Emmett’s knee presses against mine—our signal. My heart rate doubles, blood roaring in my ears. This is it. We’re doing this.
I watch as Emmett sets down his fork, arranging it parallel to his knife. Always the perfectionist, even in moments of crisis. He clears his throat, the sound loud in the quiet room.
“Mom, David…Kade and I have something to tell you.”
Caroline’s hand pauses halfway to her wine glass. Dad’s posture stiffens, his shoulders squaring as if bracing for impact.
“What is it, honey?” Caroline prompts when the silence stretches too long.
My muscles coil tight, ready to spring, though where I’d run to, I have no idea. Emmett’s hand finds mine under the table, his palm warm and steady against my clammy skin. He gives my fingers a gentle squeeze.
“Kade and I are…together. As a couple.”
The words hang in the air, impossible to take back. I stare at my plate, unable to look at either of our parents, counting the seconds of silence. One. Two. Three. Four.
“I know it might seem strange,” Emmett continues, filling the void. “And sudden. But it’s not, really. It’s been building for a while, and—”
“How long?” Dad interrupts, his voice neutral.
I force myself to look up. Dad’s expression is unreadable, his jaw set in that way that could mean anything from deep thought to barely contained anger.
“A month,” I answer, finding my voice at last.
Caroline and Dad exchange a look, some silent communication passing between them that makes my stomach drop. This is it—the moment they tell us we’re disgusting, or that one of us needs to move out, or—
“We had a feeling something was different between you two,” Caroline says, her lips curving into a small smile.
I blink, certain I’ve misheard. “What?”
Dad nods, setting down his napkin. “You two haven’t fought in weeks. That was our first clue.”
My jaw drops. I turn to Emmett, who looks equally stunned, his green eyes wide, lips parted in surprise.
“You…knew?” Emmett asks, voice cracking.
“Suspected,” Caroline corrects, reaching for her wine. “There were signs.”
“Like what?” I manage, still trying to process the lack of shock or outrage.
Caroline’s smile turns knowing. “Well, that movie night a month ago, for one. When I stopped by with the food.”
Heat races up my neck as the memory floods back. “You saw—?”
“I didn’t see much, but…the candles were a bit of a giveaway,” she says gently. “And the looks on your faces… Let’s just say I recognized what was happening.”
“I wasn’t as quick to catch on,” Dad admits, running a hand over his short hair. “But I noticed how you two started looking at each other differently. And Kaden, you’ve been…calmer. More focused.”
“My grades are up,” I offer, as if that somehow justifies everything.
“We’ve noticed,” Dad says, surprising me with the pride in his voice. “Your entire demeanor has changed. Both of you seem…happier.”
I feel the tension draining from my shoulders, the knot in my chest loosening. Emmett’s thumb traces small circles on the back of my hand, still hidden under the table.
“You’re not upset?” Emmett asks cautiously.
Caroline reaches across the table to touch his arm. “Why would we be upset about our sons being happy?”
“Because we’re stepbrothers,” I blurt out. “Because it’s weird. Because people will talk.”
