18. Kai
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kai
The scent of roasted chicken and fresh rosemary filled the kitchen as I stepped inside, shrugging off my coat. The Byrne household had always smelled like home.
“Right on time,” my mother called from the stove, barely glancing over her shoulder. “Grab the plates, would you?”
I did as she asked, setting the table with the ease of routine. My father sat at the head of the table, his sharp blue eyes taking me in as I moved.
He gave me a small nod. Approval, acknowledgment, the closest thing to affection he ever really offered.
Dinner was like it always was: quiet and predictable.
Mom asked about work, about the bakery, about whether I was getting enough sleep. Dad made a few comments about some recent sports games.
But then, just as I was finishing the last bite of my meal, my mother struck.
“So,” she said, too casually, too precisely, “Sadie Collins is back in town.”
I tensed, fork stilling in my grip.
I should’ve known this was coming.
It’s actually surprising it’s taken them this long to mention her.
My father took a sip of his water, his gaze unwavering. “Saw her at the market the other day.”
I exhaled slowly, setting my fork down.
Mom’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“I work with her,” I admitted, leaning back in my chair. “At The Foundry.”
Mom hummed, giving Dad a pointed look. “Interesting, isn’t it? Your first love, back in town, working by your side?”
Dad didn’t react, but I knew he was listening. He always listened, even when he didn’t speak.
I huffed a quiet laugh. “It’s not a damn movie, Mom.”
“No,” she agreed, “but sometimes life gives you a second chance, whether you’re ready for it or not.”
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. “It’s complicated.”
She waved a hand. “Love usually is.”
That wasn’t the complication… not really.
The problem was that I wasn’t the only one in this.
Samuel. Adam. Me. Her.
Could I really share her?
I had spent years holding onto my feelings for Sadie, trying to bury them, trying to forget the ache she left behind.
And now that she was back, was I really strong enough to let her belong to more than just me?
It was fun. One of the best nights of my life.
But this thought had been haunting me ever since.
My father finally spoke, his voice firm. “Complicated doesn’t mean impossible.”
I looked at him then, really looked at him.
My father, the man who had raised me to be disciplined, to be strong, to take responsibility for the things that mattered.
Sadie mattered.
I just had to figure out if I could handle what that really meant.
Mom smiled knowingly, resting her chin on her hand. “You two were inseparable back then. I still remember the way you’d light up just hearing her name.”
Dad gave a slight nod. “Used to bring her around all the time.”
I swallowed, an old ache settling in my chest. “Yeah. Until I didn’t.”
Mom sighed, her expression softening. “That wasn’t easy for you. For either of you. She left, and I know you tried to act like it didn’t hurt, but we could see it.”
I let out a slow breath. “It was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t mean it didn’t matter,” she countered gently. “You loved her.”
I clenched my jaw. “I don’t think I ever stopped.”
Silence stretched between us, the weight of my admission settling in the room.
My father studied me. “Then what are you going to do about it?”
What was I going to do?
I had her now… at least, in some way. But I wasn’t the only one who did.
Could I really handle sharing her? Could I be part of something bigger than just the two of us?
Mom’s voice was softer now. “Just don’t let pride get in the way of happiness, Kai. Life’s too short for that.”
I nodded, but inside, I wasn’t sure I had an answer yet.
“If there’s more…” Mom said cautiously. “Maybe it can still work.”
I cocked my head to one side curiously.
What the hell did she know?
“You managed it before, right? With Penelope.”
My stomach tightened.
I should’ve known she’d bring that up.
Dad gave a slow nod. “You, Samuel, and Adam… you made that work for a while, and it seemed to be good, right?”
“Yeah.” My voice came out rough. “For a while.”
Mom sighed. “She wasn’t right for you three. We could all see that.”
I exhaled through my nose. It was true.
Penelope had been fun, adventurous, open to sharing. On the surface, it seemed like the perfect setup.
But it had never been more than that.
No real foundation, no depth. And when things got serious, she ran. Not just from one of us, but from all of us.
“I thought it was what I wanted,” I admitted. “But it never felt… real.”
Mom nodded. “And this? With Sadie?”
I didn’t hesitate. “It’s different.”
Dad studied me for a long moment before speaking. “Then figure out why. Figure out if you can handle it.”
I knew why.
Because I never stopped loving her.
Because sharing Penelope had been an experience, but this? This was my heart on the line.
And I wasn’t sure what scared me more—that I wanted this, or that I didn’t know if I could handle it.
Mom shifted the conversation then, sensing I needed a break.
“The Harvest and Hearth Festival is coming up,” she said lightly. “Are you three running the usual food stalls?”
I nodded automatically, but I barely heard her.
Dad hummed. “Big event this year. The firehouse is going all out in the cooking comp. They’ve got some new faces to deal with this time.”
Mom shot him a look. “You mean the lumberjacks?”
I forced a smirk. “Garrett and his brothers don’t mess around.”
They kept talking, discussing the logistics, the town’s excitement, the inevitable rivalry between The Foundry and the firehouse.
But the words barely registered. I had too much to think about.
Sadie.
Us.
What this meant. What I wanted.
Could I truly share her and not lose myself in it?
I wasn’t sure.
But I knew one thing… I needed to figure it out.
Fast.