Page 13 of Rivals on Lockdown

Kaden’s gaze stayed steady now, unwavering. “Because I don’t know how to act around you if I’m not being an ass.”

“You don’t,” Louis said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Need to act, that is.”

Kaden swallowed hard at that, the flush on his cheeks a sharp contrast to his usual porcelain-pale complexion. “So,” hesaid, clearing his throat in an attempt to shake off the intensity of the moment, “where did you learn to cook like that?”

“My aunt taught me,” Louis said, taking a long sip of his wine.

“Is she a Michelin chef?” Kaden asked, one brow quirking up.

Louis chuckled. “She’s a bus driver. But cooking’s her hobby.” God, were they really trying to make small talk like normal human beings?

Kaden frowned, tilting his head slightly. “I think I actually knew that.”

Louis blinked, his brow furrowing. “What?”

“You told me that,” Kaden said, nodding. “Like ten years ago. When we played together in juniors.”

“Oh,” Louis said, biting his lip. “Right. We actually used to know each other.”

“Wedoknow each other,” Kaden replied, a little exasperated. “You haven’t changed that much. Except for, uh…the muscles. You’ve got more of them now.”

Louis couldn’t help it—he laughed, the sound breaking the tension and easing the tightness in his chest. It felt good, so good, to laugh like that. “You’re…different tonight,” he said, unable to hold back a smile.

“Shut up,” Kaden muttered, his own lips twitching into what could almost be called a smile as he took another sip of wine. “I’m really trying if you can’t tell.”

“Not to be an ass?” Louis teased, grinning.

Kaden snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, that.”

“I was planning to watchLove is Blind,” Louis said, not feeling even a hint of embarrassment at the admission. Hewas too ridiculously happy and lightheaded to care. It wasn’t the wine—it was the surreal feeling of this moment like he’d stumbled into some wild romantic Hallmark movie.

“I’ll watch it with you, then,” Kaden said innocently. “It’s on Netflix, right? I came here for that.”

“Yeah,” Louis said, the response automatic. It took him a beat to realize Kaden was actually flirting. He laughed, his heart thudding loudly in his ears, but he didn’t have time to respond—the timer on his phone went off, signaling the duck was ready.

“The duck,” Louis said sheepishly, his cheeks still flushed as he turned to the oven. He pulled out the perfectly golden bird, the rich aroma filling the kitchen, and busied himself with carving it. He could feel Kaden’s eyes on him, watching intently as he worked.

“Any allergies?” Louis asked over his shoulder, grabbing two plates from the cupboard.

“No,” Kaden replied, his voice sounding almost dazed.

Louis spooned cranberry sauce over the glazed duck, adding mashed potatoes and salad to each plate. The warm satisfaction of cooking something right mingled with the giddy awareness of Kaden standing just a few feet away. Louis nodded toward his wine glass, left on the counter. “Can you grab my glass? And the wine bottle?”

“Got it,” Kaden said.

With plates, glasses, and wine in hand, they headed into the living room.

The space glowed softly with Christmas lights, casting a cozy warmth as they settled the food on the coffee table. They sank onto the sofa, and Louis picked up the remote, pulling up Netflix while hyperaware of the small, unspoken distance between them.

“Netflix and chill, indeed,” Kaden said with a casual stretch, leaning back against the sofa.

Louis rolled his eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “You’re really smooth tonight, too.”

Kaden blushed—again, for what had to be the tenth time that evening. “Sorry,” he said with a laugh, his ears tinged pink again. “That’s the wine talking.”

Louis couldn’t help noticing how different Kaden was like this—relaxed, genuine, without any sharp edges or carefully crafted persona. They put onLove is Blindand started eating their food.

“This is amazing,” Kaden murmured through a mouthful of duck, a bit of cranberry sauce glistening on his lips. “It’s so good.”

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