She's standing at the counter, laughing as my mom gestures dramatically about something, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the kitchen, her hands dusted with flour.
As if sensing my gaze, she looks up, catching my eye through the window. For a moment, everything around us seems to fade away—the noise, the people, everything but her. She smiles, just for me, before my mom pulls her attention back to whatever they're making.
I can't look away. I don't want to.
My dad chuckles under his breath. "You're staring, son."
I smirk, turning back around, taking a seat next to him. "Yeah. I know."
He hums, watching me for a second before taking another sip of his beer. "So…how are you feeling about all this?"
I exhale, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Honestly? Like I've been waiting my whole damn life for it to happen."
He nods slowly. "Just be careful with your heart, Jax. You have a lot of big changes coming up in a pretty short amount of time. Your whole life is about to change."
My jaw tightens slightly, and he must see it, because he holds up a hand. "Not saying she's gonna hurt you, but…I know you. You feel things big, you love wide open, especially her. And Madison—she's been through a lot. Just…give her space when she needs it. Let her come to you when she's ready."
I swallow, staring down at my hands. "I know."
He pats my shoulder. "I hope it works out for you two. You've been dancing around each other for years. Just seems right."
I smirk slightly. "Yeah. It does."
Before he can say anything else, the sound of tires crunching in the driveway grabs our attention.
"That'll be your aunt and uncle," my dad says, standing up.
I follow him off the deck just as my Aunt Denise and Uncle Rob step out of their car, my cousins Emily and Sean piling out after them.
Emily spots me first, her eyes lighting up. "Jaxon!" She runs the last few feet, hurling herself at me. I'm definitely going to miss it when she gets too big to think I'm cool.
I grunt as I catch her. "Damn, Em. Trying to take me out already?"
She laughs, stepping back. "Shut up. You've gotten bigger since I saw you last."
Sean walks up, smirking as he pulls me into a quick bro hug. "You're just small, Em."
She glares at him before turning back to me. "So, where is she?"
I blink. "Who?"
Emily crosses her arms, giving me a look. "Don't play dumb. Madison."
Sean smirks, nodding toward the house. "Yeah, man, everyone's been talking about how you finally made a move."
I shake my head, chuckling. "She's inside, helping my mom."
Emily grins. "Oh, this I gotta see." And just like that, she runs toward the house, my mom's excited voice ringing out the second she steps inside.
Sean claps me on the back. "So…is it weird? You guys going from best friends to?—?"
I shake my head. "Not weird at all."
It's the truth.
Being with Madison doesn't feel new.
It feels right.
