"I… I think I—" Kayden's voice turned to sand. He swallowed hard, because saying it felt like stepping off a cliff. "—I think I want—"
Daxton popped out from behind them with perfect timing and a grin that should have been illegal. "Oh come on, you little whiny baby, spill it already.
"Both heads snapped to him. "Andrea Wilcox," Daxton announced to the small circle who'd gathered, voice louche with satisfaction, "my shithead cousin here—"
"Say another word," Kayden ground, jaw tight.
Daxton only smiled wider. "—is in love with you."
Silence landed like a punch. Andrea's face blazed. Kayden felt every color drain from his skin, the confession suddenly louder and more real than he'd planned.
It sounded nice in his head, but the heated look on Andrea's face made him nearly bury his cousin alive, without a second thought.
"What?" The only word that Andrea said that made Kayden's chest tighten. He didn't want to feel this, but it felt like he couldn't breath. "Yeah. You heard right. Oh, it was his idea to invite you too" Kayden's eyes widened as his face heated up.
It was a lie, but only him and Daxton knew that. What if she think his invite is out of pity? He didn't pity her, except that time her enter life crashed on the TV and she was sitting infront of him. But this didn't mean that he'd treat her like someone he's trying to do a favour for.
The silence between Andrea and Kayden was heavy enough to sink in the ocean. She wasn't saying a word, neither was she looking at him, and for the first time, he had no idea what she was thinking or feeling.
Both boys snapped their heads at Andrea, as her laughter filled the silence. Daxton smiled along Andrea, but Kayden couldn't move a muscle. He didn't know if her laughing was a good thing.
"Do you mean it?" The switch in emotions had Kayden squint his eyes and tilt his head, as he threw a glance at his cousin.
"What?"
"Do you mean it? Do you really think you like me that way?" This time Kayden could read Andrea as she was now facing him, and he saw the fear but a faint hint of joy in her eyes, that he thought he was just imagining.
Did he really like her that way? He didn't fully comprehend his feelings, before they were blurted out by his senseless cousin, but he couldn't deny the increased rate of his heartbeat anytime she smiled his way. He was hopeless.
"Yes. Yes, Drea, I do" Kayden dugged his nails into his skin, as he waited. But Andrea remained silent as she only nodded.
"Excuse me" Without another word, Andrea turned and left, leaving Kayden devastated and Daxton confused.
Daxton was sure he had noticed how her face heated up at the sight of his cousin, or did he get it wrong?
"You imbecile. Did I ask for your help?" Kayden felt his blood boil. As much as his heart nearly jumped out of his ribcage anytime he was next to Andrea, he didn't want to completely turn an enemy of her state.
"What?! You clearly would have done it, nonetheless" Kayden held his head, as he rubbed his temple, walking around in circles.
"That didn't mean you should butt in, Daxton. It was my confession to do, and now I'm not sure she's going to even glare my way. Thank you" Kayden groaned and sat back down on the pool couch, holding his head in his hand, as his legs bounced.
"Who's not going to glare your way?" Kayden raised his head to see a red Andrea, but also a smiling one. As if on command, the two cousins shared a look, but Kayden's immediately turned to a glare."Well, this is my cue to leave. See you later, Andrea" Kayden squinted his eyes, as he looked intently at the black haired guy, as he placed a light peck on Andrea's cheek, making him wonder just how close they were.
"How did you get so close to him?" Andrea sat beside Kayden, the cool air danced around her hair."Well, he's lovable" Kayden scoffed, causing Andrea to giggle at the petty sign of jealousy he gave off.
They both sat in silence, the weight of the confession still lingering in the air. Kayden played with the ring on his middle finger, as he battled within himself for the right thing to say.
"So, uhm–"
"So, uhm–"
Kayden cleared his throat, as his leg began bouncing again. So even she had something to say?.
"Want to go first, or should I?" Kayden looked at the bright eyes that were staring at him, and he bit the inside of his mouth. No one had made him this nervous, not even his first press conference."Uhm, I'll go first" He needed to salvage the situation, before Andrea would hate him for life.
"About what Daxton said…I, l understand if you don't feel the same way, but…I just think that maybe you…. Can I be boyfriend?" Kayden winced at his abruptness, as he glanced at Andrea who gave him an awed expression.
He made a mental note to go and drown himself in romcom for at least a week, because he wouldn't even accept his proposal.
"Was that your proposal?" An amused expression rested on Andrea's face, her eyes staring intently at Kayden, as she tried to ignore the tingling in her stomach.
"I..I'm sorry if that sounded harsh or brute. I just…I'm not too used to.. to this"
Kayden couldn't believe himself right now. Why was he all of a sudden, doubting himself? He exhaled through his nose and leaned back into the couch.
How was she in his head this early?
Kayden West lived by order. He liked it this way—predictable, efficient, untouched by anything that could unravel his rhythm, routine was comfort. Routine was control. But not suffocating like the way Daxton's father imposed on him and his other cousins.
Andrea Wilcox was supposed to be a minor distraction, someone to spar with at best. Yet she lingered—annoying, persistent, like the aftertaste of coffee he couldn't wash away.And now he sat here, holding his heart out for her to see the shape of it.
As much as these thoughts annoyed him, it also intrigued him. He knew there was a chance it would happen after that night he saw her from across the room, but he didn't know she'd have him hooked this soon.
His hands trembled as her silence had been too long. He didn't know which one would hurt, rejection or her just standing up and walking away.
"Uhm" Kayden turned his entire body to her, fascinating Andrea, but she continued, "We still have a lot to know about each other…no, you still have a lot to know about me, but…yes, you can be my boyfriend"
Kayden stared at Andrea, he felt his body tingle but he didn't seem to get himself to move.
"Are you alright?" Andrea didn't know what else to ask, as she stared back at a dumbfounded Kayden.
Kayden's breath hitched. For a heartbeat he thought he'd misheard. Her eyes flickered down, then back up, quick as lightning, like she was just as unsure as him. His pulse thudded so hard it drowned out everything else, and he leaned in before he could stop himself.
Kayden's lips hovered over hers, he felt her breath warm against his skin. Both heart raced so loud they were sure each could hear it.
Just one inch… just one mistake… and then it happened. His lips pressed against hers, gentle but desperate, and the world tilted. Andrea froze—her mind a storm, her body betraying her with the rush of heat that exploded through her veins.
Kayden felt the soft flesh in-between his lips, the warmth it provided. He'd stolen a kiss before, brief and unfinished. But now, with nothing holding him back, he deepened it.
His hand reached for her luscious hair, as he pressed his lips closer to hers, the taste and smell of chocolate filled his nostrils as he felt himself losing control, making him break the kiss apart.
He didn't know what to say, so he decided to kiss her, because to him it was better than letting the silence linger any further.
The silence that followed was deafening. Kayden's chest rose and fell too fast, his lips tingling, his mind scrambling for words that refused to come. Andrea just stared, her expression unreadable, and for the first time in forever, he wasn't sure if he'd just ruined everything or begun something he couldn't undo.