The only other relationship I was in started while I was in high school. It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this in a new relationship.

I open the door to find Theo standing there, his warm eyes locking on to mine. My breath catches, just for a second. Does he feel it too? The way his lips curve into a smile, slow and easy, makes my chest flutter. Almost like he’s also reliving our kiss last night.

“Hey,” he says, his voice low and casual, but there’s a knowing look in his gaze.

“Hey, yourself,” I reply, stepping to the side to let him in, suddenly hyper-aware of how close we are in the doorway.

He lifts a small bag he brought with him, “I thought I would help contribute to the snacks. Don’t judge me but I’m not willing to share the cookies we made last night so I brought some from the cafe.”

Laughing softly, I shake my head, “You’re off the hook… This time.”

His grin is quick and easy, making my heart do a stupid little flip. For a moment, the tension of the upcoming meeting fades, replaced by the warmth of our easy banter. He drops a few things in the living room for later, and I steal a glance at him, still reeling from the fact that this is real—whatever this is between us.

Morgan arrives shortly later while we’re all at the kitchen table. Orion goes to answer the door, we hear her say “So, the friend of a friend is Selene’s big brother?”

Celeste and I yell at the same time, “Little brother!” As we exchange annoyed looks.

It’s the curse of the oldest sibling to be the smallest, but it is still annoying because Orion started to outgrow me in the fourth grade.

They walk into the room together, the air is heavy between them, charged with an unspoken tension. I glance at Theo who raises an eyebrow but doesn’t voice his thoughts. Celeste and I share a look that lets the other know we are on the same wavelength and we will be bringing this up after everyone leaves tonight.

Then I notice Morgan brought someone with her.

My stomach tightens. The easy banter in the room fizzles out like a candle snuffed by the wind. Theo doesn’t look surprised—if anything, there’s a quiet resignation in the way he greets the interloper.

“Cousin.”

Wait. What?

My mind stutters over the title as I stare at him, my thoughts trying to make sense of this sudden shift in reality.

“Bennett is your cousin?” My voice comes out slower now like my brain needs extra time to process. The travel blogger? The guy I met at the cafe?

His dark eyes flicker toward mine, with a hint of sheepishness.