Chapter 17
We woke up tangled together, the sheets twisted around our legs. The rain had finally stopped completely, and the sun was shining into the room like a new day.
I could hear the birds outside, chirping like they were happy the storm had passed, too. I turned my head and saw Kade beside me, still asleep. His arm was draped over my waist, his face relaxed, his breathing slow and even. He looked peaceful, like he didn’t have a care in the world.
I wished I felt the same because the weekend was over, which meant we had to leave. Back to real life. Family. Friends. Back to everything that existed outside this cabin. And I had no idea what that looked like.
I stared at the ceiling with my chest tight. We’d spent the entire weekend in this bubble–just us, no distractions, no outside world. It had been easy to fall into this routine, to let myself believe it was real.
But what was actually going to happen when we left? What would happen when our parents found out? When everyone in our friend group realized Kade and I weren’t just best friends anymore? When I had to explain to people that we’d crossed a line we could never uncross?
What if we didn’t work out? What if we got back to the real world and realized this was just... cabin fever? A weekend of pent-up tension finally breaking, and nothing more? Just thinking about it had my throat tight and my breathing ragged.
“You’re thinking too loud.”
I looked over to see that Kade’s eyes were open now, watching me. “I’m not thinking anything,” I said.
“You’ve always been a bad liar, Storm.”
I sighed. “Fine. I guess I’m in my head a little.”
“About what?”
“About... leaving.”
He didn’t say anything for a second. Just watched me, his hand sliding up to rest on my hip. “You scared?” he asked.
“A little. I can’t lie.”
“Of what?”
I hesitated. “Of what happens when we leave here. When we go back to real life. When people find out.”
“People?”
“Yes, everybody.”
Kade was quiet for a moment. “You think they’re gonna have a problem with it?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, we’ve been best friends for six years. They’re gonna think it’s weird.”
“Let them think whatever.”
“Kade…”
“Storm.” He shifted, propping himself up on one elbow so he was looking down at me. “I don’t give a fuck what anybody thinks. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, that’s you, but…”
“But nothing. This shit is real–you and me. I told you that. What we did this weekend wasn’t cabin fever or whatever you’re telling yourself right now.”
I looked up at him, my chest tight. “How do you know?”
“Because I’ve wanted you for six years,” he said, his voice steady. “Six years, Storm. You think I’m gon’ let you walk away now ‘cause you’re scared of what niggas might say?”
I bit down on my bottom lip, trying to find the words. “I’m scared this won’t work. That we’ll get back to the real world and realize we made a mistake.”
“We didn’t make a mistake.” I stared at him, my heart pounding.
“You’re sure?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my life.” He kissed me then, slow and deep, and I felt myself relax into it. Into him. When he pulled back, he was smiling. “You done tripping?”
“For now.”
“Good ‘cause we need to pack.”
I groaned. “Can’t we just stay here forever?”
Kade kissed my forehead, then sat up. “Come on. Let’s get moving.”
Once we crawled out of bed, we packed slowly. Kade moved around the cabin, folding blankets, checking the fridge, and making sure everything was turned off. I watched him, feeling something butterflies in my stomach.
“You gon’ help or just stand there?” he asked, glancing over at me.
“I’m supervising.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, you wanna be funny?”
I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind. He stilled, his hands covering mine. “Thank you,” I said quietly.
“For what?”
“For this weekend. Handling my car situation. Just… everything.”
He turned around, pulling me against him. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m your man. I gotchu.” He kissed the top of my head. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
We loaded the Charger in silence. The sun was bright, the air warm, the storm completely gone.
It felt surreal–like the past two days had been a dream, and now we were finally waking up.
Kade grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the passenger side, opening the door for me.
I climbed in, and he shut the door behind me.
A few seconds later, he was in the driver’s seat, starting the engine.
“You good?” he asked, peering over at me.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
He reached over, lacing his fingers through mine. “I love you, Stormie.”
“I love you, too.” He smiled, making my thighs clench, then he pulled out of the driveway.
As we drove away from the cabin, I looked back one last time.
The place where everything had changed. Where six years of tension had finally broken.
Where we stopped pretending. I knew there would be some adjusting, like eventually moving in together.
A positive pregnancy test in the very near future.
A wedding orchestrated straight from my fantasies.
But… the storm was over. We’d weathered it.
Now we just had to face the world as we leaned into this new version of us.
And as Kade squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, I realized I wasn’t scared anymore.
Because with all that was to come, I’d be facing it with my best friend. My forever.