Page 14 of Caden & Theo

“Some guy. Curly hair. Ridiculously pretty.”

“Sounds annoying.”

“Definitely is.”

I lean forward to steal a kiss—quick, sweet, addictive. His fingers curl into my hoodie when I don’t pull back fast enough, and for a minute, we’re just there, breathing each other in. Kissing slowly and softly like it’s muscle memory already.

When I do finally lean back, his eyes are hazy, but he’s smiling. “Car shopping and secret kisses,” he says. “You’re living the dream, North.”

“You’re part of the dream,” I murmur.

And I mean it. God, I mean it so much it scares me a little. Because yeah, we’re sneaking around, and yeah, it’s still new, and messy, and kind of terrifying, but it’s also real.

And right now? It’s mine.He’smine. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

I run my thumb along the inside of his wrist again, then say it before I can talk myself out of it. “I’ve been thinking about telling my parents.”

Theo’s eyes go wide—like, cartoon-anvil-just-fell wide.

My stomach clenches. “What? Too much?”

He shakes his head quickly, blinking like I short-circuited his brain. “No. No, it’s just—seriously?”

I nod, slower this time. “I mean… yeah. Not just about me, but aboutus.”

He stares at me for a second longer, and I can see it—the shift from panic to something softer, something kind of stunned.

“That’s what you want?” he asks.

I glance down, then back at him. “Yeah. I think so. I mean, I’m nervous—don’t get me wrong—but not because I think they’ll freak out or anything. My parents love me. They’re super open. Dad literally works for an equity and inclusion nonprofit.He’s the guy who leads workshops about bias and posts rainbow graphics on MySpace every Pride Month.”

Theo snorts. “Okay, your dad might actually beatmydad in the progressive-parent Olympics.”

“I know. It’s annoying. He’s going to be so chill about it I might end up feeling worse for keeping it from him this long.”

“So why now?” he asks gently.

I lean back a little, propping myself up on one elbow. “I think it’d just… take the pressure off. This whole sneaking around thing—it’s fine. Kind of exciting, honestly. But it’s also exhausting. And if I can tellthem, that’s one less thing to carry.”

Theo is quiet for a moment, nodding slowly. Then he smiles. “Okay. If that’s what you want, I’m in.”

I grin. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re not doing this solo.”

God, I love him.

He taps his fingers on my knee. “What about telling other people? At school?”

I know he’s not sayingoutout, as his sexuality is very much on the down-low. He only trusts a few people with it. I chew my bottom lip, the answer already clear. “I think we keep it quiet there. For now. Not forever. But I don’t feel like fielding questions every time I hold your hand between classes, y’know?”

“Agreed,” he says quickly. “Like, I love you—well—not saying that yet?—”

I laugh. “Too late. I heard it.”

“Shut up. I was saying, I love your face,” he corrects, smirking. “But also, yeah. High school is full of gossip goblins and walking red flags. I don’t want to deal with it either.”

There’s a pause, and then he shifts a little, his tone softening. “What about… you going pro? Like, one day.”