“I agree with your mother, but please no PDA where I can see it.” Laughter fills the room at my dads attempt at a joke.
We sit and chat some more, my parents gushing over how much they love Jake and how happy they are that I’ve found my way back to him.
The twins try to act nonchalant the rest of the night, and I let it go until we’re all walking out the front door. Lainey hugs us all goodbye before jumping in her own car to drive home.
Before we reach Brayden’s truck, I stop them in their tracks. “Hey, you both know how much I love you, right?”
It’s Brandon that steps up first, enveloping me in his arms. His hugs always feel soft like a teddy bear, even though he’s got muscles for days and a six pack to match. I lay my head on his bicep, giving us both the comfort of this hug. After a few moments, I feel another strong presence onmy back as more arms are wrapped around both of us, Brayden’s head resting on mine.
“We love you, too, Kailyn. You’re our sister, and that means everything.” Brandon starts, speaking in a more hushed tone now that we’re outside. “We’re so proud of the incredible woman you’ve become. You’re doing an amazing job as the new interim lead trainer, and you’ve grown so much in your confidence and ability. Jake is one lucky guy.”
I hadn’t realized I needed to hear these words until now. I’m so grateful for my brothers, for all of their love and support.
Brayden steps back after a moment, allowing me to pull back as well as we all face each other.
“I need you both to know that my decision back then not to tell you wasn’t because I didn’t trust or love you both. If I could go back and change everything, I would’ve listened to Jake more when he asked me to tell you about us.” I look both of them in the eyes, hoping they understand everything I’m saying.
“I hate that you didn’t tell us, and that you both had to suffer in silence. I’m just glad that you both are getting this second chance, because you both deserve happiness after everything you’ve been through.”
I smile up at them, letting those words settle in for a beat before finally following them to the truck. Settled in the back seat, I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face the entire ride home and the peace I feel at finally letting go of the past and pushing for a better future ahead.
One where hopefully, Jake and I are standing side by side.
Chapter 16
Jake
I’m in the locker room, tying up my skates for morning practice when I look up and see the twins' faces staring at me from across the way. They both sit in their respective stalls, matching expressions of curiosity and a bit of nerves, based on the way I see Brandon fidget with the cuff of his dry fit.
“Hey, what's up with those two?” I ask Connor, who’s getting ready in the stall right next to mine.
He finishes pulling his jersey over his shoulder pads before turning to look at the twins, who try their best to be subtle when looking away.
News flash, they are definitely not subtle.
“It’s Brayden and Brandon. When is something not up with those two?” The tilt of Connor’s head and the smirk on his face pulls a chuckle from me.
“I mean, yeah,” I drawl, trying to find the right words. “They’re just being extrathemtoday. They haven’t stopped staring at me since we got here almost forty minutes ago.” It’s almost unnerving after how amazing last night was.
Mrs. Taylor's home cooking filled my bellyand my soul. The way I felt free for the first time in a long time, able to laugh and be carefree in a way that almost felt foreign to me. A feeling of my own making.
And then that kiss. The kiss that set my toes on fire and sent shivers up my spine. How Kailyn’s body molded so perfectly into mine, as if no time had passed between us.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.
Except now, all of that is a bit overshadowed by how the twins are looking at me like they’re unsure of how to act around me.
“Have they said anything to you?” He asks.
“No, I got here right after them. As soon as I walked into the locker room, they started being weird.”
The only thing that would make sense is if they saw me kiss Kailyn last night. It has to be, because nothing else makes sense.
Looking back over at them from the corner of my eye, I catch Brayden’s eyes before he’s quickly yanking his stick out of his stall and bolting out the door.
The nerves I thought I would feel when they found out don’t surface. Instead, I feel a peace I didn’t expect. I knew there was a chance of us being caught, but I risked it anyway, because of how much I want her and need her.
She’s consumed me once again, or more like she never stopped consuming me, because Kailyn’s mine and I’m hers. There’s no point in denying it anymore.
