Chapter 31
Kade
Ican practically feel the nerves rolling off Liv as we pull away from her house. She’s quiet, her hands fidgeting in her lap, so I squeeze her thigh gently, hoping it grounds her.
“You doing alright over there?” I ask, cutting a glance her way.
“I’m okay,” she says softly, resting her hand on top of mine, her thumb brushing slow, steady circles over my skin.
I exhale, wanting to ease whatever’s spinning in her head. “Talked to my mom earlier. She’s excited you’re coming. You know… this is the first time I’ve ever brought anyone, other than Trent, to a family dinner.”
Her eyes widen, locking on mine. “You’ve never brought a girl around your family?”
“Girls have met my family… in different situations,” I admit, wincing because I hate how that sounds, even if it’s true. Her expression shifts, the slightest flicker of disappointment, and before she can start overthinking it, I push on.
“What I’m trying to say is… I’ve never cared enough about anyone to invite them to my parents’ house.
Saturday dinners with my family? That’s something I don’t share lightly.
I have a past, Liv, yeah. But you being here with me now—letting me bring you into this part of my life—that means something. You mean something.”
I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles, letting it linger for a breath before shifting my eyes back to the road.
She smiles, the tension in her shoulders easing as I settle my hand back where it belongs—on her thigh, grounding us both.
“We all have a past, Kade,” she says softly. “You didn’t judge me for mine. I’d never judge you for yours.”
I glance at her, the warmth of her words settling deep in my chest, but there’s something else in her voice, a quiet vulnerability I don’t miss.
She hesitates for a second, then adds, “I actually talked to my best friend earlier… Ivy. She told me there are rumors Caleb’s moved on. That he’s seeing someone else now. She thought it might help me… to breathe a little easier.”
I don’t say anything right away. I just give her thigh a slow, steady squeeze—quiet reassurance, the kind that says I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.
“You don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder anymore, Liv,” I say gently. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
The rest of the drive slips by in easy conversation, the kind that makes the world feel softer, like for once there’s time to breathe.
I turn off the main road, guiding the truck up the familiar gravel driveway, the tall oaks standing like old sentries on either side, porch lights casting a warm glow against the fading sky.
“There we go,” I say, flicking a glance her way. “Home sweet home.”
Her eyes drift across the house, soft and curious. “You grew up here?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “My dad built it from the ground up.”
“Wow,” she breathes. “You must have so many amazing memories here.”
Something sharp twists in my chest at her words. The way she says it, like the idea of that kind of childhood is foreign to her, makes my jaw tighten. I push the feeling down and force a small smile, gesturing toward the trees at the back of the property.
“Back there,” I say, “there’s a little river. Summers were all about catching whatever we could. Brandon and I turned everything into a competition. Aubrey hated getting splashed, and Conrad mostly ran around scaring off whatever we were chasing.”
Her eyes light up, and there’s no trace of envy, just quiet wonder, like she’s seeing something she never thought she’d have.
I shift my gaze back to her, catching the soft curve of her smile. “Ready to head in? If we sit out here any longer, my mom’s gonna come out and drag us inside.”
She laughs, and the sound settles something in me.
We climb out of the truck, and she meets me at the front. I reach for her hand without thinking, giving it a gentle squeeze. She squeezes back, her eyes warm as we step onto the porch.
The moment we cross the threshold, the smell of home-cooked food wraps around us, rich and familiar.
“It smells amazing in here,” Liv whispers, just as Avery’s footsteps thunder down the hallway.
“Uncle Kade’s here!” she shrieks, skidding to a stop in front of me, her wide eyes darting between me and Liv.
I crouch down, grinning. “What? No hug today?”
Avery giggles and launches herself at me, arms tight around my neck. I laugh, pretending to stagger. “Careful, bug. You’re getting too strong for me.”
She pulls back, still smiling, but her gaze flickers back to Liv, curiously.
“Uncle Kade… who’s that?” she asks softly.
I glance up at Liv, and without missing a beat, she crouches down beside me, her smile warm but just a little shy.
“Hi,” she says gently. “I’m Olivia. It’s really nice to meet you.”
Avery studies her for half a second before a grin spreads across her face. “Hi!” she chirps, then just as quickly spins on her heel. “Mimi! They’re here!” she yells as she takes off running back through the house, her bare feet thudding against the hardwood.
I huff a quiet laugh, standing and offering Liv my hand to help her up. “Would you believe that, after knowing Brandon as a person, that she was his kid?”
She laughs softly, sliding her hand into mine as I pull her to her feet. “I imagine she keeps him on his toes.”
“All of us, to be honest. Like you wouldn’t believe.” I laugh.
Hand in hand, we follow the sound of Avery’s excited chatter toward the kitchen, the scent of dinner getting stronger with every step. The first person we see is mom, and the smile that fills her face almost has me rolling my eyes with amusement.
“Oh my goodness, Liv, it’s so good to see you again,” she says, pulling her in for a hug that Liv returns easily. “You look beautiful. Doesn’t she look beautiful, Kade?”
Liv blushes, and I can’t help the smile pulling at my mouth. “She does.”
“Now,” my mom continues, “is there anything you don’t eat? We always do a mix, but I can whip something up if I need too.”
“I’m good with everything. I love food,” Liv says with quiet confidence, and I know my mom’s gonna love that answer. She’s a feeder, fussy girls drive her nuts.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Mom says, shooting me a glance like she’s giving her stamp of approval.
Before I can say anything else, Aubrey sneaks in behind us and grabs Liv’s hand.
“I’m stealing your girl for a bit, bro. If you need her, she’ll be outside with me.”
She throws me a wink, and Liv follows easily, glancing back to flash me a soft smile.
I turn back toward my mom, only to find her watching me with that look—the one that sees straight through me—as she hands me a cold beer from the fridge.
“What?” I ask, taking a sip.
“You love that girl, don’t you?”
I nearly choke, coughing into my fist.
“Jesus, Mom. Can you maybe not drop that on me mid-sip?”
She just smirks.
“A mother knows these things, Kade. You might not realize it yet, but I see it clear as day.”
She leans across the island, resting her hand over mine.
“It’s complicated, Mom. Liv moves slow. She needs time. We’re just… getting to know each other. Not rushing anything.”
She squeezes my hand.
“You’re a good man, Kade Jenkins.”
Then she wipes at a stray tear like I won’t notice, grabs the tea towel, and swats me with it.
“Now get your ass out of my kitchen and go be with your girl.”
I laugh, grab a soda from the fridge for Liv, and head out the back door.