Sammie smirked, pointing a finger at Atticus first, then at Kai. “You’re both fucking weird.”
“My feet get cold,” from Kai, at the same time Attie said, “Don’t kink shame!”
Kieran laughed. It was loud and abrupt, and everyone at the table watched as he descended into a fit of giggles.
“You broke him,” Sammie said to the others, but she was smiling still. It was wide and pretty, banishing some of the exhaustion Kieran had noticed earlier.
Atticus folded his arms over his chest, frowning. “I don’t know if I like the two of you teaming up against me.” He waved a hand between them. “This might have to end.”
Sammie was opening her mouth to spew a retort at him, even as a blush turned her ears red, when Kieran’s laughter subsided enough for him to finally speak.
“You two wear socks during sex?”
Sammie choked on her soup as Atticus threw his hands in the air.
Kai only smirked down at his half empty bowl before meeting Kieran’s eyes again. “It might be nice having someone else around to balance those two out.”
And as they continued with their meal, those words stuck with Kieran. He thought about how he’d seen a glimpse into their small family, how they’d let him be a part of it for an evening. How often Sammie smiled at him, a slight, close-lipped expression that still managed to scrunch the corners of her eyes. How he was beginning to look forward to those smiles.
Something sparked to life in Kieran, something so unrecognizable he couldn’t put it to words.
It flared a little brighter every time Sammie offered him that smile.
Sammie burrowed under the blanket, pulling it up to her chin.
“Stop wiggling!” Atticus smacked at the covers, failing to land a blow on her. Kieran had left after dinner, but Sammie wanted to stay longer.
Not just because her brother was hurt, but because that lovely apology soup had come with a side effect Sammie wasn’t prepared for.
It had happened as Kieran laughed. As he’d thrown his head back and let himself loose in front of them. No stoic masks, no guarded expressions. Simple, free laughter, and it had pierced through Sammie like an arrow.
She loved him.
And maybe it had been inevitable. Some part of Sammie had always been infatuated with Kieran, the older boy who’d taught her how to spike a ball. The same boy who’d broken her heart in the rain. And now, despite her every effort, that boy was the man she’d let herself fall for.
“Attie.”
Her brother’s eyes were glued to the television as he continued to place stone block after stone block in the game he was playing, slowly but surely building some sort of dark overlord-looking fortress. Kai was across the room at a small desk, pink cat-ear headphones on as he quietly edited a video.
“Attie!”
Atticus finally looked away from his game, confusion in his eyes that quickly melted the moment he took in Sammie and the way she was all but hiding under the covers. He dropped his controller onto the blanket, leaning back against the headboard.
“What’s wrong?” There was concern in the question, and it twisted around Sammie’s heart, flooding her chest as her eyes began to sting.
“I think I messed up.”
Atticus watched her for a long moment. Sammie could see him working through all the information he had, puzzling outthe pieces, pressing them into place, until the whole picture revealed itself to him without her needing to say a single word more. He simply nodded, reaching an arm out to wrap around her shoulders, tugging her close.
“What are you gonna do?” He kept his words low, and Sammie appreciated the gesture, but she didn’t mind if Kai heard at this point. He was a part of them now, and Sammie liked having a sort-of second brother. Regardless, Kai still sat nearly motionless at his desk, eyes glued to the screen, unaware of the conversation happening behind him.
“I don’t know.” Sammie blinked hard. She wouldn’t cry over the mess she’d gotten herself into. She’d known the risks. She had accepted them from the beginning.
Didn’t make it all hurt any less.
Althoughhurtdidn’t feel like the right word for it. There was an ache in Sammie’s core, squeezing her heart. It was wonderful and terrible all at once. Like breathing cold air, refreshing even as it burned all the way to her lungs.
Atticus hummed, a soft sound that vibrated through Sammie as she leaned against him.
