I sat there, my mouth on the floor. It wasn’t until the door closed that words came out. “Wait. What?!”
Caden loved me, and I had to go check on my stupid stepbrother. Those two thoughts repeated through my mind. I could only sit there, my mouth on the floor.
Oh my God. Caden actually loved me. I never thought… How could…
“There’s nothing plain about you. Don’t let some dickhead like your stepbrother make you think that.”
The idea that Caden could love me had never entered my realm of possibilities. I wasn’t just floored, I was actually still on the floor. But I had to find him. Kevin could wait.
I went outside, but I couldn’t find him. Anywhere. He wasn’t in the backyard, in the house. He wasn’t on the lawn, and I couldn’t see his Land Rover either. He left.
I couldn’t believe it. I stood there in the doorway of his shed, deciding what to do, then my phone buzzed a text.
Let me know after you talk to him. Thank you again, Summer! XOXO
I sighed. It was from Sheila.
I needed to deal with this. The irony wasn’t lost on me as I went down the steps to the basement. Unlike the first time I went to this basement, I wanted to find a girl with him.
“Come in,” he called.
Kevin was alone and at his desk when I entered. No such luck.
“Oh, hey. What are you doing here?” He got up and cleared a spot on his bed for me. It was covered with his clothes. “It’s my night to do laundry. Don’t worry. Those are all clean.”
I perched on the end and folded my hands on my lap. Caden’s words were still in my head. I felt them inside of me, and I couldn’t focus for a moment.
“So, huh.” Kevin cleared his throat, sitting back down at his desk. He faced me, an arm resting on the desk and his legs out. “What’s up?”
“Your mom called me.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows furrowed, and he turned slightly away, tucking one leg under the desk. “You’re supposed to check on me?”
“Pretty much.”
He laughed, quietly. “Sorry. This is probably the last place you want to be.”
I glanced down at the floor, but lifted my head again. “What do you mean?”
“I know about you and Caden.”
My heart stopped. He did? He couldn’t know what Caden just said to me…could he? There had to be more to that. My head inclined forward. “Yeah?”
“So…” His head moved forward, matching my movement. “I get it. I’ll tell my mom you checked on me, and everything is great. Don’t worry about it. I doubt Caden would want you in here.”
“He doesn’t.”
His eyes widened again. “You told him?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“You guys are more serious than I thought.”
Now my eyebrows pinched together. “How is that your business?”
“It’s a big step when you have to run everything by the other person.” He grunted. “I usually get out then, but it takes me six months to get there. It’s been two weeks for you guys.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Being accountable to another person. That’s a big step, Summer.”
“I was with him when your mom called.” I cursed. That was none of his business either. Why was I explaining any of this to him?
“Oh.” The ends of his mouth dipped down in thought. “It’s still a big deal. So there is a you-and-Caden thing.” His head perked up like he’d caught me in a lie.
My blood was starting to boil. “That’s none of your business.”
“Fine.” He pulled his other leg under the desk too. “Then my fight with my mom is none of your business either.”
“She’s the one who asked me to check on you.”
“Oh yeah.” His voice softened, and he cursed. “Sorry. I’m being an asshole.”
I had a retort on the tip of my tongue, but no. I was being a good stepsister here. I swallowed it down and tried to smile. That was the whole point of this. Brother and sister. Family.
“So, are you okay?”
He let out a small breath, his hands moving to slide into his pockets. He leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out so he looked nice and comfortable. “Who knows? I want a relationship with my dad, and my mom’s claiming he doesn’t want to see me.”
“You don’t believe her?” My hand itched to text Caden. “That was before I fell in love with you.” My heart picked up its pace.
“I don’t know. Maybe. He’s a selfish prick too.” He flashed me a grin. “I get that from him, but what father wouldn’t want to see his kid?”