Chapter 2

Cade's POV

I sat at the dinner table, absentmindedly kicking my feet under it. I hadn't wanted to come out tonight, but my mom insisted. It seemed ironic, considering she was the one who pushed for military school in the first place. Now that I was back home, she wanted to make a spectacle of it, inviting the whole extended family.

Mom chatted animatedly with Dad, while my older sister leaned against her husband, his hand gently resting on her pregnant belly. Meanwhile, I sat there, feeling disconnected. Aunts and uncles exchanged stories I struggled to follow, while my cousins droned on about school dramas that seemed trivial to me. My mind kept drifting back to Vien. Three long years had passed, and she still occupied my thoughts more than anything else.

When I left, Vien was just a kid I enjoyed teasing—short, with braces. Now, though, she was something else entirely. Not that she had ever been unattractive, but now she was stunning. Her curves, that perfect smile, and those eyes—wild gray and captivating.

Damn it, Cade, snap out of it. She's just a girl. A girl who's practically family, like an annoying little sister I never had.

The clicking of heels interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see Nova and her mom taking their seats at our table. The waiter appeared, but I couldn't stop staring at Vien. She avoided my gaze, and for some reason, it irritated me. Was it because of what happened earlier at her place? It was accidental—she walked in on me, then I walked in on her in her room. But I couldn't shake her perfect image from my mind since.

"Cade look at you, you're all grown up" her mom said smiling at me. I smiled back at her; she was always there when I was growing up. She was my mother's best friend. Both her and Vien were there for family holidays, or just normal Sunday diners. They were part of the family.

"Thanks mam, you look beautiful as always" I told her, and she smiled at me.

"Charming as always." she said and went back to talking with my mom. Soon our food came, and I watched as Vien picked at her food. Eating bite here and there. It seemed like she felt my gaze and slowly looked up at me. Her cheek turned bright red as soon as are eyes connected. I smirked and watched as she squirmed in her seat. She looked back down at her food, slouching even more.

"How was Law school?" Alex asked me as he poured a drink for my sister. My sister and he have been married for two years now. But I feel like they were together for ever before that.

"It was fine," I muttered, focusing on my food. Law school had been a drag, but at least it landed me a decent-paying job and got me in stressful state due to papers and documents being thrown at me.

"Where are you planning on college?" Dad's question came with that look—answer carefully.

"Somewhere here" I replied

"Honey, Vivienne, what college are you planning to go to?" My mom's question aimed to shift attention away from me. I glanced over at Vien, curious about her response.

"Um, maybe Halcyon University ," she replied, stumbling over her words and nervously playing with her fingers, cracking her knuckles absentmindedly. She always did that—cracked her fingers, her hips, legs, and spine. When we were younger, I used to tease her about it, telling her she'd break her bones or they wouldn't work when she got older. She believed everything I said back then; I was older, and she trusted me.

"Halcyon University? Don't you have to be smart for that?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. It's a problem I've always had—speaking before thinking. I blurt out whatever thought pops into my head, especially around Vien. She just makes me so nervous.

"GPA of 4.6. I don't know if your brain works, but I'm pretty sure that's smart," Vien fired back. I heard groans from around the table, and I smirked at her, ready with a retort, but my sister smacked my arm. We always bantered like this—it was our thing.

The rest of dinner passed in silence from Vien's end. She picked at her food, taking occasional bites. Soon, dinner was over, and we stepped out into the cold, late-winter air. I noticed Vien shivering, goosebumps rising on her skin. Part of me wanted to wrap my arms around her, shield her from the cold, but I resisted the urge.

"Cade, stop thinking like this," I scolded myself internally. "She's just the girl who's annoyed you all your life, the one you teased and picked on. Whatever this is, it's not feelings. It's probably just because I haven't seen her in three years."

"Cade, it's nice to have you home," Dina said warmly, giving me a hug. As we pulled away, she nudged Vien, who stood nearby.

"I'm not hugging him," Vien muttered to her mother.

"Have some manners," Dina insisted, gently pushing Vien towards me.

"Mom," Vien hissed, which only made me smirk.

"No goodbye, Vien?" I teased, meeting her fiery glare with amusement.

"Bye," she replied curtly, turning away. Her hair flicked over her shoulder as she walked toward her mom's car, hips swaying in a way that tightened my chest with a familiar sensation.

"Bye, Dinklehead!" I called after her, relishing in her muttered response as she slammed the car door shut. Dinklehead—my nickname for her since she was five and I was eight. She despised it, which only made me love using it even more.

"Ah, just like the old days," Dad remarked, and I shot him a quizzical look.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling their eyes on me as if I were missing something obvious.

"You know, teasing her because you like her," my sister chimed in, earning a glare from me. She'd always teased me about Vien.

"I don't like her; she irritates me. It's just fun pushing her buttons," I insisted before heading to my motorcycle and riding back to the house. I was temporarily staying in my parents' basement to settle in after returning home, but I planned to move out soon.

As soon as my parents arrived home, I intended to leave.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked, concern evident in her voice. She probably worried I might be reverting to old habits.

"Out," I replied, not wanting to worry her. I had no intention of getting wasted like I used to; I was simply going out with some friends. There would be no drugs, and probably no alcohol.

"Out where?" she persisted, not letting me off so easily.

"With some friends I haven't seen in a while," I assured her, and she sighed. I knew she was concerned that I might revert to my old partying ways, but I was determined not to.

"Which friends?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

"Don't worry, Mom, it's just Lionel and Richie," I reassured her, and she smiled.

"Be back before morning," she instructed firmly.

"If anything changes, I'll call you, even though legally I don't have to," I added, and she chuckled.

You'll always be my baby boy," she said fondly. I smiled and waved goodbye. I understood why she worried. There had been a time when I'd gotten myself into some pretty stupid situations.

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