It's about 5:00 by the time I come home, so Cadence is busy watching TV while Mom and Dad are working.
"Hey, Cadence!" I say contently, dumping my bag beside the staircase before flopping onto the couch next to her. She's eating carrot sticks, one of which I pluck from her plate and pop into my mouth, earning me a dirty look from her.
"So, how'd it go?" She asks through a mouthful of carrots.
"Pretty good, we had tennis tryouts, good lunch, we also-" I quip, listing things off my fingers before Cadence interrupts me, smirking.
"I'm not talking about your first day of school, Ari. I'm talking about..." Her voice drops to a whisper, "Your makeout session with Theo."
Damn it.
She's wearing a triumphant grin on her face, one eyebrow raised and nose scrunched. I should've known she'd find out, but I can't but find out how.
"What? What are you talking about? There was no makeout session, Cadence! I have no what you're talking about, and-" I stick up my hands defensively, blabbering lame excuses before Cadence presses a small finger to my lips.
Her eyebrows are raised, unimpressed. "OK, one, you seriously need to get lying lessons from Dahlia, and two, unless your lipgloss magically disappeared, along with the fact that your hair is mussed, which it never is, and if the grin on your face is because you won the lottery, which in a sense you have, then you most definitely-" She hauls a deep breath from saying everything at once, "-made out with Theo."
I clap both hands over my face in defeat, blushing fervently. A small groan escapes my most likely red lips before I meet eyes with Cadence.
"God, I hate you," I mumble under my breath as Cadence nonchalantly goes back to her carrot sticks as if she didn't just expose one of the, admittedly, most romantic things of my life.
"You know you love it."
I head upstairs to my room, hauling my backpack on one shoulder. I shut my bedroom door behind me, and the quiet of my room contrasts the conversation from the living room. The soft talking of the TV and Cadence's voice drift away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Throwing my backpack onto my bed, I lay down beside it stomach-flat, running my hands over my face again.
A fresh wave of heat washes over my cheeks as I think back to the way Theo's eyes met mine, that look he gave just before he leaned in; A lopsided smile, one dimple flashing on his left cheek, and his eyes turned upward.
The kiss. Oh god, the damn kiss.
His lips are like a drug, the way the move so effortlessly as if he's been doing this his whole life. When I kissed him, it was as if he was trying to tell me something without words, but honest to God, at that point, there was one thing I was focused on.
"God, I'm still not used to this," I whisper to myself as I roll onto my back, letting my head fall back onto the pillow. The memory plays on repeat in my head like a looped video that won't quit, and I can't help the lovesick smile that creeps across my face.
Hugging a crocheted pillow on my chest, I drift off into an awkward stream of thoughts, from Theo, to tennis, to Theo, to the first day, to Theo.
I jump when my phone buzzes on the nightstand. Groaning, I sit up and grab it, half-expecting it to be Mom, ready to dive into a conversation about everything. But it's Theo.
Theo: Hi :)
Theo: Just wanted to say... thank you for that. [ three upside-down smiley faces ]
Theo: You work wonders.
My heart does a weird little somersault at the text, and I feel my grin stretch wider. Is that his way of saying that maybe it was... perfect? Even though we weren't even past the initial nerves in the beginning, I'd say we're shaping up pretty well. I guess what we did was perfect, in its own awkward, beautiful way.
Kiara: No problem.
Kiara: Let me know if you need help again. I'd be happy to volunteer ;)
I nearly recoil in my bed after sending the last message, and I'm halfway through deleting it when Theo's response comes through.
Theo: I might just take you up on that.
I feel my shoulders unstiffen, and a laugh escapes me. The tension I didn't even know I was holding eases as I picture Theo smirking at his phone, the way he does when he's teasing but doesn't mean any harm.
Theo: Hey, just so you know, if Cadence ever starts teasing you too hard, I've got your back. We can team up against her. [smiling emoji]
I can almost hear his voice, low and serious, the playful undertone giving way to something a bit more sincere. I let out a soft breath and smile, warmth spreading through my chest like a sunrise.
Kiara: [laughing emoji] Thanks!
Kiara: I might have to take you up on your offer instead. The thought of Cadence even coming remotely close to teasing me sends shivers down my spine. [tense emoji]
Theo: Haha, then it's good to know that we have each other's backs. [pleased emoji]
There's something about that, the idea of having him there, even in just a small way, that makes my heart feel full. I stare at my phone, the screen lighting up my face in the dim light of my room. I sink back into the bed, the pillow tucked tightly under my arm as I replay his words and smile until my cheeks hurt. It's stupid, but I can't help it.
Outside, I hear Cadence giggling at something on TV. A part of me wonders if she's been eavesdropping again. If she has, she'll never let me forget it, but I guess that's just how it goes with her.
And for now, I'm okay with that. Because I've got a good thing going. Since a while.
But then again, I can't help but think the reason he was so sad earlier is all my fault.
Everything is.
