell that to your mom’s face every time I come home past midnight.”
“She worries, that’s all.” I hesitate, then add, “David said you’ve been quiet. He’s worried, too.”
Kade stiffens beneath me. “My dad needs to mind his own business.”
“He cares about you.”
“Whatever.” Kade turns his attention back to the screen, closing the subject.
We watch in silence for a while, the only sounds the dialogue from the anime and our synchronized breathing.
I’m aware of every point where our bodies connect—shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, my head resting in the crook of his neck.
Then, without fully deciding to, I tilt my face up toward his, nuzzling into his neck.
My lips brush against the warm skin just below his jaw. Kade’s breath catches.
“What are you doing?” he asks, voice tight.
“Need more practice,” I murmur the paper-thin excuse against his skin.
Kade’s hand comes up to my shoulder, gently but firmly creating distance between us. “You don’t need any more practice, Em. You’re ready.”
The rejection stings like alcohol on an open wound. I pull back, embarrassment burning through me. “Right. Of course.”
“Hey.” His voice softens. “Tomorrow will be great. Serena’s going to be blown away.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Serena. The whole point of this charade. I should be excited about seeing her tomorrow, not lying here wishing my stepbrother would kiss me.
“Let’s finish this episode,” Kade suggests, pretending the awkward moment never happened.
I settle back against him, careful to maintain a more appropriate distance. But as the show continues, I drift closer again, drawn to his warmth. Kade doesn’t push me away this time.
My eyelids grow heavy, the emotional exhaustion of the day catching up with me. The last thing I remember is the gentle pressure of Kade’s arm wrapping around me, securing me against his side.