“Hush you,” Annie says to him before she turns to face me. “So, Kaden, I’d like to think we know each other well enough now to get into the good stuff. Wouldn’t you say?”
I raise my brows, glancing at Seth again but he’s wrapped up in a conversation with his dad. Malcolm says something that makes Seth throw his head back in a laugh and I feel myself smile at that.
“Uh, sure,” I turn back to Annie. She smiles at me, casting a glance at Seth before she leans forward, narrowing her eyes.
“Do you have a partner?” she half-whispers.
“Like a girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend. Or a boyfriend,” she says, leaning back.
“Mom!”
She whips her head towards Seth. “What? I’m not making assumptions. And who isn’t a little fluid these days?” She shrugs.
“What? No! Mom.” Seth drags a hand down his face, letting out a pained laugh. “What does that even mean?” he groans.
“It means—”
“I know what it means! I mean, why are you saying that?”
“Well, aren’t we?” She tilts her head.
“No, we’re not.” He shakes his head. “And don’t ask people about their personal life. It’s… private.”
She crosses her arms, pursing her lips, and then she turns to me again. “Isheseeing someone?” She nods at Seth.
“Why are you asking him that? I’m right fucking here?” he huffs a laugh.
“Well, you’re not telling me anything.”
“Because it’s none of your business, Mommy dearest.” He puts on a sweet smile. She squints at him, and he raises hiseyebrows. Feels like some kind of stare off happening, and I glance at Malcolm.
“Ten bucks says Seth’ll win this one,” he deadpans, looking expectantly at me.
I laugh. “That’s a shitty position you’re putting me in. If I bet on Annie, he’ll have me sleeping on the porch tonight.”
“Sounds like a you-problem,” Malcolm laughs. “So, who’re you more scared of? Seth’s wrath or Mommy dearest?”
Seth and Annie are still going at it. I’m not sure they’ve even blinked. Malcolm reaches his hand out to me, and I clasp it.
“Tell my mom I loved her.”
“Will do, son.”
“I hope you brought your sleeping bag with you,” Seth says, turning towards me. Malcolm starts laughing as he fishes out his wallet and slaps a ten in my hand.
73
Seth
Now playing: “Do I Wanna Know?” (-Live at the BBC) by Hozier
We’reonourwayto breakfast when Kaden stops, turns towards me, spreads his arms and falls back into a snowdrift. He starts making a snow angel, and I’ve never seen him smile that big. It’s blinding. The smile, but mostly, it’s him—he’s blinding.
I turn my face towards the sun, closing my eyes, but then he chuckles and I turn back around.
“Get over here,” he says. I walk over, and he grabs my arm, pulling me down on top of him before he kisses me. He doesn’t stop smiling even through the kiss, but when I pull back, he tilts his head a little, a small frown between his brows.
