Chapter 91

Chapter 91
Kaelen's POV

I step back into the dorm with the bag of breakfast still warm in my hands. Jordan is sitting on the bed, scrolling through his phone. I walk straight to him, focusing on nothing else but him, and pull him into a long hug.

He hugs me back, but after a few seconds he pulls away slightly, searching my face. "Hey... you okay? That hug felt like it had extra weight."

I smile softly and kiss him. He laughs quietly against my lips. "What was that for?" he asks, still chuckling.

"Thank you," I say.

He looks confused, both eyebrows raised. "What for?"

"For being there for Elise when I couldn't be."

A shadow falls across his face, a hint of guilt in his eyes. He probably feels bad for not telling me but that's not what I intended. So I put the breakfast down and take his hand into mine.

"You didn't have to... especially considering that whole situation was because I cheated on you--"

Jordan cuts me off gently, hand cupping my cheek. "We are past that, Kae."

"Still," I insist. "Thank you. You are an amazing boyfriend... and best friend."

Jordan grins, cocky and warm at the same time. "I know. But that's what you do for family." He glances at the bag and inhales dramatically. "Now can we eat? I'm starving and the smell of those sausages is distracting me."

I laugh. "Yeah. Let's eat."

He reaches for the food but pauses, noticing the flyer I set down next to the coffees.

"What's this?" he asks, picking it up.

I scratch the back of my head, suddenly nervous. "I saw an opportunity to make some money on the way back. Thought maybe I could start now."

"Kaelen, this is amazing! You are totally made for this." His face lights up. "Modeling? You'd kill it."

I don't share his excitement right away. My stomach twists instead. This would be the first real job I have ever had and no family name opening doors. Just me. Even with Jordan's support, I feel nervous and worried about how it's going to turn out.
He notices my hesitation and asks, "What's wrong? I thought you wanted it."

Instead of telling him what exactly is bothering me, I say something else entirely. "They want me in briefs only for some of the shots."

Jordan stills, looking at the paper, then back at me. I see him swallow. For a second his expression is unreadable. I think he doesn't approve.

"I don't have to do it," I say quickly. "I won't do it if you are uncomfortable. I can always look for another gig."

Jordan's lips slowly curve into a grin. He sets the flyer down and moves closer, grabbing me possessively by the waist. His eyes lock onto mine, dark and intense.

"You go do what you gotta do, babe," he says, his voice low. "They can look but they can't have you. Remember who you belong to after all."

The words hit me hard, heat floods through my veins. I lean in to kiss him, but he pulls back with a smirk, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Breakfast first," he says, smiling like he is enjoying teasing me.

I groan. "You are evil."

He just laughs and pulls away anyway. I end up taking a very cold shower before we start eating.
We are just wrapping up breakfast when a loud knock sounds on the door. Jordan and I exchange a look right before the door swings open.

"Decent or not, here I come!" Lucas announces, covering his eyes dramatically with one hand as he steps inside.

He is dressed casually--- dark jeans, a band tee, and a backwards cap, looking ready for trouble.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, laughing. This guy gets anywhere he wants like rules don't exist. Always did. I'm not even surprised anymore.

He drops his hand and grins. "I figured I'd steal you two for a few hours of fun before I head back to my family. I'm not staying long. No way I'm missing the twins' birth." He flops into the empty bed--- my bed. "But I thought we could go hit up the go-kart track just outside campus. My treat."

"Go-karts, seriously?"

"Do you have anything better to do?"

The answer to that forms in my head so fast I'm afraid it's written on my face. It is.The moment I look at Jordan automatically, Lucas groans.

"Bro, some filters please!"

I laugh it off and throw the remaining sausage at him. "Get ready to eat dust."

"You are so on!"

The drive out is easy and fun, windows down, music blasting. When we get to the track, Lucas rents two karts and we gear up with helmets.

Jordan goes first with me. Since he has never done this before, he takes a few seconds to get the hang of the kart, but it doesn't take long before he is surprisingly competitive, laughing the whole time as we race side by side. Every time I pull ahead, he pushes harder to catch up, and when he manages to overtake me, he looks so damn pleased with himself that I can't even be annoyed.

Lucas teases us mercilessly from the sidelines before jumping in for his turn. He deliberately bumps my kart once around a bend and shouts, "Out of the way grandpa!"

"Cheater!" I yell over the engine noise.

Jordan is doubled over laughing, phone out recording us like a proud parent who somehow ended up with two overgrown kids.

In one of the later races, I finally overtake Lucas on the final lap and cross the finish line first. I rip off my helmet, grinning like an idiot. "Who is the grandpa now?"

Lucas laughs and shoves my shoulder. "Lucky shot. Rematch!"

"Anytime."

We race a few more times, trash talking and acting like idiots until we are laughing too hard to care who wins anymore. Afterwards, we play some basketball hoops. For a few hours, I don't think about my father, money, or the future at all. I'm just... here with my brother and my boyfriend, happy beyond explanation.

It is close to one in the afternoon when we finally collapse on a bench near the arcade. Jordan leaves to get us cold drinks. Lucas wipes sweat from his forehead and looks at me more seriously. I knew he didn't come over for just fun.

"You are worried," I point it out.

"I wouldn't be a responsible big brother if I wasn't," he says. "All these years I have been away, I didn't have to because I knew you would always have mum and dad."

"I believed that too," I say quietly. "But everyone chooses their own path at some point in life, one way or another."

"You really sure about this path, Kae?" he asks carefully. "It's not going to be easy. It never was for me. It still isn't." He pauses, letting the words sink in. "I hope you are ready for whatever comes next, because our old man doesn't let go easily."

I nod, still catching my breath. "I know. But I made my decision. If they won't change their minds, I'm not begging them."

Lucas claps me on the shoulder proudly. "Good. I'll be here whenever you need anything. Family looks different now, but we've still got each other. And for what it's worth, you do look really happy."

"I am," I say, my eyes tracing Jordan as he walks over.