The car ride to his parents' house had been quiet. His dad drove, his mom hummed softly to a tune on the radio, and Kane just stared out the window, head resting against the cool glass.
They dropped him off just after sunset.
"Come in and stay the night," his mom offered, reaching from the front seat to pat his knee.
"I will," he said, managing a tired smile.
He waved as they drove off again and let himself into the house. It smelled like and memories he hadn't thought about in years. The house was still exactly the same. Same creaky stairs. Same photos on the walls. Same chipped mug with his name in uneven marker letters still sitting in the kitchen cupboard.
He changed into an old T-shirt and sweatpants and made his way to the back porch, barefoot, carrying a can of soda. The stars were out—bright and uncaring.
Kane sank into the porch swing and finally let the smile fade.
He didn't know how to describe what he was feeling. It wasn't heartbreak—not exactly. But something in his chest had shifted during that BBQ.
He hadn't meant to feel possessive. He knew Lily wasn't his—they were roommates, and friends, and sure, maybe a part of him had always thought…
Maybe he didn't know what he thought. Just that seeing her laugh at Aaron's dumb jokes, watching the way Aaron looked at her like she was something rare—that had struck something deep. Something he hadn't been ready to admit.
And yet even as he stood at the grill, heart only a little heavier than he wanted it to be but then sammy had appeared.
"Want some help?" she'd asked with that small, playful smile.
He'd nearly brushed her off—but something about her voice had stopped him.
Then she'd laughed at his bacon-flipping skills. Rolled her eyes when he tried to show off. Bumped her shoulder into his. It was subtle, but it stayed with him, even now.
There had been something there. Something unexpected.
He took a sip of soda and stared up at the stars.
"Lily's with him now," he said to the night. "And she looks happy."
It hurt a little to admit. But it also... released something.
He exhaled and let his head rest back.
Maybe it was time to let go of what could've been.
And maybe it was time to start noticing who had been right there, just out of focus.
Like Sammy.