Page 152 of Kade

Axel was to Max’s left. He flicked up two fingers to Stevie. “It’d be cool if you joined. It’s after the football game. We’ll be at the Sunday event too.” He winked at her.

Stevie floundered, momentarily unable to say something back, but I’d extended the invitation. If she came, she came. If she didn’t, then that was on her. As if we were all one being, the five of us began walking for the parking lot. Max’s arm dropped from my shoulder, but he tucked his finger in the back of my pants, keeping me next to him.

Which I loved. I really loved.

Axel groaned. “We should’ve made a rule no dating within the group. Watching you two is going to get old.”

Traine laughed. “Speak for yourself. This is like constant foreplay happening live and in person. I’m going to have so much sex watching them.”

“Seriously, you guys!” Steele snapped. “Her mom is my sister.”

A guy going the opposite direction overheard him and stopped in his tracks. “Her mom is your what?”

Steele cursed. “Nothing. We’re just—we’re cousins. Move along.” He glared at the guy, who blanched and sped away. He looked over his shoulder a few times, but no one was going after him.

I grinned at Steele. “Cousins, huh?”

He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t respond.

The others laughed, and I moved closer to Max, making our sides brush against each other.

His eyes darkened, watching me back.

I got all happy inside, all warm, all giddy.

Ilovedthat we moved to Fallen Crest.

As we got to the door, it swung open. I frowned at seeing who was coming inside. “Uncle Mark?” Technically he was my mom’s stepbrother, but for all intents and purposes, he was Uncle Mark.

Steele stiffened, throwing a dark look at him.

“Oh hey, Maddy.” He saw Max and did a double-take. “Max. What are you doing here?”

“Transferred in. I’m going to school here now.”

“What? When?”

“Just transferred. First day is Monday.” Max was studying the bouquet of roses my uncle was holding in his hand. “Got a study date?”

Mark was still frowning at Max, and at how close we were standing. At Max’s question, his face cleared before he jerked the flowers up. “Oh. Right! I forgot. Uh. No. No study date, but a date. I’m here to see…” He caught himself, taking note of my sudden attention, his gaze sliding to a few other students how they stopped to eavesdrop. “Never mind. I’m just here getting to know someone. Not anyone for you to cyberstalk or tell your mother about.” He rethought that, adding to Max, “Or your mother.” Back to me. “Or my mother. Got that. Keep this between us.”

Steele shook his head. “Yeah. That’s one way to stop the gossip in its tracks. Good luck, dude.”

I asked, “So you and Cass are really done, huh?”

Uncle Mark softened. “It’s for the best. If we were supposed to be together, we would’ve made it work a long time ago. I, just, I got comfortable. It’s all on me, but if you’re attached to Cass, I don’t think you should worry. Rumor has it that she’s on a plane to Hawaii as I speak. I don’t think she’s going to be leaving the adult group chat any time soon, if you get what I mean.” He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “Love you, Mads. Don’t tell any of your mothers about this. Thanks. Gotta go.”

Me, I couldn’t move. He just dropped the bomb of all bombs on me. My mouth was on the floor. “There’s anadult group chat?”

58

MASON

It was Maddy’s birthday and the house was full.

Though Sam enjoyed having the house full. She used to not be like this, but I knew she wanted to surround herself and everyone else with as much love as possible. She was making our home the opposite of what she grew up with Analise.

We were in the backyard.

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