I observe how peaceful he looks when he sleeps. There's something about Blake's face that makes him look so undeniably handsome. I've been with a couple of guys before, but nothing tops these gorgeous features.

"You're staring." He whispers, almost making me jump because I thought he was sleeping.

"Observing." I scowl at him as he opens his eyes to meet mine.

A smile takes over his features, his dimples coming to sight and I swear it makes my stomach flutter. I reach my hand out trace his lips and he bites the pad of my finger.

It's strange how comfortable I feel waking up next to him for the first time. But then, it could be because I freaked out and ran away yesterday. I have taken my time to make my peace with it.

"Sleep well?" I ask, retracting my finger.

"The best." He grins, his hand coming around my waist as he pulls me closer. "Did you?"

I nod, because surprisingly, I did. I had already informed Ohana that I would be staying out and not to tell our parents. She immediately agreed because the girl hardly ever gets a room to herself. I know it's only a matter of time before the last guest room in our house is turned into her or Odion's room. They must be sick of the twin beds by now.

"I'm going to have to sneak out from your friends." I groan, but my misery only amuses him. "It's not funny."

"Kinda is." He shrugs as I sit up. "You know Nick's going to find out sooner or later, right?"

"Later is fine with me." I tie my hair up in a bun and his eyes move down to the t-shirt I'm wearing. I clear my throat, catching his attention which only earns me a grin in return. I shake my head at him. "I might, might go back with you guys. I can't stand my Mom right now."

"You'll have to talk to her at some point." He reminds me as I get out of the bed. "Don't pout, I'm just saying."

"I know. But I don't want to think about it right now." I wave it off. The last thing I want is to have heart to heart after waking up. "Are you going to surf with everyone today?"

He nods as I start picking up my clothes from the floor. "You won't be coming?"

"I'm going to hang with Brian and Steve before they leave."

He nods and I remove his t-shirt that I'm wearing before changing into my clothes from last night. He stays in bed as he stares at me get myself together. Normally, I would've found it unnerving but nothing about this situation with Blake is normal. I'm really getting used to it quickly.

I never thought there would be a day Blake and I would be friends with benefits, but that's what happens when you mix pleasure with comfort and warmth. I pick up his t-shirt and throw it at him, making him scowl at me.

"What?"

"I'm not ninja, babe. You're going to have to help me sneak out."

He rolls his eyes before getting up in just his boxers and putting on his t-shirt. "Do you have a cover up story if you get caught?"

"Yes, that we were talking and didn't realise when we dozed off." I narrow my eyes at his hair. "Come here, you have crazy case of sex hair."

"No one, literally none of my friends would buy that." He laughs as I run a hand through his hair. I pull him towards myself and kiss him, giving my mind a reminder as to why this is worth going against every rule I have.

"Think of a reason then, and it better be good." I move to open the door and look back at him. "See if it's clear."

He peeks out before turning to me. "It's awfully quiet. I think everyone's sleeping."

"Oh, great. Let's go." I take his hand and he goes down the stairs first before gesturing for me to hurry. I turn to him and stand on my toes to kiss his cheeks. "I'll see you later, bye."

I rush out as fast as possible, dreading running into someone. I only stop once I'm near the beach house. Olivia and Sam are hanging on the porch when they see me.

"Seriously, again?" Sam looks at me. "I'll officially have to make my peace with it."

"Nothing happened."

"Okay." Olivia crosses her arms across her chest, looking amused. "Where were you?"

"We were talking and didn't realise when we dozed off."

Both of them laugh at me as Sam speaks up. "Seriously, you couldn't come up with anything better than that?"

"Whatever, believe what you want. It's not like you're going to trust what I say." I mockingly smile at them before stepping in the house.

"We will if you tell us the truth." Olivia calls after me.

I ignore her but then I run into Ella and she gives me a look. "Again?"

"Oh my god. A girl can't live her life." I throw my hands in the air.

"Please tell me it's none of Blake's friends." She shudders, her words making me scowl.

How do I tell her it's not his friends. but it's her son himself? It makes me wonder if all this is really worth it. There is so much at stake. I know for one that our families would freak the hell out if they got to know we're involved in anyway, which is worse than if things were serious between us. Maybe they could've excused it then but it's just sex.

Plus, I'm breaking a major rule when I'm with Blake. I had a rule of never getting involved with anyone who's three years younger to me at this age at least, but it's just one more year, right? It doesn't matter.

"El, no!" I assure her. Technically, I'm not lying. It's not Blake's friend. It's Blake.

"Okay, good." She sighs. "We need to talk about your mother."

"No." I shake my head as I start to head for the stairs. "I know she's your best friend, you can't see her sad but this isn't happening."

"She's worried about you." She calls after me. I scoff at her, shaking my head.

"Guess what got her here in the first place. She needs to let loose."

"Are you hearing yourself?" She turns to me calmly. "Em, she's your mother. She's always going to worry."

"And I'm her daughter. I love her to death, El but she has to stop treating me like I was born yesterday."

Before she can respond to me, I turn to go upstairs but then I run into Caiden who's scowling at me. "I thought it was just Mom and Dad who were fighting."

"Caiden." I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I can't do this right now."

I don't wait for his reply as I rush up to the bedroom. Ohana is still sleeping so I try to remain as quiet as I can as I start packing my bags to leave in the evening after pulling out a white beach dress for the day.

My head swarms with multiple thoughts during shower. Ella, much like Dad, has always been my mother's advocate. Connor and her are the only ones apart from my parents who really know the details of everything from the very beginning, but over the years almost all the adults know bits and pieces.

"Em!" I hear Ohana's voice and knocking on the door. "Are you going to take long?"

"Five mins!" I yell back.

As soon as I step out, she rushes in the bathroom. I roll my eyes as I start getting ready. It's a shame that I haven't even been in the pool my entire stay here. Maybe I can convince Brian and Steve to stay in.

When I step in the living room, for once, I plop down on the couch before Connor comes to sit by my side.

"You guys have to stop ganging up on me," I tell him.

"I didn't even say a word." He gapes at me like he's offended but he's just good at lying. "I told her to give you space, if that's any condolence."

"Thanks, Con." I smile at him. "At what time are we leaving?"

"Around five."

"I might drive back with the friends." I mumble.

"You'll have to talk to her at some point."

"That's funny, that's exactly what Blake said." I blurt out, not realising it until it's out there and I mentally start cursing myself.

"I said what?"

Brilliant. He's standing behind us, hovering over the couch. He looks between his father and me, waiting for one of us to respond.

"How does Blake know anything about this?" Connor frowns, looking confused.

"He was with me when we walked in on them fighting. He heard." I try to loop both of them in.

"Wait, you knew?" Blake scowls at his father.

"Knew what?" Caiden enters the space, looking at the three of us.

"That you can't surf to save your life."

"Hey, I stood straight for two minutes yesterday!" He points a finger at me before looking at Blake. "Tell her."

"He did." Blake forces a smile on his face, still frowning a little before Caiden and him start a conversation about surfing.

"He just knows A's my step-father. Nothing else, okay?" I whisper to Connor and he nods at me, patting my head.

Odion and Ohana enter the living room as well, both taking the couch across us before Ohana looks at Caiden and I as she speaks up. "Mom and Dad made up."

"What?" Caiden frowns at her. "How do you know that?"

"Because I saw them sucking each other's faces off and I want to burn my eyes now." She scrunches up her nose, making Connor laugh.

Just when she says that, both of them step down the stairs. Dad has an arm around her as they enter the living room. Her eyes meet mine but I quickly look away, avoiding her gaze. She looks much better than she did yesterday, and I'm relieved about that. Just because I'm mad at her doesn't mean I don't want her to be fine.

"You've scarred Ohana for life." Connor teases them, making Mom roll her eyes as Dad just shrugs at us.

Ella, Brian and Steve are the last ones to join us which makes me frown as Blake comes to sit by my side on the couch.

"Where are Liv and Sam?" I ask him quietly so only he can hear me.

"Back at the other house. Myra's making martinis." He shrugs and I nod.

Ella turns to him. "Why didn't your friends come?"

"They're getting drunk." He explains.

"And why are you here?" Brian frowns at him.

"Can't I just hang out with you guys?" He scowls at them but when everyone stares at him, he fusses up. "I'm driving everyone back."

"Ah, there it is." Ella smiles at him, looking offended but Blake just rolls his eyes at her.

"Brian and I are on breakfast duty." Steve claps his hand. "What does everyone want to eat?"

"If you're taking orders then pancakes for me." Blake raises his hand.

"Me too." I chirp up. "Chocolate chip ones, or strawberry."

"Yes, blueberry ones!" Ohana excitedly contributes.

"M-me too!" Odion smiles at them.

"Caiden?" Brian looks at him.

"Bacon for the master, please." He smirks, earning a smack on the head from me because he's sitting on the floor in front of me.

"Okay. Got it." Steve nods to himself. "Y'all old bunch can eat whatever your kids are eating."

Blake and I snicker at that before Connor stands up from my side to go help in the kitchen. Caiden moves to sit between Ohana and Odion so I turn to Blake.

"I thought you were here for me, not because you don't want to get drunk." I tease him, smiling a little.

"Do you want me to shout it in front of everyone?" He raises his eyebrows.

"You wouldn't." I narrow my eyes at him. "It's not just me who wants to keep this a secret."

"Don't challenge me." He grins at me, turning to Ella. "Hey, Mom. You know—"

I jam my elbow in his stomach, interrupting him. I can't believe he would even joke about this. When I turn to him, his grin is just wider, making me grunt at him in return. God, he's so annoying.

"What?" Ella frowns at him.

"You know that Emma's riding back with us, right?"

"She is?" Dad frowns at him, my glare at Blake only hardening.

"I thought you told them." He whispers to me, and I shake my head, standing up to move away from him.

I would've sprung it up on them last moment so that I can avoid having the conversation that I know I'm about to have with Dad.

"Emily?" Dad calls my name and I grumble a little as I walk towards the kitchen. "This is too much, don't you think?"

I shake my head. "No, I don't think so."

Just then, my mother appears behind him, our eyes contacting before she looks at him. "I got it. Go sit with the kids."

He looks between the two of us before sighing and walking back to sit out on the couch. She continues to stare at me before pointing towards the backyard door.

"Out, now."

"No." I protest, shaking my head. "I need time."

"You got a day, Emily. That's it, we're talking even if you don't want to talk back, don't. Just hear me out."

"So you have to control everything including this?" I snap.

She looks taken aback by my words but then her face transforms to a little anger. "You want me to stop treating you like a kid, right? Stop acting like one. Backyard, now!"

When she passes by my side, I realise that we've grasped almost everyone's attention to ourselves. Blake looks at me worriedly but I just scoff before turning around to follow her out. This could've been avoided if he had just for once stopped messing around.

She's sitting with her feet in the pool and turns to me when I make my presence known. She pats to the space next to her. "Sit."

I don't want to. I want to storm off but then I remind myself she's right. I have to stop acting like a kid. I can't stomp my foot on the ground and run away crying anymore when things don't happen my way.

Stepping out of my flip flops, I put my legs in the pool and she turns to face me.

"You know who taught you to swim?" She asks, smiling at the memory and I nod, gulping at her question.

"Aaron did."

"Dad. He's your Dad." She corrects me. "You haven't called him Aaron since the day he adopted you."

I scoff, looking in the water. "It was my choice to call him that, because he's the only father I've known. And you let me make that choice when I was six, Mom. Six. I'm twenty four and you hide things from me like I'll break."

"Because things were better back then." She sighs. "It was easier, Emily. It wasn't like this, I could distract you from your problems by gifting you a blue dress. I can't do that anymore."

I don't want to understand her, I want to hold onto the anger but despite it, I nod at her. "I know. But it hurts me to know that you still don't believe I'm his daughter, after everything."

"You are, honey." She sniffs a little. "I really didn't mean it, I swear. I'm so sorry. Of course, you're his daughter. All of you are more like him than me, including myself. He's the rock of our family."

Her words make the tears sting in my eyes. She's right, there are so many things I've learned from Dad and tried to strike the same balance in my life. I've tried so hard to embrace everything that life has thrown my way, but that's something I learnt from her, not him. I know life hasn't been easy on her either, but for me, she's been the rock in my life. That's why the hurt is deeper when she disappoints me, but it's only a reminder that she's human and capable of making mistakes even though she keeps it together for all of us. Both of them do.

"I just don't expect certain things from you, Mom. Like to hide things from me, or say stuff like that," I tell her honestly, my anger subsiding a little.

"I only hid it because I knew you would be upset. I would've told you eventually, both of you. I was just figuring out the way to bring it up." She wraps one arm around me as she rubs her palm on my shoulder.

"You would've told me?" I look at her with surprise.

"Of course, Em. When have I ever hidden anything from either of you in the past? It's only a matter of time till I convey it."

"Then why was he so mad, or why were you?"

"He came across the number, he's pretty familiar with it. Naturally, he freaked out on me and I got defensive."

"That makes so much sense." I mutter under my breath.

"I'm really sorry, kid. I mean it." She kisses the side of my head. "You can take your time, I just wanted you to listen to me."

"Thanks, Mom." I offer her a small smile. "I'm going to ride back with my friends, is that okay?"

"Yes, of course." She smiles at me, patting my cheek before she gets up. "You can talk to me Em, you know that. About anything."

"I know." I nod at her and she offers me one last smile before going back inside.

After a while, I feel someone behind me and Blake comes to sit by my side. It's kind of annoying how I know about his presence without even looking at him.

"You're mad." He whispers, his feet brushing with mine underwater.

"Try annoyed." I glare at him. "Why would you say that?"

"I genuinely thought you told them." He looks at me apologetically.

I just shake my head at him but then he picks up a plate from his side and brings it front of me. It looks very similar to the pancake ice cream breakfast he had yesterday.

"What's this?" I frown at him.

"Peace offering." He shrugs.

"Ice cream for breakfast, seriously?" I arch an eyebrow and he rolls his eyes before putting it by his side and cutting through it.

He brings up a bite with chocolate and ice-cream almost dripping from it. "C'mon, quick! Open your mouth."

I immediately do as he says and he feeds me. Fuck. It tastes so freaking good. The chocolate and ice cream melts in my mouth and I almost let out a moan savouring the taste.

"Now, there's my favourite sound." I swat at his shoulder with wide eyes, making him laugh.

"So fucking annoying." I mutter, which only makes his grin turn wider.