Chapter 18
Kade
Saturday afternoons at my parents’ place are sacred—one of those traditions we never miss.
Dad’s outside grilling anything he can get his hands on, while Mom puts together enough sides to feed the whole town.
They move like clockwork, practiced and easy, like they’ve been doing this forever—which, to be fair, they have.
It matters to them. And because it matters to them, it matters to the rest of us too.
I’m at the kitchen counter, half helping and half getting in the way while Mom tries to elbow me aside to check whatever she’s got in the oven.
Brandon’s slouched on a stool nearby, looking like death warmed up as he nurses a glass of water with the kind of betrayal only a hangover can bring.
Out in the yard, Avery’s tearing around with Conrad and Lucy, their laughter echoing through the open windows.
Aubrey strolls in, opens the fridge, and grabs a soda. She lifts a second can in my direction. I nod, and she tosses it over before leaning against the counter with a smirk, phone already in hand.
Brandon narrows his eyes at her. “What are you grinning at?”
“Nothing,” she says a little too fast, slipping her phone back into her pocket like she’s hiding state secrets.
I raise a brow. “You’re smiling at nothing?”
“It’s none of your business,” she says, trying for annoyed but sounding way too pleased with herself.
“Alright, relax,” I say, fighting back a laugh.
Brandon squints at her. “How’d you get home last night?”
She shrugs, trying to play it cool. “Trent took me.”
Brandon’s eyebrows climb. “That right?”
“Yep.”
He turns to me. “What about you?”
“I drove. So… I drove myself. Appreciate the concern, though,” I say, smirking.
“And he took Liv home,” Aubrey cuts in with a smug grin.
I glance at her. “Because you texted me and asked me to.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, drawing out the sound. “After the way you were staring at her all night? Please. And don’t think we didn’t see you nearly murder that guy who touched her on the dance floor.”
Brandon narrows his eyes at me, “I thought we talked about that?”
“I thought I told you to stay out of things that don’t concern you.” I deadpan.
“Kade, she works for us.”
“I’m well aware, Brandon, but thanks for the reminder,” I say flatly. “What happens between me and Liv is exactly that—between me and Liv.”
Aubrey holds up her hands. “If I can butt in—I think Liv feels the same. She couldn’t stop staring at you, so I figured I’d play Cupid.”
I raise a brow at her. “You’re the same person who warned me off her. Kind of hypocritical to play matchmaker now.”
“I was looking out for my friend,” she says, not missing a beat. “It wasn’t about doubting you—even if you took it that way. I’ve always thought… if Liv ever got to a better place, you two would be perfect together.”
“Ooh, this is just like a soap opera,” Mom chimes in from the stove, beaming.
I roll my eyes and laugh, backing toward the door. “Okay, as fun as this little ‘Let’s all weigh in on Kade’s love life’ panel is, I’m asking nicely—stay out of it. I like Liv and I think she likes me too. I don’t plan on screwing this up, so… mind your business, yeah?”
They all grin like I’ve just confirmed something they already knew.
I shake my head and head outside before any of them can say another word.
I’m barely two steps onto the back deck before I hear the door creak open behind me.
“I said stay out of it,” I call over my shoulder, not needing to look to know it’s her.
Aubrey ignores that and steps up beside me, popping the tab on her soda with a hiss. “Relax, grump. I didn’t come out here to meddle—much.”
I glance at her. She’s watching the yard where Avery’s still running around, sunlight catching the brown in her hair. For a minute, we just stand there. Quiet. Comfortable.
Then she says, “You really like her, huh?”
I don’t answer right away. Just let the weight of the question settle before I nod. “Yeah. I do.”
She sips her drink. “Good.”
I blink, surprised. “That’s it? No lecture? No protective big-sister energy on Liv’s behalf?”
Aubrey huffs a soft laugh. “You’re not an idiot, Kade. Not when it counts. And Liv’s not fragile, but she’s… rebuilding. You know? I just wanted to make sure you saw that.”
“I do.” My voice is quiet, steady. “I don’t want to rush her. I’m not trying to push anything she’s not ready for.”
“Then you’re already doing better than most.” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “Don’t mess it up.”
“I literally just said I’m not planning to.”
She grins. “Right, but it means more coming from me.”
I laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “You’re the worst.”
“And you’re in deep.” She grins. “It’s cute.”
She turns and heads back inside before I can think of a comeback, leaving me there on the deck—still smiling, still thinking about Liv, and feeling the truth of it settle deeper in my chest.
Yeah. I’m in deep.
By the time I leave my parents’ place, the sun’s low in the sky and my phone’s buzzing with texts I haven’t checked all afternoon. I toss it into the passenger seat and drive with the windows down, letting the wind clear my head.
But even with the fresh air and the quiet, my thoughts circle back to her.
Liv.
That kiss.
The way she looked at me like she was trying not to fall—and maybe already had.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth before I even realize it. I’m screwed. Completely and totally screwed in the best way.
I don’t want this to just sit in the air between us. I don’t want her overthinking it, second-guessing what last night meant. I don’t want to either.
I want to see her again. Outside of work. Somewhere that’s just us.
By the time I pull into my driveway, the decisions already made.
I grab my phone and scroll to her name. My thumb hovers for a second—just long enough to admit to myself that yeah, I’m nervous. But then I tap the call button and lift the phone to my ear.
It rings once. Twice.
Then her voice, soft and warm, answers on the other end. “Hey.”
And just like that, I’m smiling again.
“Hey,” I say, sinking into the driver’s seat.
“Everything okay?” she asks, probably wondering why I’m calling, we’ve never actually talked on the phone before.
“Yeah,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “I just… wanted to ask you out. On a date.”
There’s a pause. “A date?”
“Yeah,” I say, smiling into the phone. “I kind of assumed that since you let me kiss you, you’d let me take you out too.”
She laughs softly, and the sound settles somewhere deep in my chest.
“Okay,” she says. “You can take me on a date, Kade Jenkins.”
I grin. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that.”