The stairs creaked under my feet, but the house was already awake.
I could hear pans clinking in the kitchen and the low murmur of Kaden's voice — relaxed, familiar. For a second, I wondered if Callum would be there too. If he'd still be in last night's hoodie, sitting at the counter like the years hadn't changed a thing.
But when I turned the corner, it was just Kaden, barefoot and leaning over the stove, flipping eggs like he was some kind of brunch expert.
He looked up when he heard me.
"Well, look who finally decided to wake up," he said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. "It's not even ten."
"For normal people, that's practically lunch."
I padded into the kitchen and leaned against the counter, crossing my arms. "Where's Mom?"
"She left for work early. Something about payroll being a disaster." He nodded at the skillet. "Hungry?"
"Not really."
He gave me a quick once-over — not judgmental, but definitely noticing. "You going somewhere?"
I glanced down at myself — the black jersey dress, the clean white Dunks, the just-got-ready-on-purpose vibe I was trying not to wear like perfume.
"Yeah," I said casually. "Meeting Liv. And Jackson."
His brow lifted. "The guy with the truck?"
"That's… very specific."
He smirked. "You like him?"
I grabbed an apple from the counter and took a bite. "He's cool."
"Cool like friend, or cool like you-giggle-when-he-texts-you?"
I glared. "You're insufferable."
Kaden laughed, flipping the burner off. "I'm just saying. If you're gonna be out with him, maybe I should have a little chat."
"You are not threatening Jackson."
He raised his hands. "Not threatening. Just… clarifying."
I rolled my eyes again, but my heart tugged a little. It felt weird — talking like this. Easy. Normal. Like I hadn't spent last night in an emotional tailspin and Callum hadn't completely wrecked my sleep just by existing within ten feet of me.
I moved to the door and slipped my phone into my small shoulder bag.
"Hey," Kaden said suddenly. "You good?"
I hesitated, hand on the knob.
"Yeah," I said after a beat. "I'm good."
But I didn't ask where Callum was.
And Kaden didn't offer it.
I stepped out into the sunlight without looking back.