Finding Us| ✔️

Chapter 14

I'm not going to lie. I cried when I read that. And the worst part is that I have to leave. Like, as in right now, as I'm crammed into Kaden's car. Only this time, he's not with Beth. She's in the backseat talking to Sarah of course.

"Can you believe it?" He quietly says to me in awe as he buckles his seatbelt. "They're friends now."

Of course that's what she told him. Can't be mad. Can't be mad. The love of my friend's life, remember?

"And you bet your sweet ass you're not off the hook. We're talking about this when we get home. Done and done. You can at least act decent to me right now and not ignore me."

Of course. That too. I still cringe out of guilt. It's felt like a long time since we talked. Sometimes at the hotel I'd accidentally call Sarah Kaden. I don't like to think about that though.

I scoff, mumbling under my breath. He quirks an eyebrow in my direction before saying, "Hm? What was that, young lady?"

"Nothing Mom."

"Thought so- wait what? Why 'Mom'? What about Daddy?"

My cheeks heat up. I avert my gaze, now looking out the window. "Because. You're more like a girl."

"What? And to think I missed you." He teases, a hand to his chest in mock hurt, despite the small smile tugging on his plump lips.

I decide to take advantage of that. So I say, "Of course you missed me. Who wouldn't?"

"Anyone."

Shaking my head, I look back outside to watch the trees pass by, their branches swaying in a way to say goodbye. After a ten minutes pass and I'm used to the silence, Kaden says. "I really did miss you Luce."

"Me too, Kaden." I say back quietly, watching the pedestrians walk the sidewalks. "Me too."

Out of the corner of my eye I see him smiling before he says gently, "Love you." He drags out the you, bring all dramatic.

"Love you too, dummy." I glance over to find him grinning at me, before he turns back to the road.

~*~

When we get back home, Kaden drops off Sarah then Beth. His "girlfriend" pretends to be interested in him, but her disguise falters in my eyes as she watches Sarah go inside her house with a tender expression.

"Hm?" She turns back to Kaden, baby blue eyes slightly frustrated but he doesn't get it. Of course he doesn't.

The van rolls to a stop at her driveway, which is long and windy, leading up to a beautiful house. "Alright. Bye, Kaden." She gets out quickly, probably desperate for him to take a hint.

He doesn't and says, "Love you."

I cringe. Beth doesn't look back when she leaves the vehicle. She instead wrapped her arms around her chest, probably feeling guilty, walking away.

"I wonder what's wrong with her." Kaden mumbles, biting his bottom lip in thought and rubbing his jaw. He glances over at me, and I quickly look away.

"You know something, don't you?" He says in an accusing tone, though it sounds like he's trying to hide it.

I swallow hard. "No."

"You do!" He raises his voice and turns to me with his forehead creased in frustration.

"Don't put this on me!" I spat at him. "Just because your girlfriend-"

He lets out a loud breath, tugging on his hair while turning to me, one arm resting on the steering wheel. "I can't believe this! You're jealous!"

My cheeks heat with anger. "Of course I am! You've been spending more time with her in a week than we've been together in a lifetime!"

"What about you and Jaxon? It's the same thing!"

"Exactly!" I scream back. "You're jealous too! And it is not the same thing. You're with a... with a... You're so oblivious!"

I reach for the door handle, but Kaden is much quicker. He reaches across my legs and holds the door shut. "With a what, Luce? Why am I so oblivious?"

Our faces are so close now. His hot breath fans my face, that stupid peppermint aroma filling my nostrils. Staring at his blonde hair and those stupid, stupid caramel brown eyes that I fell fore, it makes me want to cry.

"You don't know." Tears fill my eyes, blurring my vision of his face that's been sculpted in my mind ever since middle school. "You don't understand."

"What? What don't I understand? Tell me. Just talk to me Luce. For one goddamn-"

"I love you!"

I didn't expect it to sound like that. It was more of a desperate cry than a heart-wrenching confession. Then I continue, his eyes boring into mine tenderly, "I've loved you. For so many years- I can't. I can't watch you stay with her. She doesn't love you. And I think you know it." I whisper.

It suddenly seems so claustrophobic in this car, our faces almost touching, his arm around my body. I notice how my breathing is coming fast. Then I attempt to read his eyes, my breathing slowing now because of the abyss of endless light brown.

"I love you too." He says quietly. Kaden's hand reaches out to my cheek, gently touching it as his eyes hold a question like Is this okay?

Then he leans in. His lips brush mine, before they completely melt together like the best feeling in the world.

•~•~•~• Author's Note •~•~•~•
Hello, my lovelies!!
Thanks so much for reading this short chapter, but I really hope you enjoyed it.

Love,
PineappleGoddesd