Cayden's POV

    Dinner at my parents' house went by faster than usual since my mom had a book club meeting tonight. You suggest to your mom and her book club one time that Fifty Shades of Grey should be the next book they read and all of a sudden you're no longer welcomed into the house whenever the meetings are being held. Shit. Excuse me, mom, for not knowing that you hang out with a bunch of prudes.

    I didn't even suggest the book because it talked about sex. They asked me if I knew of any good books and that was the first one that came to mind since, at the time, it was being made into a movie and this girl that I was talking to asked me to take her to it.

    I just finished tucking Cayleigh into bed and was sitting at the dining table finishing up an essay when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I felt my lips subconsciously tug up when I read the name that flashed across my screen.

(808) 458-9331
Hi!
It's me. Brooke.

Cayden
Hey

    I didn't really know what to say so I figure I just keep it short and simple. For all I know, she was texting me to yell at me about what I did earlier today at her job. But I didn't care if she did or not. Nothing could disrupt the ecstatic feeling I was feeling because of this text. Knowing that she contacted me and not the other way around for once felt fan-fucking-tastic.

(808) 458-9331
I got your number from Mya.
I hope that's okay.

Cayden
It's cool.
So, to what do I owe this pleasure?
Miss me?

(808) 458-9331
😂😂😂
Lol, maybe...

Cayden
I'll take that as a "yes, Cayden. I
missed you so fckn much. I
just NEEDED to talk to you."

(808) 458-9331
That ego of yours, tho!

Cayden
Jk babe 🤣
But frlz
Did you need something?

(808) 458-9331
No.
It's just that earlier you said
that there's times where
you want to text me but end up
talking yourself outta it.
So I figured I'd text you first.

Cayden
Aww.
That's real sweet 😘

(808) 458-9331
😊😊😊

Cayden
Don't leave me hanging here baby.
Kiss me back.

(808) 458-9331
If I give you one now you
won't get the real one on
Thursday.
Take your pick.

    Was she flirting with me? Well, that's a first.

Cayden
Hold on...
Does that mean you're
actually coming to dinner
on Thursday without me
having to drag you there?
Am I dreaming?

(808) 458-9331
Lol. No, you aren't dreaming.
But don't get too happy over
there.
I'm only going for the free food.
😁😁😁

Cayden
Ouch...that hurts.

(808) 458-9331
Hey, college ain't cheap.
A girl's gotta do what a girl's
gotta do to eat.

Cayden
Okay.
I'll play along with you
and pretend that I don't
know you like me.

• • • • • • • • • •

    The day I've been waiting for is finally here. I just finished practice and was now about to walk out of the locker room and to my car.

    "Hey, Cayd," I heard Theo call from behind me just as soon as I reached the door.

    I turned around while trying to hide how anxious I was to get out of here. "Yeah?"

    "What's your plans for tonight?"

    "The usual. Head to my parents house, eat dinner, then head home." I purposely left Brooke out of it. I still haven't told anyone about what's happening between us, Theo included. Not because I'm embarrassed or anything that she keeps shutting me down, but because as of right now there isn't anything to tell. That and because I don't want to jinx it.

    Hey, I'm an athlete. Us athletes are superstitious as fuck.

    "Oh, cool! I haven't seen your parents in a while. Wait for me a sec," he told me.

    "I'm actually not eating dinner with them tonight. Cay and I are going out."

    "I don't mind eating out either, man. And spending extra time with Cay is just a plus," he smiled.

    Shit. Now what do I do?

    "Maybe next time, bro. I kind of just want some time with Cay alone tonight.  We haven't been spending a lot of time together lately with finals happening and, you know, football," I said, feeling guilty for lying to him.

    "Oh. Yeah, don't worry about it. I totally understand. I'll just catch you later then," he said before turning around and walking in the direction of his locker. "And make sure you tell Brooke I said hi," he called out just as I was about to step out of the door. I turned around to see him smiling at me. "What? You thought I didn't know? She tells Mya everything and I just so happen to have walked in on that specific conversation."

    I rushed over to him like a middle school girl whose friend just told her that her crush likes her back. "What'd she say," I desperately asked.

    "You see, if you had told me the truth about your plans tonight I would have told you her exact words," he smirked. "But since you didn't, I guess I'll have to withhold that information from you." Asshole. "However, what I will tell you is this. She did sound excited about this whole thing. The two of them were jumping up and down, doing their girly scream and everything."

    Without saying another word to me, he purposely included himself in another conversation with a couple of our teammates so he wouldn't have to continue giving me anymore details about what he overheard the girls saying. Regardless, I still walked out of that locker room with a huge, shit eating grin on my face.

• • • • • • • • • •

    I pulled into the parking lot of Brooke's dorm about five minutes early. Knowing she was just as excited about this dinner as I was, had me flying on some kind of high that I've never felt before. The only thing that could bring me down from that high was discovering that Theo was lying and Brooke isn't even interested in going out with me at all.

     But her texting me the other night proved that fear to be untrue.

     She likes me. I know she does. But for some reason she just can't admit it and open herself up to me right now.  Hopefully, me showing her how much I want to be with her is all she needs to get her to let me in.

     I got out of my car and started walking towards her building when I spotted her talking to a group of girls on a picnic bench just in front of the door. She stood in front of them with her hand over her mouth leaning over and laughing at something one of the girls said.

    I stopped in my tracks, taking in her beauty. Her brown eyes glowing lighter every time she turned her head a little in the direction of the sun. Her long, dark brown hair flowing in the wind. The sound of her sweet laugh echoing around me making my blood flow faster. I'd give anything to hear that laugh for the rest of my life.

    One of the girls saw me and pointed in my direction, making everyone else in the group look at me, Brooke included. She turned her attention back to the girls, saying a quick goodbye, then making her way over to me.

     "Hey, you," she said as she reached me.

     "Hey, beautiful," I replied, pulling her into my embrace. She laid her cheek against my chest as her arms began to wrap around my waist. "Ready to go," I asked, still standing in place.

     She turned her face into my chest and inhaled just before looking up at me and resting her chin on my sternum. "Yep," she answered, popping her 'p' at the end. A strong breeze then blew around us causing her hair to fly across her face. I removed the stray hairs  and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, making her beautiful face even more beautiful as a smile appeared upon it. "I love forehead kisses," she told me.

    She then buried her face into my chest again, probably hiding her embarrassment of saying that out loud. I placed a kiss on top of her head at the same time, letting her know I was glad that she told me that. Letting her know I was happy that she was letting me in.

    "Well, if you play your cards right maybe you'll get more," I tried to lighten her mood.

    "I'm sure I could have the shittiest hand in the world and you'd still give me more," she smirked at me.

     "You bet your pretty ass you'd get more. And I'm not just talking about kisses."

    "Annnd theeen you ruined the moment," she laughed.

     "Just joking, baby." I leaned forward once again and kissed her forehead. "Thanks for coming out with me tonight. Even if it's only for the free food." And that's how I was granted the pleasure of hearing my new favorite sound for the second time tonight: her laugh.

    I led her to my car and opened the door for her. Once she was seated and properly buckled, I leaned down once more and kissed her head before closing her door and walking around the car to my side.

    We arrived at my parents' house 20 minutes after leaving Brooke's dorm. It should've been only 15 but I took the liberty of driving extra slow and cautious so that I could savor the feeling of my hand on Brooke's thigh. I didn't even notice that I did it at first. I was just so into the conversation we were having. But then I felt her body turn still and that's when I realized that I was touching her. I immediately went to move my hand but the moment our skin stopped touching each other, she grabbed it and placed it back on her leg with her hand still on mine.

    Not once did she look my way. She just kept her gaze out the window in front of us and continued talking. So because of that, I want to let myself believe that she subconsciously reacted that way.

• • • • • • • • • •

Brooke's POV

    "Let's go get our little girl," Cayden said while patting my leg.

    Our little girl! That had a nice ring to it.

    He removed his hand from my leg and exited his car, making me immediately miss the warmth of his touch on my skin. I stared aimlessly at the spot where his hand just was and got lost in my mind for a couple seconds. I never really knew how much I missed this. Being with a guy.

    It's been nearly a year since Maddox threw my heart in a blender. And since then, I haven't been the same.

    When we first broke up, I craved boys' attention. Like, I literally needed it to survive. Whenever I went out, the first thing I would do was scope the scene for a guy to hang out with. Then I would spend the whole time with him, flirting up a storm, practically fishing for compliments from him. I loved being told how good I looked or how much he wanted me. Let's just say, my confidence was at an all time low at that point in my life.

    Eventually, I was able to grow some self-respect and got over that addiction. I mean, I always knew I wasn't bad looking. I just needed to know that I was wanted by other guys. That there wasn't anything wrong with my desirability.  Unfortunately, that phase for me was a lot longer than I'm proud to admit. But just for the record, 100 percent of those guys reassured me that there was nothing wrong with my desirability.

    After that embarrassing time in my life, I went into a bit of a loner stage. I didn't want to do anything but stay in my room and binge watch shows on Netflix. I ignored my cousins' and friends' requests to hang out, especially if it was to a house party. I didn't even want to go to the beach and I frickin' LOVE going to the beach. The only time I left the house was to go to school or work. And that was only because I had to.

    When my parents realized that I spent most of my time hibernating, they demanded that I start going back out, making my brother and cousins literally kidnap me and take me to the mall. I wasn't too happy about that. Like, geez mom, where was this attitude when I was a teenager and you barely allowed me the opportunity to leave the house? My parents even went to the lengths of putting a deadbolt lock on my bedroom door when I was at school and locked me out. Do you believe that? They locked me out of my own room! Who does that?

    My little trip down memory lane got cut short when Cayden opened my door. He bent down a bit and held out his hand to me. I grabbed onto his hand and made my way out of his car. Looking at the house in front of me, I finally started taking in my surroundings.

    The house before me was a brown, two story house with another section for a garage on the left. Honestly, it didn't look like the type of house that belonged to a couple who was a surgeon and a doctor. I mean, it is located in a gated community but I didn't expect Cayden's parents' house to look so — normal.

    "Is this the house you grew up in," I asked Cayden while walking up the driveway.

    "Yup. Down to my bedroom still being exactly the same as it was when I left three years ago," he answered while grabbing my hand and interlocking his fingers with mine.

    "Cool," I nodded.

    "What? It's not what you thought it'd looked like? Are you not impressed with my childhood home," he teased me with a smile.

    "What? No. It's a beautiful house. I just didn't think it would actually be a regular house. You know?"

    "I'm just messing with you. I know what you mean. My parents are really simple people. And they never wanted to have a lot of kids, two at the most. So they never saw any use in having a huge house," he shrugged.

    "That makes sense. How much rooms does it have?"

    "Five. Three masters and the other two are regular rooms. The three masters belong to my parents, Theo, and me. Then Cay has her own and the other one is a guest bedroom. Oh and there's also two studies, which my parents use of course."

    "Wow! Even Theo has a room here? You guys really do go way back, huh?"

    "Yup. He's the second kid that my parents never got to have."

    "That's really cute!"

    Before we got a chance to walk up the front steps, the door flew open and out ran Cayleigh in her Queen Elsa dress. "Mommy," she yelled while jumping into my arms from the top step.

    I guiltily looked into the house through the now open door to make sure no one heard what Cayleigh just called me. It's not that I'm embarrassed to be called her mother, it's just that, I don't know if Cayden talked to his parents about all of this yet. Because, let's be honest, me letting Cayleigh call me 'mommy' at this point in my life and our relationship, isn't really ideal, especially since her father and I aren't even technically dating. And even if we were, I would still want to get Cayleigh's grandparents' blessing on me being this little girl's mother. They are just as important to her upbringing as Cayden is.

    Obviously, what her grandparents thought about our situation is something I should have thought about before giving her permission to call me mom, huh?

    And don't even get me started on the whole adoption thing. I do love Cayleigh as if she were my own and nothing would make me happier than adopting her. But, adopting her while not having any type of romantic relationship with her dad seems like the dumbest thing in the world, does it not? I'm almost 100 percent certain that the judge wouldn't even finalize her adoption if he or she knew that Cayden and I weren't even a couple.

    The main reason on why I want to adopt Cayleigh is because I want to make sure I'm capable of still seeing her after we graduate, specifically if Cayden and I both go our separate ways. Cayden is so confident that that isn't going to happen but as you can tell, I don't share his confidence. For all I know, I might not even want to go to what ever city Cayden gets drafted to, because let's be real, the boy is getting drafted.

    My plan, as of right now, is to go back home. And unfortunately for me, if that's the case, Cayleigh won't be coming along with me since Hawai'i doesn't have an NFL team for Cayden to get drafted to.

    But on the bright side, Cayden has slowly been stealing pieces of my heart, little by little, this past week, so maybe I shouldn't be so fast to jump to conclusions. Graduation day is a long way from now. By then, who knows? Maybe him and I might actually be together.

    "Wow, Princess! You're really gonna do that to your daddy. You just saw mommy at school a couple of hours ago. You didn't see daddy since this morning," Cayden complained.

    I smiled at his words, absolutely loving the butterflies that I had flying around in my stomach. You just saw mommy. Mommy. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing the two of them call me that. I planted a kiss right on Cayleigh's cheek and gave her little body a squeeze. "Don't worry, baby girl. Daddy's just jealous."

    "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mumbled while wrapping one arm around my waist and the other around Cayleigh while she was still in my arms.

    "Aww, you guys are so cute," I heard someone say. I turned my attention to where the voice was coming from and saw Cayden's mom standing in the doorway.

    I placed Cayleigh back on the ground and nervously fixed my shirt. I'm not going to lie, seeing Mrs. Jourdan is making me freak the hell out. For the past two days, when she came to pick Cayleigh up from school, I've purposely tried to make myself busy to avoid talking to her. I don't know if Cayden told her about what's going on between the two of us and since I have a great track record of putting my foot in my mouth, I thought it was best if I kept the interaction with her to a bare minimum.

    Damn it! I should of told Cayden to pick up Cayleigh before picking me up.

    "Hello, Brooke. It's good to see you again," she told me while walking towards us.

    "Hi, Mrs. Jourdan. It's nice to see you, too. You have a very lovely home," I told her. Cayden who still had his arm around my waist, slightly chuckled at my comment.

    "Thank you, dear," she replied. "Sorry, son," she addressed Cayden. "I tried to get her out of that costume for an hour now. But she insists on wearing it out with you guys. She says it's dinner attire." I softly laughed under my breath at that. It was such a Cayleigh thing to say.

    "It's okay, Ma. She can wear it," Cayden grinned. "Thanks for watching her."

    "No problem, sweetheart. Now you guys get along. I already gave her a small snack when we got home but I'm sure she's going to want to eat a real meal soon."

    "Okay," Cayden responded before taking a couple steps forward and kissing his mother on the cheek. "We'll see you tomorrow then."

    Cayleigh ran up to Mrs. Jourdan and wrapped her arms around her thighs. "Bye, Grammy. Love you!"

    "Love the both of you guys, too," she told them, while bending down and wrapping her arms around Cayleigh's back.

    "Bye, Mrs. Jourdan," I said shyly. I wasn't sure whether or not I should have shook her hand or whatnot so I just decided to stick to a small wave. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow, too. You know, umm, when you pick up Cayleigh from, you know — umm, school." Cayden, that jackass, stood next to his mother and laughed at my awkwardness.

    "Right," she smiled. "I'll see you then, dear." I smiled one last time at her before turning around and making my way to the car with the two Cays following in my footsteps. "Oh, and Brooke," she called out to me as I opened the passenger door. "Could you please make sure my son let's that little girl have more than just ice cream for dinner. He seems to have a hard