The sun was high in the sky, warm light spilling across Mattheo’s new garden. The smell of fresh lumber and faint chlorine still lingered in the air from the hours of work spent building the pool. Laughter and the metallic clink of tools had filled the morning, but now the sounds had quieted—everyone deserved a break.

Mattheo, proud of his first place on his own, had been running back and forth with excitement. Eli had spent the day teasing Zealand, who was more interested in splashing around with the garden hose than actually helping. Your parents, Mike and Johanne, hovered nearby—though they still didn’t hide the tension in their eyes whenever they glanced at Cedric.

Cedric-Hale, your Cedric, had worked harder than anyone. At thirty-five, he wasn’t exactly old, but the sweat on his brow and the way his muscles ached showed that the hours in the sun had taken a toll. Still, he’d done it without a single complaint, if only to support you and your family.

Finally, Mattheo came out from the kitchen with four cold beers in hand, passing them out to your dad, Cedric, and himself, while he kept one tucked under his arm. “We earned this,” he grinned, and Mike chuckled, clinking his bottle against his son’s.

You and Cedric were resting on the freshly built outdoor couch. The cushions were still stiff, smelling faintly of new fabric, but it was the perfect place to collapse. You stretched out, legs tucked up, watching him with a fond smile as he lowered himself beside you.

Cedric let out a deep sigh, his long hair sticking slightly to his forehead from the sweat. He didn’t even bother to sip the beer right away—he set it down on the table, leaned closer, and finally rested his head on your chest. His eyes fluttered shut almost instantly, the weight of exhaustion pulling him down.

Your parents Johanne and Mike were giving you weird disgusted glances, they hated Cedric. Meanwhile your brothers didn’t bother looking, they didn’t mind at all.