𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 | 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧

01) you are in love

"you are in love, true love"

chapter one .. you are in love

...

IT WAS FINALLY kaia's favorite time of the year, summer, cousins beach. the way the ocean looked at night, the gentle breeze down at the beach, and spending the summer with the people she loved most

kaia lounged on a beach chair by the pool in her backyard wearing her bright pink bikini with a book in hand, happy place by emily henry. she made a point to read only beachy, summer-themed books to match the season's mood

the sun kissed her skin, and she knew she should reapply sunscreen, but she loved the look of rosy cheeks and tanned skin. kaia smelt of sun bum sunscreen mixed with cheirosa #62 sol de janeiro perfume, specifically the parfum, not the mist, it was her summer scent

missed calls by mac miller was softly playing in the background as she read her book, stealing a moment to herself before her summer truly began

her alone time was shortly interrupted when she heard her mother, susannah, yell from the kitchen

"they're here!"

kaia jumped up immediately, pausing the music and setting her book down

he was here, steven was finally here, she couldn't wait any longer to see him

she slipped her denim shorts and t-shirt over her bikini andshe ran through the house to the front door, where she already saw laurel and her older brother, jeremiah, hugging

kaia ran to laurel and gave her a tight hug, "it's so great to see you laure!" she exclaimed, continuing to squeeze her before laurel broke the hug and placed her hands on kaia's shoulders

"it's good to see you too, kaia" she smiled warmly, "you look beautiful," laurel complimented

kaia grinned happily at laurel's comment, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see belly

kaia gasped and pulled belly into a tight embrace

"oh my!" kaia smiled. it was like looking at a completely different person. belly had gotten rid of her glasses and braces. she had her hair down rather than in a ponytail, "wow, i mean, wow!" she laughed, "look at you!"

belly laughed, "look at you!"

kaia grinned at the girl before her gaze drifted to conrad and steven hugging. the moment kaia laid her eyes on steven,  she noticed subtle changes, all good ones of course. he had grown, and his hair was slightly longer than last summer

kaia eyed belly, then conrad, a knowing smirk forming on her face. belly had always felt something for conrad, and although conrad was her brother, she was fully on board for belly and conrad being together. if anything, she influenced it

belly rolled her eyes playfully and kaia nudged belly toward her brother. once belly approached conrad, steven switched his focus to kaia

steven opened up his arms, inviting kaia into a hug, she happily accepted. she cherished every second of that moment, taking in his new cologne and how his body felt more toned than last summer

breaking the hug, steven teased "missed me?"

kaia smiled and laughed  "oh, don't flatter yourself," she joked back sarcastically