Trevor knows.
Living here no longer feels safe. Every creak of the floorboards and rustle of leaves outside sends a chill down my spine. I can't shake the feeling that Trevor knows somethingâsomething that could shatter the fragile peace my mom has worked so hard to establish since her engagement to Cayden's dad.
I've been wrestling with the thought of telling my mom. It feels like the right thing to do, but I'm terrified of what that would mean. I can't ruin her happiness, especially not now, when they're planning to get married at the end of the month. Everything feels tangled up in a mess of emotions, and I hate that my heart is in turmoil while she's caught up in her wedding preparations.
Prom is looming, just four days away. The thought of it makes me cringe. I never liked the idea of prom, and honestly, I don't have anyone to go with. The pressure to find a date feels overwhelming, but more than that, I dread the idea of watching everyone celebrate while I sit on the sidelines, consumed by my own heartbreak over Cayden. I used to think we were meant to be, but now it seems like that was just a fantasy. It's hard to accept that I've wasted so many tears on someone who will soon be my stepbrother.
Since last week, my mom has been fully immersed in wedding planning, leaving little room for anything else. I haven't mentioned Trevor's presence in town. Each day, I wake up with the knot in my stomach tightening. The fear of having to leave everything I know, to see my mom sad again, paralyzes me. I can't bear the thought of moving to a new town, starting over while my mom drags me along, repeating the same cycle of dating the next guy who comes along.
"Mom, I need to tell you somethingâ"
"Me too! I was just thinking..." She cuts me off, her excitement bubbling over. "Should I wear my old wedding dress from when I married your dad, or should I go for the dress Liam is going to buy me? It's absolutely stunning!" She pulls out her phone and shows me a picture of the dress, and my heart sinks.
"Oh my god, how much is it?" I ask, my eyebrows shooting up as I swipe through images of a white lace gown that looks fit for a fairytale.
"More than sixty-five thousand dollars," she replies casually, but I'm left speechless.
"More than sixty-five thousand? Isn't that a bit... excessive?" I ask, my jaw dropping in disbelief.
She shrugs, taking her phone back. "So, what do you think? Old dress or new?"
I force a sad smile, looking at her radiant face. "Whatever makes you happy, I guess."
"Sweetheart, you can tell me anything," she says, her tone suddenly serious. She squeezes my hands, her eyes searching mine for something more. I take a deep breath, wanting to confide in her about Trevor, but the words stick in my throat. I don't want to wipe the smile off her face, even if the truth gnaws at me.
"Honey, what is it?" she presses, sitting down on the couch. The way she looks at me, filled with concern, makes it even harder to speak.
Just as I gather the courage to start, the doorbell rings, interrupting the moment. My mom jumps up, her excitement bubbling over again. I hear her open the door and greet Liam with an "aww." I walk over to the doorway, curious about the commotion.
"These are for you!" Liam says, holding a bouquet of five red roses that Will, Cayden's younger brother, is clutching. My mom beams as she takes the flowers, leaning in to kiss Liam on the cheek.
"Thank you!" she says, her smile bright. I roll my eyes at the display of affection.
"Come in!" she calls, stepping aside for the boys to enter. I hang back, watching as Cayden's eyes land on me.
"This is for you," he says, stepping forward and handing me another rose.
"Thanks, I guess," I mumble, my heart racing. I turn to walk upstairs, desperate to escape.
"Hailey," he calls after me, halting my progress. I glance back, trying to ignore the flutter of hope in my chest.
"I love you. I'm sorry I didn't say it before," he admits, and my heart sinks.
"Yeah, but it's too late," I reply, the words bitter in my mouth as I continue to my room, gripping the doorknob.
"Please, can we just talk? I want to show you that I love you, no matter what," he pleads, and I stop, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
"You can't. We can't do this anymore. My mom is happy, and your dad is happy. Aren't you happy they're happy?" I say, my voice laced with frustration.
"I'm not happy because we're not happy," he counters, his gaze intense. My heart sinks further.
"Cayden, Iâ"
Before I can finish, he leans in and kisses me. The warmth of his lips ignites a storm of emotions, and I momentarily forget everything else. The butterflies in my stomach return, overwhelming me. When he pulls away, I'm breathless, torn between the thrill of the kiss and the reality of our situation.
"I need to go," I say, pushing the door open and stepping inside, shutting him out. I lock the door behind me and sink down against it, my heart pounding.
What just happened? This isn't right. I can't be in a relationship with my soon-to-be stepbrother. I stand up and head to my desk, the bouquet still in my hands. I glance at the silver trash bin beside my desk, ready to toss the roses in, but I hesitate. Instead, I grab a vase from the bathroom, rinse it out, and fill it with water, then remove the wrapping from the roses.
Once the flowers are arranged, I place them on my desk, forcing a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. I flop down on my bed, trying to erase the kiss from my memory, but my cheeks flush at the thought.
My phone vibrates, pulling me back to reality. I grab it from the bedside table and see messages from Cayden and Amelia. I click on Cayden's first.
Cayden: I still love you.
I roll my eyes and start to type a response, then erase it. The three dots appear, and I wait.
Cayden: I want you to want me again.
I hesitate, fingers hovering over the keyboard. I don't understand why I'm feeling so conflicted.
Cayden: I'm ready.
I frown, intrigued. I type back, "Ready for what?" then lock my phone and stare at the ceiling. The kiss keeps replaying in my mind. Frustrated, I grab my pillow and scream into it.
"God, can you just go away, feelings?!" I yell, my voice muffled by the fabric. I'm left breathless, heart racing, as I bury my face deeper into the pillow, wishing I could suffocate the feelings.
Just then, my phone vibrates again. I see Amelia's name flash across the screen, and I open her messages, scrolling through the long thread of her storytime about Noah. I roll my eyes at the melodrama, but I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
I type a quick reply, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all. "Well, I guess Noah and you are officially dating."
As I send the message, I see another notification from Ethan. Curious, I open it to find a picture of him smiling alongside someone new.
Ethan: This is Taylor. He really wants to meet you soon. I hope you're free next week to schedule something!
I can't help but grin, feeling a spark of excitement. I reply, "Sure," and lock my phone again, looking out my window.
But the peace is short-lived; my phone vibrates twice in quick succession. I open it and see more messages from Cayden and Amelia.
"Hailey!" I hear Cayden's voice from outside my door. I open it to find him sitting on the floor, waiting for me.
"What are you still doing here?" I ask, trying to maintain a serious expression.
"I'm ready to prove myself to you, and I won't stop until you see it," he declares, his determination evident.
"I already told you, we can'tâ"
My phone vibrates again, and I glance down to see a new message from Amelia. I look back at Cayden, shaking my head, "We can'tâ"
He steps forward and unexpectedly hugs me tightly. It's a gesture I wasn't prepared for, and I'm caught off guard.
Breaking away from the embrace, he looks into my eyes, and I can see the sincerity in his gaze. "I'm ready to fight for what's ours," he says firmly.
My phone buzzes again, but I ignore it, focusing on Cayden. Just as I open my mouth to respond, another notification pops up.
Amelia:Â There was a guy at my house earlier. Said his name is Trevor, and he's looking for you.
Amelia:Â He said it was urgent.
Amelia: I might have given him your address. Thought you should know. You're welcome!