Chapter 5: Closet Secrets and Parental Schemes

6.

Our parents often travel together. When I was little, I always ordered takeout, but once I got food poisoning and nearly died. Carter was the one who found me and called 911. Since then, whenever Carter has time, he cooks for me.

Guess I’ve been training my boyfriend since we were kids.

"Stayed up late last night?"

"Why’d you get up so late? It’s almost seven."

He cooked as he talked. The way he moved around the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, was almost hypnotic.

"It’s because you…"

Because every night you invade my dreams and do weird things. Every time I fall asleep, you scare me awake. Then I can’t sleep at all.

"Because I what?"

He tried to look at me.

"Nothing, just played on my phone too late. Go finish cooking."

I turned his head away and ran off before he could say more. My cheeks felt hot, but I pretended not to notice.

He didn’t leave after dinner, for some reason. Since he wouldn’t go, I hid in my room and refused to come out. I scrolled TikTok, trying to ignore the urge to peek at him.

"Savannah, I’m leaving."

He called from outside my door.

"Oh, go ahead."

I stayed quiet inside.

"Mm."

He answered, and the house went quiet. I waited a while—it stayed silent. Thinking he’d really left, I went to open the door.

"Savannah."

Big hands landed on the doorframe, stopping me from closing the door.

"Y-you! You didn’t leave."

How could he!

He raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"Yup. Why are you hiding from me? Your boyfriend's wounded, you know."

He didn’t look hurt at all!

"Don’t play innocent."

I glared at him.

"My girlfriend’s being mean."

He said as he stepped one foot inside.

"…"

"Tell me, why are you hiding?"

Most of him was already in the room. No idea what he was showing off—just wearing an undershirt in the dead of winter, muscles bulging, making me stare.

All those steamy dream scenes flooded my mind.

"I…"

I didn’t know what to say.

Suddenly, the front door opened. Both of us snapped our heads to look.

Two huge grins appeared in the doorway.

"…"

Oh crap! My parents!

I don’t know what I was thinking—I yanked Carter into my room, shoved him into the closet.

"Don’t make a sound!"

I warned him.

He looked confused. Suddenly, he said,

"Am I your secret boyfriend now?"

"Guess not."

"Are we adults?"

"Guess so."

"So why am I hiding?"

"Yeah… why are you hiding?"

I realized—he didn’t need to hide. My parents knew their daughter was a kitchen disaster and the neighbor boy cooked for me.

But it was too late. If he was in my room, that was different.

Before I could pull him out, my parents knocked on my door.

"Hehe, you guys are back early!"

They dragged me in, chatting a mile a minute, then pulled me into my room.

"You’re almost graduating, right? Met any guys you like lately?"

What the—so sudden?

I stammered, unable to answer.

They exchanged a look.

"You’re not that young anymore!"

"Is there something you want to tell us? You know, about... your preferences?"

I was stunned.

"What are you talking about?!"

If only you knew—my boyfriend’s already in the house.

"I like someone."

"Is it that piano guy? I saw you two together at the arts festival."

Bang.

Something banged in the closet. Carter!

"No, not my type."

My mom looked disappointed.

"Then the Russian major? He’s cute too—he helped with your luggage at the start of the year."

Bang.

Another noise from the closet.

I quickly said,

"No! Stop guessing!"

I kept glancing at the closet.

My parents were sharp—they quickly caught on. They exchanged a look. My dad got up and headed for the closet.

I was doomed.

"We’re warning you, if there’s something alive in here, you’re dead."

Heh…

The closet opened. Carter’s dumbfounded face appeared. He smiled and reached out to shake my dad’s hand.

"Good evening, Mr. Brooks."

In the living room, our parents sat together. Carter and I sat across from them. His parents looked pissed. Mine—not sure, but they were beaming.

"Carter Hayes! What kind of guy sneaks into a girl’s room at night?!"

"You’ve really disappointed me."

His dad got angrier and angrier, finally standing up to give him a scolding. My heart skipped a beat—was this for real?

Seeing his dad’s fist about to fall, I instinctively shielded Carter.

"No, no, it was me! I pulled him into my room! Mr. Hayes, don’t get mad at him. If you have to blame someone, blame me."

His dad kept rolling up his sleeves.

"Savannah, don’t protect him. If you two break up and the whole neighborhood finds out, we’ll never hear the end of it."

"I’m gonna teach this punk a lesson!"

Carter, for some reason, stubbornly glared at his dad. Just as things were about to explode, I blurted out,

"No, it’s not like that! I’ll be with Carter forever!"

"…"

Why did this feel staged?

"…"

Why did I smell a conspiracy?

"We’ve shipped you two for years, and finally, finally, it’s real!"

"We’re so happy."

The four of them started calling each other "in-laws." I got it then. So they were all in on it!