The doorbell rang twice before it finally swung open. Logan stood at the doorway, casual yet effortlessly sharp in a white T-shirt that looked like it belonged in a magazine. His eyes darted instantly to Maya.
"You're here," he said, a hint of surprise laced in his voice.
Tessa lifted the small tin in her hand and smiled. "We brought cookies."
Logan stepped aside, his expression unreadable. "Come in."
They walked into the house -- an open, well-lit space that smelled faintly of cedar and something freshly baked. The dining table was already set, and Cole stood by it, arranging the final cutlery with a precision that somehow made him look even more charming.
"You're quite on time," he said, glancing up with a half-smile. "You must be a very punctual person."
Tessa mumbled under her breath, "Yeah, punctually late."
Maya elbowed her sharply, whispering, "Shut up."
Tessa hissed, "Ow!" but still handed over the cookie tin with a grin. "Here. Cookies."
Cole raised a brow, amused. "You made them?"
"Yes," Tessa said proudly.
Maya smirked. "By 'yes,' she means she helped taste them."
Cole chuckled softly, his eyes flicking briefly to Maya's before he gestured toward the table. "Have a seat. Lunch is ready."
Tessa and Maya sat, whispering to each other in hushed tones while Logan and Cole lingered in the kitchen, plating dishes.
From their corner, the two girls' laughter blended with the faint clinking of cutlery. But in the kitchen, another kind of conversation brewed -- lower, heavier, and edged with tension.
Cole leaned an elbow against the counter, watching Logan sneak another glance at Maya. "Dude," he murmured, "your eyes are gonna fall out if you keep looking at her like that."
Logan snapped his gaze back to him. "What?"
Cole smirked. "You know, I've seen you with plenty of girls....way prettier ones, no offense to your ex. She's gorgeous, yeah, but… why her?"
Logan let out a short, humorless laugh. "You haven't seen me with any girl."
Cole scoffed. "Mm, sure. I see your posts on Instagram."
"So you've been stalking me," Logan teased dryly.
Cole clicked his tongue. "I'd rather stalk squirrels."
"Not surprising," Logan muttered, pouring sauce onto a dish. "You kind of look like one."
Cole straightened, pretending to take offense. "Hey, don't start with me, man. I'm serious....why her? From the look of it, she's already over you. You're the only one still holding on."
Logan smirked faintly but didn't look up. "Are you trying to make me give up so you can make your move?"
Cole froze mid-motion. "Yes...no! I mean, that's not the point."
Logan finally looked at him, eyes cold but not angry. "I still love her. As long as I've got even a chance, I'm not giving up. So quit that wishful thinking."
Cole clicked his tongue. "It's not wishful thinking when your hot cousin wants to date your ex who's clearly done with you."
Logan narrowed his eyes. "Just because she's over me doesn't mean she's into you."
Cole grinned cockily. "Every girl's into me."
"Mm." Logan gave him a sideways glance. "Not this one."
Cole's grin widened. "Better. I love a good challenge. Besides, I've got Damien to watch my back."
Logan froze. "What do you mean, Damien?"
Cole said it like it was nothing. "I invited him."
"You what?" Logan hissed.
Cole shrugged, utterly unbothered. "What? I haven't seen the dude since kindergarten."
Logan's jaw tightened. "Why the fuck would you invite him here?"
Cole sighed, still smiling. "Look, I know you two have been on bad terms....since birth, apparently...but I just wanted to see him. Besides, you'll be too busy staring at your ex to even notice he's here."
Logan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You just made things worse."
Cole blinked. "What do you mean, worse?"
Logan didn't answer. He just started setting the plates, his movements slower and sharper.
Cole shrugged it off, carrying the last of the dishes to the table. "Food's ready," he called.
Tessa perked up. "Lasagna! My favorite!"
Cole grinned as he set it down. "Then you'll love this. Homemade."
They began serving themselves, chatting lightly about random things -- movies, school, even the weather. But Maya's attention drifted to the table.
"Why's there an extra plate?" she asked suddenly.
Cole smiled. "We're expecting someone."
Tessa's eyes flicked to Maya's, curiosity lighting up between them.
Cole waved a hand. "Go on, have a taste."
They both dug in.
Maya chewed thoughtfully. "Wow, this is really good."
Tessa nodded enthusiastically. "Agreed. Ten out of ten."
Cole gave a small mock bow. "Your compliments are accepted, ladies."
After a brief laugh, Tessa leaned forward. "So, Cole, where did you live before moving here?"
Cole leaned back in his chair, his fork hovering in midair. "Ohio."
Tessa blinked. "Ohio?" she exclaimed. "What brings you all the way to California?"
Cole's smile dimmed just slightly. "My mom loved this place. After she died, my dad… he wanted to forget her. So we moved. But I promised myself I'd come back someday. Guess I finally kept that promise."
Tessa's tone softened instantly. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry."
Cole smiled faintly. "It's fine. Happened a long time ago."
He toyed with his fork for a moment, the light in his eyes gentler now. "At first, I wasn't sure I should move back. But my buddy here..." he nodded at Logan, "recommended this house. Said it's cheap and hasn't been bought in years."
Maya raised a brow at Logan. "Funny how those kinds of offers are rare here. And you happened to find it."
Logan shrugged. "What are the odds?"
Tessa said, "You two seem really close for guys who haven't seen each other in years."
Cole grinned. "Well, there's a story behind that..."
Ding-dong.
The doorbell interrupted him.
Cole stood. "I'll get it."
Maya continued eating idly, not thinking much of it -- until the sound of male laughter carried from the doorway.
When Cole returned, his arm was draped casually around the shoulders of a man who looked like he had just stepped out of a luxury ad campaign -- tall, sharply dressed, and effortlessly composed.
"Guys," Cole said proudly, "allow me to introduce you...this is my cousin, Damien!"
Tessa mumbled under her breath, "Here we go again…"
Maya froze, the fork slipping from her fingers. "Damien," she said quietly, almost a whisper.
Damien's eyes locked on hers, steady and unreadable. "Maya."
Cole looked between them, confused. "Wait..." he pointed from one to the other. "You guys know each other?"
Neither answered. The air between them was thick, weighted with a silent history that no one else in the room could understand.
And as their eyes stayed locked across the table, it was painfully clear -- whatever story existed between Maya and Damien was far from over.