The car ride was silent. We'd driven for thirty minutes before stopping halfway and turning around, and Caleb was furious because of it. I parked the car but didn't remove my hands from the steering wheel. I wanted to see how long he'd ignore me. It was slightly entertaining.

"Caleb," I articulated after clearing my throat. He sat in the passenger seat, an exasperated pout on his face, and I tried my best not to burst into laughter. When Caleb was angry, it was hilarious. He was like a pouty little kid. It brought back memories of me driving us to school. "I told you I'm sorry. You can stop pouting now."

His jaw clenched, and he unclipped his seatbelt. "We drove halfway for nothing."

I snorted at his red face. "Be thankful it wasn't the full drive there." Without waiting for him to respond, I climbed out of the car and began making my way inside. If I remembered correctly, Eden was probably waiting for me with snacks and a movie. The thought of her made me speed up my steps.

A car door banged, and I turned to see Caleb trailing me. "How the fuck did you even get it mixed up?"

I rolled my eyes. "I thought we were supposed to pick up the nets today. It was an honest mistake."

"An honest mistake?" He ridiculed. "The message clearly stated that we're supposed to pick up the nets next week. You told me it's today." Luckily, during the drive, Caleb had needed to message Dad, and he used my phone because he forgot his back home. When he opened my messages, he found one that I exchanged with Miguel - the guy who was selling us the nets.

Thank Heavens that Caleb was curious enough to click on the message and found out that we were only supposed to pick up the nets next week. That's when I had to turn the car around and listen to Caleb silently fume.

"I must've read it wrong," I shrugged.

Caleb jeered, pacing in line with me. "Or maybe you've been too preoccupied with Eden," he snapped, anger evident on his features. I elected to keep my mouth shut because I wasn't in the mood for the same shit again. "I told Dad you wouldn't be able to do your job properly while you two are together and she's on the team. You're only proving me right."

Instead of acknowledging him, I shifted through the main doors. I paused, discerning that all the lights were off. Caleb ceased his complaining for a second as we stood in bewilderment. Abruptly, the lights went back on.

Kenzie scampered past with a large disco ball in her hands. "Kenzie!" I called, prompting her to stop. "Why were the lights off?"

"Oh," she blinked, spotting us for the first time. "The power went out for some reason, but don't worry, we've fixed it." She motioned to the disco ball by elevating it slightly higher. "Now, if you don't mind. I've got a party to get to."

We watched her disappear, moving surprisingly nimbly for someone carrying a humongous disco ball. Shaking my head, I resolved to head to the office to pick up my bags before I went to Eden.

"She's ruining everything!" Caleb recapitulated, sounding like a child. I had flashbacks of him throwing tantrums whenever Dad had to take me to the hospital. He was behaving the saw way he did when he was younger.

"Can you shut the fuck up?" I grumbled, moving up the stairs. "I've sorted things out with the complaints. You have nothing to worry about, so stop whining like a little bitch!"

"But it's not just that, isn't it?" he queried rhetorically, and I tensed my fists, trying my hardest not to shove him down the stairs. "She's clearly impeding your other duties as a coach!"

I had no idea what his fucking problem with Eden was, but it was getting old. Scorning him again, I took out my key and unlocked the office before marching inside while Caleb kept complaining. My teeth hurt from gritting them and I felt my anger bubbling over. So when Caleb opened his mouth once again to badmouth my girlfriend - I snapped.

"Why are you trying so hard to get rid of Eden?" I roared, having to clench my fists to refrain from marching across the office and asphyxiating my brother. "Why, Caleb?" I stressed, wanting to know the rationale behind his actions.

The first time he met Eden, he didn't seem to have a problem with her, but then suddenly he was trying his best to get her kicked off the team. I surmised he was worried about Dad, but I told him I had the drama with Ashley sorted. Even then, he still had a problem with Eden.

Caleb stood tranquil, gazing out of the window. His face was red with fury and he was gripping the ledge. Gradually, he turned to face me before stating, "because I know that if Eden leaves, you'll leave too."

It was like a literal slap to the face, hearing that my own brother didn't want me around. Yes, I'd hurt them in the past by leaving, but it was because I felt like a burden to them. I was inarticulate, gawking at Caleb like a fool. Ultimately, I succeeded to choke out, "what? You want me to leave?"

He gnawed his lip in frustration. One thing we had in common (besides our looks) was that neither of us was skilled at talking about feelings. We compared it to paint because it was messy and we didn't know how to control it. "That came out wrong-"

"No!" I shook my head, becoming even more hostile. "That came out right. So you really don't want me here, huh?" My eyes stung, and I blinked hastily. In my mind, I saw the arguments Caleb and I constantly had when we were younger. Once we hit our teen years, it became silent between us. It was as if we were merely tolerating one another.

Caleb gnarled, still grappling to plan his words. "It's not that. It's just - fuck." He slammed a fist on his desk and I heard a crack. His hand was undoubtedly going to bruise, but I couldn't find it in me to worry. "Ever since you've been back, you've had all of Dad's attention."

"Holy fuck," I laughed, hoping to agitate him. "You mean all of this, is you being petty? Are you jealous, Caleb?" I taunted him, watching the vein in his forehead pulse.

"Shut the fuck up!" He snapped, hauling at the edges of his hair. "You have no idea what it's like being your brother." I rolled my eyes, and it seemed to worsen his temper since I wasn't taking him seriously. "You. Left. Us." He punctuated each word. "Yet when you walk back into our lives, everything's well and dandy. Dad welcomed you back with open arms even though you hurt him, even though I was the one who was there for him after you left!"

I began pacing, listening to Caleb rant. It sounded like years of pent-up resentment that he was releasing on me. "That sounds like a You-and-Dad problem," I informed him, crossing my arms. I didn't have time for his childish antics.

Caleb recommenced as if I had said nothing in the first place. "Everything you did was always for attention - Dad's attention. You just didn't want Charlie and I to have any of it, did you?" He ridiculed, sending an unkind smirk my way, which set my teeth on edge. "He'd stay by your side for weeks because you wanted attention-"

"Oh, so me suffering from illness after illness since birth and using a fucking ventilator to breathe was just for fucking attention, right?" The inquiry was rhetorical, irritation trickling from every word. Caleb went mute at that, and I let out an emotionless laugh. "I can't believe you right now," I jeered, getting ready to leave the office, but his next words obstructed me.

"I wish you never got sick," he grumbled, his voice sounding distressed. "I prayed every single night that you got better. I wish you were as healthy as Charlie and me. You didn't deserve to have the childhood that you did but you have to understand that it wasn't easy for me either, Chris," he advanced, glacial eyes welling up with tears and I felt my heart clench because Caleb never cried. And his words were just reminding me of the guilt that I carried all these years.

I sighed, realising why he brought up Eden. He needed me to provoke his anger so that he could finally let it all out. "Caleb-"

"I know you were sick," he elevated a hand to prevent me from speaking. "But as a child, at that age, it hurts having your dad pay zero attention to you. I began trying extra hard to make him proud just so that he'd notice me. All I wanted was for him to be proud of me, but he was so focused on you-"

"He was proud of you, damn it!" I interrupted his sob story. "He's always been proud of you, Caleb! Who fucking wouldn't be?" It was another rhetorical question, and Caleb looked away. "You were always the top of the class, the best at every sport. Teachers loved you, students loved you, and you always attracted people so easily. Everyone wanted to be you. Fuck - I wanted to be you, Caleb!"

There was an unfamiliar stinging sensation behind my eyes and with a heavy heart, I apprehended I was crying. There were tears trailing down my feverish face, and I rubbed at them in humiliation. I never cried. But at that moment, it was like I couldn't stop. My chest throbbed as if I could barely get air to my lungs.

As I'd told Eden before, I always kept my emotions buried, locked up. But suddenly I didn't want to anymore. I allowed my tears to flow freely. They couldn't wash away my history or my pain, but perhaps they could help steer me to a better future, one where I wasn't an emotionless monster, a future where my pain was merely a distant memory.

I took in a deep breath and spoke, although it was painful. "You don't think I knew he was neglecting you? You don't think I felt like absolute shit because of it? He missed your games and Charlie's recitals because of me. I hated it. But I couldn't help it either, Caleb."

He sighed, glancing away. "You weren't the only one that suffered."

I scoffed. "No, I wasn't. I know Charlie and you had a hard time growing up because of me. I already felt bad about it, about how much money Dad spent on hospital bills, but it was you who made me feel like a burden."

His eyes widened, a snarl gracing his features. "Me?"

"Yes, you. Charlie stuck by my side until things got better, but suddenly you and I were on opposite sides." It stung me to think about how Caleb began distancing himself from me as if we were competitors. "You did everything you could to be better than me at everything - don't even try to deny it," I hindered him from interrupting me. "You made sure to have a better report card, more friends, more skills. You already won, Caleb!" I yelled. "You've always been and always will be the perfect son. Do you want a fucking medal for it?"

"But-"

"Why do you think I left?" This time my words were whispered. I had no more strength left to keep screaming, to keep being bitter. After all these years, I was just exhausted by it. "Do you think I enjoy being compared to the town's golden boy? I couldn't even play my favourite sport without being compared to you. So I left."

Caleb leaned back against his desk, arms crossed and eyes filled with sorrow. He ran a hand across his tired face. Tired. We were both tired. "If I said sorry now, it would be like trying to cover a bullet wound with a band-aid," he whispered, voice trembling. "But I'm sorry that you felt like a burden. I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn't realise you were hurting too. I've harboured this unnecessary anger for years." He took in another deep breath. "I don't want you to leave, Chris."

We both felt stupid, I could tell. There were tear tracks on our faces and we felt guilty for something we should never have carried guilt over in the first place. This was something that we needed to get off of our chests. After that, I felt much better, like I could breathe again. "I'm sorry too. I should've spoken to you about how I felt instead of running away like a coward."

"And I shouldn't have been angry at you for something you couldn't control," he added, sighing to himself. "I acted like there was this river between us, one that I could never cross. Instead of letting you distance yourself, Chris, I should've been the one to build the bridge and cross that river. You're my little brother-"

I scoffed jokingly. "By a few minutes." Caleb grinned, relief in his icy eyes. "So can we consider that river crossed?" He nodded. I wiped my face, sniffling and finding myself annoyed with my tears. "Now, can we never speak about this again?"

He let out a laugh and then sniffled. "Please. God forbid people find out the James brothers have any feelings. And don't worry, I'll apologise to Eden for being an absolute dick. She didn't deserve my anger." Caleb glanced at me, seeing my sudden smile. He raised a brow. "What's with that look?"

And suddenly, because I allowed myself to cry, I couldn't put a stopper on my feelings. It all just came flowing out. I barely had time to gather my thoughts before I told Caleb, "I love her." His eyes widened and so did mine. There was a calmness that followed because I felt relieved to finally say it out loud. I repeated, shaking my head. "I'm in love with Eden."

"Are there cameras?" Caleb looked around jokingly as he wiped away the remnants of his tears. "Am I part of some prank?" I laughed, unable to keep the wide smile from my face. "I'm happy for you, man. I really am." His phone began ringing, and he frowned suddenly. "I have to take this. We'll talk later, right?"

He sounded hopeful, and I knew we had years of feelings to talk through. Some of those discussions would need input from both Dad and Charlie. It wasn't a pleasant thought, but I was glad we were finally sorting things out. I nodded, and he stepped closer to give me an awkward hug. And then he left.

Just as I sat down in my office chair, the doors to the large metal cabinet in the room's corner shot open as if a bomb went off. There was a loud clatter and then suddenly, Eden was clambering out of the cabinet. Her face was wet with tears and her hair was a mess. She had to unfold herself like a pretzel to climb out.

What the fuck was she doing in the cabinet? "Eden-"

"Do you know how difficult it is to silent cry?" she sobbed, hazel eyes teary. Her words were barely perceptible through her hiccups. She had a stack of papers in her hands, which she set on Caleb's desk before walking over to me. "That moment with your brother was beautiful. It was like reading a Nicholas Sparks book," another sob left her pink lips and she shook her head, features scrunched in distress.

My heart was beating so fast because she literally appeared out of nowhere. "Eden, why were-"

"Shut up!" she threw herself onto my lap when I tried to stand up and wrapped her arms around my neck, sobbing into my chest. Her grip was so tight that I could barely breathe. It was as if she was afraid I was going to disappear. "I don't need a bloody poem or anything, you absolute wanker!" I held her at a slight distance so that I could look into her eyes.

Abruptly, I realised she heard everything. Everything. "Baby, I-"

"You're such a nincompoop, do you know that?" She cut me off again, and I wondered if she was going to give me a chance to finish my sentences. "Everything you do just has to be so elegant and your words always have to be so poetic. Are you stupid? I don't bloody need that!" she trailed off and then wiped her face, nodding her head as if she came to a conclusion. "Of course, that's one of the reason I love you - because you're so bloody stupid-"

"Slow down," I laughed, placing my hands on her shoulders. Her words caused happiness to caress my skin as if I was standing outside underneath the warmth of the sun. She was speaking so fast that I struggled to hear her properly. "Did you just say that you love me?"

Eden froze, blinking at me in confusion. "Didn't I tell you?" I shook my head, biting my lips to prevent myself from bursting into laughter. Eden tapped her chin, pondering out loud. "I could've sworn I told you. Are you sure I didn't?" she asked, and I shook my head again, smiling widely. "Well, I've been in love with you for ages. Um, not ages, per se. It's only been like, what, two months here in California?"

I ran a finger down the side of her face as she continued to prattle. "Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?"

She raised her gaze to meet mine as she urged, "well, why don't you shut me up?" My brows nearly vanished into my hairline at her words, and she appeared to discern what she said because she blushed crimson. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant to shut me up by telling me to bloody shut up-"

She was unable to continue her sentence because I placed my lips on hers. Every part of her practically dissolved into me as she melted into the kiss. Her vanilla fragrance filled my nostrils whilst her peppermint taste filled my mouth, and it intoxicated me. Even though she was on my lap, her arms around my neck and mine around her waist, her lips on mine - I wanted her closer.

"I love you," I whispered between each kiss I placed against her neck. Eden laughed, my breath tickling her. Our murmurs were so hastened, but it was just us. There was no better way to describe it. Neither of us needed a huge declaration. "My girl. I love you so much."

"Trust me, I reciprocate the feeling," she murmured, and it felt as if my heart was physically going to jump out of my chest and into Eden's hands. Because she had it, my heart belonged to her.

Hugging her tighter, I said, "I don't know why you were in the cabinet, but I'm so glad you're the tiny weirdo that you are otherwise-"

"Wait!" Eden abruptly jumped off from my lap and I groaned, reaching out for her. She swatted my hands away, looking like a woman on a mission. "There's a reason I was hiding there in the cabinet," she stated as she wandered over to Caleb's desk and picked up the stack of papers she had before. "Guess what-"

The door to the office shot open and in came running Ashley. Behind her were both Dad and Caleb. Dad looked startled to see Eden, whereas Caleb looked annoyed. My brows furrowed, and I sat up straighter. Ashley tucked a wild strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she aimed an accusing finger at my girlfriend. "I told you, Coach!"

"Miss Orlov," Dad articulated in a scolding tone and I stood up, not liking the way he spoke to Eden. "What are you doing in here?"

I intervened. "She's here with me. Did you forget that she's my girlfriend?"

Ashley shifted to stare at Caleb, who stood with a sombre expression. "Did you see her enter the office?" she challenged him heatedly. "No, right? That's because she was already in here. She broke in!" Ashley then noticed the wide cabinet. "I bet you she was hiding in there."

Glimpsing to Eden, I expected her to say something. It was odd for her to be lurking in a secured office, and I had no idea why she needed to do that. "I'll ask again," Dad discoursed. "What were you doing in here, Miss Orlov?"

Ashley stomped over to Eden and seized the stack of papers she was holding. "She was stealing this. It's our game plans and strategies. Eden's been giving it to our rival team-"

"That's lies!" Eden finally spoke up. "I followed you in here and you know it! When I caught you, you shoved me into the wall and then locked the office, trapping me in here." Eden then looked to Caleb. "Your key is missing, isn't it?" She didn't wait for him to reply before articulating again. "That's because Harper stole it from your bag whilst Ashley was distracting you earlier."

Caleb blenched at her words, and I was about to defend Eden when Dad lifted his hand. "You two," he pointed at Eden and Ashley. "My office. Now."