Tom's POV
Sunday brunch at my house felt like walking into a staged fucking reunion special nobody asked for.
The dining room was overly polished, sunlight pouring in through the big windows like it was trying too hard to make everything look warm and wholesome. The table was set with my mom's "special occasion" plates and cutlery, the ones she only pulls out when she wants to impress people. Pancakes stacked high, fruit arranged like it belonged in a goddamn magazine, bacon, eggs, fresh juice. It smelled good. Like we were trying to cover up the awkwardness with syrup and coffee.
Cassie sat across from me.
We hadn't seen each other properly in years, not like this. Not sitting knee-to-knee under a table while our parents watched us like we were some long-lost fairytale reunion.
"You two have grown so much," her mom said for what felt like the third time, smiling so wide her cheeks had to hurt.
"I know," my mom chimed in, practically glowing. "You used to be inseparable. It was Tommy and Cassie everywhere."
I forced a small smile and took a sip of coffee just to have something to do with my hands. Inseparable. Yeah. Until we weren't. Cassie gave a polite little laugh, the kind you use when you don't know what the hell else to do. "It's been a while," she said softly.
Daniel sat at the head of the table like he owned the damn house. I couldn't stand him. The way he leaned back in his chair like this was some power move. The way he called me "champ" like we were close. We weren't. Not even fucking remotely.
"So, Tom," Cassie's dad said, cutting into his pancakes. "How's school going?"
"Fine," I said.
"What are you focusing on these days?" he pressed.
"Classes," I replied flatly.
My mom shot me a look. The one that says don't be rude without actually saying it.
"Any plans for after graduation?" Cassie's mom asked, all sweet curiosity.
"Not sure yet," I said, shrugging.
Short. Nonchalant. End of conversation. I wasn't about to unpack my life like it was a damn presentation.
Daniel cleared his throat and leaned slightly toward Cassie instead. "So, Cassie, your parents said you're coming back to Millwood. That's a big move."
She straightened a bit, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. It is."
"Must be exciting," he continued. "Fresh start and all that."
"Yeah," she repeated, nodding lightly.
I could tell she was uncomfortable. The way her fingers toyed with the edge of her napkin. The tightness around her mouth. But she kept smiling because that's what you do at brunch with adults who think this is some cute reunion episode.
"You know," my mom said warmly, looking between us, "maybe this is fate. Bringing you two back together."
I nearly choked on my coffee. Fate? What the hell.
Cassie let out a small, awkward laugh. "We were pretty close," she admitted carefully.
"Pretty close?" her mom teased. "You two were attached at the hip. Sleepovers every weekend. We could barely get you apart."
I felt heat crawl up my neck. I hated how nostalgic they were making it. Like nothing complicated had happened. Like she didn't just leave one day and change everything.
Daniel smirked slightly. "Young love, huh?"
"It wasn't like that," I said quickly, sharper than I meant to.
The table went quiet for half a second.
Cassie looked down at her plate.
"Oh, of course," my mom said quickly, smoothing it over. "They were just kids."
Yeah. Kids who didn't know how to handle distance. Or silence. Or growing up.