Cayden turned around and pressed his lips to mine. I felt a jolt of surprise at the suddenness of his kiss. It wasn't just the kiss that surprised me; it was the warmth of his affection that felt electric. If he kept this up, I might just find the motivation I needed to face everything that loomed ahead.
"I love you," he said, pulling back to look into my eyes. "And I'm not giving up until I prove to you how much you mean to me. You mean the world to me, everything. I'd be lost without you."
His words made me smile, and I leaned in to give him a quick peck on the cheek.
He pouted, a playful frown creasing his forehead. "Just a peck? You know I deserve more than that," he said, dramatically pointing to his lips. I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my laughter at his theatrics.
"I'm really glad you're focusing on your happiness," he continued. "And I'm happy to be a part of that."
"Without you, I wouldn't be happy either," I said, winking at him. He chuckled, playfully slapping my shoulder like a little kid. I laughed at his antics.
"Stop flirting with me," he said, his tone mockingly high-pitched, which only made me laugh harder.
"But seriously," I added, my expression turning more earnest. Cayden smiled back at me, and his hand slipped into mine, intertwining our fingers.
"I like how small your hands are," he said, glancing down at our linked fingers. "They fit perfectly with mine." We began walking upstairs, trying to avoid my mom catching us together.
"You know you don't have to keep this up just because of what I told you," he said, looking serious for a moment.
"No, it's not just that. I'm doing this for both of us, and especially for me. Everything you said is true; I have to do what I think is right," I replied. He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to my hand, and I felt a swell of warmth at the gesture.
But a nagging worry tugged at me. How long could we keep this a secret? My heart raced at the thought of coming clean. If Cayden and I wanted to fight for our relationship, we'd have to tell our families eventually. But how could I break the news to Liam and Mom without hurting them?
"First, I need to figure out what's happening with my mom before Trevor shows up," I said, and Cayden's face shifted into a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?" he asked as we stepped into his room. I plopped down onto his bed, and he closed the door behind us. His room was enormous, big enough for a tent for four.
"Earlier, I told my mom about Trevor, and she freaked out a little," I explained.
Cayden raised an eyebrow, knowing I was holding back. "Okay, maybe she freaked out big time. When I told her it wasn't a good idea to keep switching towns and hiding from Trevor, she suggested we stay here until the wedding. I don't know; it felt weird. I know after the wedding, we'll end up living with you guys."
"Isn't that great? You living under our roof means more time for us together!" Cayden said, winking at me. I couldn't help but smack his shoulder playfully.
"Okay, that really hurt," he laughed, rubbing his arm.
"I'm serious. I can't just live here with you. But if we want to be safe, we need to find somewhere safe, and our house isn't safe anymore. Plus, my favorite pajamas are still up there."
"I can get them for you," he offered, standing up and grabbing his car keys from the bedside table along with his black leather jacket.
"No. It's not safe for you to go back there. Who knows if Trevor will show up?" I warned, but he shook his head, a reassuring smile on his face.
"I'll be fine. I'll grab your clothes and your mom's clothes, and I promise it'll be quick. You don't have to worry about me; I've got this." He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my lips.
"Okay, fine. But please be fast," I said, watching him leave the room, a sigh escaping my lips.
I stepped out of his room and ventured downstairs, curious to explore his house. The hallway was wide, lined with frames displaying pictures of Cayden and his family. I stopped in front of a portrait of his mom, marveling at her beauty. It was clear that good genes ran in their family.
As I entered the kitchen, I could see it was fully stocked, everything neatly in its place. My mom wasn't here; I was sure of that. Leaving the kitchen, I moved toward the living room, my heart racing as I heard my mom and Liam talking.
Sneaking closer, I listened in on their conversation. "Thank you for letting us stay here," my mom said, her voice laced with gratitude.
She kissed Liam, and I rolled my eyes, feeling a pang of frustration. This would make it even harder for me to tell them about Cayden and meâabout how complicated our relationship had become.
"I've got your back as always, but what does Trevor want from you?" Liam asked. So, my mom had told him about Trevor. I remembered the promise I made to her about keeping it a secret, but here I was, breaking that promise all over again.
"It's complicated," Mom replied, pacing the living room. "Even if I tell you the story a hundred times, you'll just get more confused."
"Calm down," Liam said gently, taking her hand. I could see her begin to settle as he spoke. "I'm here for you. I'm here for you and your daughter. We'll be a family soon."
His words echoed in my mind, and I felt a twist in my stomach. A family? How could I bear the thought of breaking that bond? But my love for Cayden was equally powerful. I took a deep breath, feeling torn.
"About Haileyâ" My mother continued, and I decided I had heard enough. The last thing I needed was to eavesdrop further on the conversation that was only making me feel more conflicted.
I retreated upstairs and found myself in what I thought was Cayden's room, but as I looked around, I realized it belonged to Will, Cayden's little brother. The decorations were charming, with drawings plastered on the walls and planets circling the ceiling.
Suddenly, a small voice broke my thoughts. "Hi!" Will said, smiling shyly as he caught sight of me.
"Hey there," I replied, kneeling down to his level. "What are you up to?"
"I wanted to paint some drawings," he said, holding a cup of water. "Would you like to paint with me?"
His enthusiasm was infectious, and I smiled. "Of course!"
He led me to a tiny table with small chairs. I settled on the floor, knowing I'd probably get stuck in one of those tiny chairs. He handed me a paintbrush and a palette, and I watched as he dipped his brush into the water and then into the colors, beginning to create.
"What's your drawing about?" I asked, curious about his artwork.
"It's my daddy and his girlfriend's wedding. I like her so much; she's really nice to me and my dad," Will explained, looking up at me with excitement. "Her daughter is pretty too, and she looks like you."
I chuckled at his innocent observation. "Well, actually, her daughter looks like me because I'm her," I said, unable to contain the truth.
He paused, blinking in surprise. "No, you're not. You're too ugly to be her."
I rolled my eyes, trying not to laugh. "Okay, I guess I deserve that."
As Will continued painting, I decided to steer the conversation. "Are you happy your dad is getting married?"
"Yes! I'm excited that she's going to be my new mommy!" His enthusiasm lit up the room as he focused on his artwork.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Cayden stepped inside. "I was looking for you. I thought I'd find you here," he said, walking into the room. "I placed your clothes in my bedroom and gave your mom's clothes to my dad."
"Thanks! I was actually looking for your room and ended up here by mistake," I admitted.
Cayden chuckled. "I'll get those down by tomorrow," he said, glancing at Will's painting. "What are you guys up to?"
"Painting! Did you know that she told me she's the daughter of Dad's girlfriend? She's lying, like Pinocchio. You'll see her nose getting long!" Will declared, and both Cayden and I burst into laughter.
"Little Will sure knows a lot," Cayden said, ruffling his little brother's hair. "But she really is the daughter of Dad's girlfriend."
Will squinted his eyes at me, sizing me up. "Oh, cool!" he exclaimed. "Will you be marrying my brother too?"
I laughed at his innocent question, and Cayden shot me a playful wink.
"Maybe soon, but not right now," he said, looking at me as I let out a sigh. The reality of our situation was heavy on my shoulders. The truth was complicated and fraught with emotions, and I wasn't sure what the future would hold for us.
But in this moment, surrounded by Cayden and his little brother, I felt a flicker of hope.