Page 4 of Caden & Theo

I sniff it. “Smells like regret.”

He laughs. “Tastes like it too.”

The beer’s warm and vaguely metallic, like someone filtered it through a sock and left it on a windowsill for three hours. I drink it anyway. I’m not a drinker—neither of us really are. Caden’s whole future depends on his body staying strong andclean. So no drinking, no smoking, no anything that could tank his game. By default, I follow his lead. Always have.

Still, it feels weirdly rebellious to be holding a drink tonight. Like I’m finally a part of something I usually watch from the sidelines.

We head back outside, where the air is cooler and easier to breathe. The backyard is dotted with groups of people, some clustered around the firepit, others lounging in conversation. Off to the side, there’s a quiet corner with a couple of mismatched lawn chairs, slightly rusted but blessedly unoccupied.

Caden gestures toward them. “Our thrones.”

We sink into them, the metal creaking a little under our weight. For a few minutes, we just sit there, side by side, sipping our drinks and watching the blur of movement around us. It’s peaceful in that way parties sometimes are when you’re not in the center of the chaos. When you get to be the observer instead of the event.

I turn to look at him. “So,” I say, tilting my cup toward him, “how was it? Prom?”

He leans his head back, eyes closing for a second like he’s pulling the night out of storage. “Honestly?” he says, cracking one eye open. “Pretty good.”

“That’s it? I’ve been salty all week for ‘pretty good’?”

He laughs. “Okay, okay. The venue was actually nice. They had fairy lights and this weird indoor tree setup.”

“I need more visuals,” I say.

“There was a chocolate fountain.”

“Ooh. That’s five points already.”

“Dirk danced with the librarian.”

I nearly spit my beer. “Ms. Callahan? Of course it was Ms. Callahan—Dirk must have dog-eared too many paperbacks.”

I know her way too well—I’m in the library so often she’s practically memorized my reading habits. She slips me newreleases before anyone else, but God help me if I return them late.

Caden grins. “Yup. He asked her as a joke, and she said yes very seriously. Then they waltzed. Like, full-on elegant twirls and everything. I think she might be in love with him now.”

“I’m traumatized just hearing about it.” And no doubt she’ll tell me all about it next week when I pick up a book she special ordered for me.

“You’re welcome.”

I grin. “Was it weird without me there?”

He hesitates just a second too long before answering, “Yeah. It was.”

Something fluttery and annoying flaps in my chest. I take another sip of beer just to give my hands something to do. “And Alice?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

He shrugs. “We danced once. Talked a bit. But she kinda paired off with this guy from the catering staff.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead serious. He had one of those little bow ties and apparently plays acoustic guitar in his free time. She was gone likethat.” He snaps his fingers. “Honestly, I don’t blame her. Guy had the whole ‘tortured artist’ vibe going on.”

I smirk. “Glad to know I didn’t miss your romantic prom arc.”

“You were the highlight of the night anyway,” he says simply.

I blink. “What?”

He doesn’t repeat it. Just sips his drink and keeps his eyes on the firelight in the distance. Like he didn’t just say something that made my brain short-circuit.