“That’s great, Si,” Scott said, sounding relieved. “We’d love to see you. Your Dad’s been asking.”
“Scott,” I cut in, gripping Cal’s arm. “I need… when I get there, I really need to talk to you. Both of you. But I need you to be there. I need your help with Dad.”
There was a pause on the line. I could hear Scott shifting, sitting up.
“Okay,” Scott said, his tone shifting to serious, protective big brother mode. “Is it bad?”
“No,” I choked out. “It’s… it’s just a lot. And I need to know you’re in my corner.”
“I’m always in your corner, Silas,” Scott said firmly. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it. Just get here safe. I love you, kid.”
“Love you too,” I whispered.
I hung up. I didn’t panic this time. I just cried. Quiet, relief filled tears. Cal held me tight, kissing the side of my head, letting me fall apart safely in his arms.
We were driving to the airport the next morning. Cal was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and Lena was holding court in the back.
For the first time in weeks, the tension in the car wasn't stifling. It was warm. Cal’s hand was resting on the center console, palm up. I laced my fingers through his, resting our joined hands on my thigh. We didn't hide it. We didn't pull away when a car passed us.
"Okay, I have questions," Lena announced, leaning forward between the seats. "This is an interrogation. You have to answer honestly. Who fell in love first?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but Cal beat me to it.
"I did," Cal said simply, eyes on the road but a small smile playing on his lips.
I whipped my head toward him. "Bullshit."
Cal glanced at me. "I did! Way before we started hooking up. I think I fell for you the first month we were training together."
"You hated me," I argued, staring at him in disbelief. "You literally told me I was an 'arrogant nepo baby' to my face. Repeatedly."
"Yeah, well, I was confused," Cal laughed. "I thought you were annoying, but I couldn't stop watching you. Why do you think I argued with you so much? I was trying to get a reaction."
"I... I thought I fell first," I admitted, my voice quiet. "I thought I was the one pining while you were just tolerating me."
"Tolerating you?" Cal squeezed my hand on the center console. "Si, I was obsessed with you. I was just terrified you'd figure it out and get weird."
"Okay, obsessed isn't love," I teased lightly. "So maybe I loved you first."
"Fine," Cal conceded with a smirk. "Maybe you loved me first. But I definitely loved you harder."
"Gross," Lena commented from the back, but she sounded delighted. "This is the most romantic, pathetic thing I have ever heard. You guys were literally enemies to lovers in real time and didn't even know it. I'm writing a fanfic about it."
"Do not," Cal warned, laughing.
We got to the airport, ready to head out. Lena and Evan were heading out for more live shows, and Cal and I had a bigger thing to handle: North Carolina. We spotted Evan standing near the gate, drinking an iced coffee, scrolling on his phone.
Lena dropped her carry-on bag with a loud thud.
"You!" she shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
Evan jumped, nearly spilling his coffee. He looked up, eyes wide. "What? What did I do?"
"You traitor!" Lena marched up to him, looking tiny next to his 6'4" frame but radiating pure fury. "You knew! You knew the whole time!"
Evan’s face went pale. He looked frantically between me and Cal, his eyes screaming Did I out you? Did I slip up?
"Is she... does she know?" Evan mouthed at us over Lena’s head, looking horrified.
