I blurt out, “We’re not related.”
Mom and David both nod calmly. Mom says, “We know.”
David takes another sip of his coffee like we’re discussing the weather.
Cade and I share a look of pure confusion.
Cade leans down to my ear and whispers, “What the hell is happening right now?”
I stare at both of them and whisper back, “I don’t know.”
Mom laughs softly. “So, is this why you’re still here, Cade?”
Cade straightens and tenses, laughing awkwardly as he takes a long sip from his mug. “Wh-what?”
David smiles. “Well, we wondered why you didn’t move back home three days ago when the builders finished.”
My eyebrows snap up. “Wait… it’s done?”
Cade mumbles, “Yep… a job got cancelled, so they worked on mine non-stop.”
“Oh… that’s…good,” I manage, though my voice sounds flat even to me.
Cade clears his throat and nods, not very enthusiastically.
Mom’s eyes are sparkling with amusement. “This is adorable.”
I groan. “Mom… I think I might’ve felt better with alittleresistance. This is weird for me.”
David chuckles. Mom leans forward slightly. “Son, I don’t think Cade wants to move out.”
I can feel the blush burning across my cheeks as I turn to Cade. “Is that true?”
He meets my eyes, inhales sharply, and says simply, “Yes.”
I smile because I didn’t want him to move out either.
David adds, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to move into Cade’s house? I mean, it’s a proper home, not an apartment.”
Cade says quietly to his dad, “I was working up to asking him, for goodness’ sake.”
Mom claps her hands together lightly. “Okay, so… you boys want to come out with us today?”
Cade looks surprised. “Really?”
“You’re still our boys,” Mom says warmly, though she winces a little at how that sounds now. “As weird as that is. Besides, you can’t hide this forever.”
“Just a little bit longer,” I plead.
David nods. “Fair enough.” Then he looks at me more closely and asks, “Do you own any makeup?”
I laugh despite everything. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Well, you’re gonna have to cover that up before stepping foot back into my company,” David says, gesturing vaguely at my neck. “We’re not advertising sex.”
Mom laughs. Cade clears his throat and points at my neck. The memory of him biting me last night flashes through my mind.
I make a horrified noise and scurry toward the bathroom. “Oh my god!”
