TWENTY-NINE
Once I’ve awkwardly dusted the dirt from my jeans, I gawk at the house in front of me. It’s a modest two-story suburban home with a rustic red brick exterior, surrounded by a white picket fence and a sprawling green yard boxed in by tall, luscious trees. It reminds me a little of the house my family used to live in before the divorce. Kayden’s family house seems like a far cry from my dad’s loud mansion. It feels like a real home.
The interior of the home is lovely, with dark wooden floors and a myriad of psychology and sociology books displayed on floating bookshelves along the hallway. Pictures of the happy family of four line the walls, along with medals won by Kayden and Brent during high school. I smile to myself at the thought of just how much the Jacobs really value and appreciate mementos of their kids’ childhoods, and embracing Kayden wholly as one of their own. With what he endured with his parents and Clarissa, it’s nice knowing that he was well taken care of and supported by his new family.
“Oh, you don’t need to do that, Patricia,” I call after her as she drags mine and Kayden’s bags into the house. I catch up to her and give the duffel bag a little tug. “I can bring those up myself.”
“Nonsense. You’re our guest.” She shakes her head fervently, a warm, nurturing smile gracing her face. She nudges me aside so she can take the stairs. “I just hope you guys are hungry because I prepared some food outside.”
Kayden trails in after me, carrying Brent’s and Evans’s bags with little effort. He sets the bags by the foot of the stairs and makes a sharp left, peeking through the sliding doors that lead outside to the backyard.
“Hey, what’s up with the feast? Are we expecting more people?” Kayden prompts.
“Your mom just wants you guys well fed,” Kayden’s dad, Elijah, says as he pops out of the living room and shuffles into the hallway, his hands clasped behind his back. He tilts his chin in Kayden’s direction, eyes growing sharp. “Especially you since we heard you’re going to be fighting next week.”
Kayden blinks hard, then just as he’s about to open his mouth to respond, Brent swoops in in a wildly panicked tone. “We should unpack!” He exclaims as he pushes Kayden quickly up the stairs. I follow behind them, the floorboards creaking with every step I take as I ascend. By the time we reach the top, Patricia is already in Kayden’s room, unloading our bags inside.
“Once you’re settled into your rooms, come down for some food, all right?” She props herself in the doorway, beaming at me with a friendly yet evaluating expression on her face. “I’m looking forward to getting to know Sienna.”
I force a smile back.
As she disappears back down the stairs, Kayden closes the door. I wander into the heart of his bedroom, looking curiously around the space. It’s a standard boy’s room, with pale-blue walls, matching colored sheets and pillows, and movie posters plastered across his walls. His closet is small, creaking open to reveal a half dozen boxing wraps littered across the floor and a pair of dusty red gloves hanging on one of the hooks behind the door.
My gaze catches the few photos perched on his desk, and I walk over to lift one of the frame. Both boys are in their high school graduation robes, posing together outside the school. Kayden wears a shy, heavy-lidded smile on his face as he loops an arm over Brent, who leans into his brother’s embrace eagerly. It’s an adorable picture, one of the rare ones that I’ve seen of Kayden smiling and looking at ease.
“Look at you and Brent,” I say, cradling the frame and angling it in Kayden’s direction. “So cute.”
“Yeah. You know we didn’t really get along at first,” he says as he walks over to take the picture from me, staring at it with a glassy expression. “It was weird getting a new brother when Clarissa was so far away from me. But he really helped me out when I was spiraling after her death. Helped me get through some of the trauma.”
He sets the frame down, pressing his mouth tight as he slips into the memory. I embrace him from behind and press a light, soothing kiss on his shoulder.
“I’m glad he was there for you,” I murmur.
Kayden turns around so we’re chest to chest. His hands are warm and steady press against my back.
“Thanks for coming home with me today.” The genuine delight in his tone immediately puts me at ease. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?”
“Only today?” I tease.
“Yesterday, today, tomorrow, every day,” he whispers, his desire-thickened voice dancing with purpose over my skin.
His eyes soften as he leans down and presses his lips over mine with feathery tenderness for a couple of heartbeats.
The pressure is soft, yet laden with so much meaning and affection the feeling makes my entire body sing with purpose.
“Kayden?” I pull away from his lips enough to run my thumb over the stubble shading his jaw.
“Mmmm?” He hums lazily as he dips his head down to my neck.
“As much as I want to continue this, we should really head downstairs,” I whisper. “Before your mom barges in and asks what we’re doing.”
“I hate it when you’re right. She’d actually do that.”
Kayden nuzzles my neck, inhaling my scent like he wants to imprint it into his brain permanently, and plants a kiss on the hollow behind my ear before pulling back and weaving his fingers through mine. “Let’s go.”
***
When we finally pull ourselves downstairs, Evans and Brent are already outside with Elijah and Patricia. Elijah is stationed at the barbecue pit, expertly grilling some hot dogs. Kayden’s mother really spared no expense with the vast spread of food. Pistachio cake, miniature lemon tarts with some kind of compote, along with other savory bites like kebabs and tuna casserole.