Caden laid on the couch during nighttime, going through his phone. He turned on the television as background noise because the home seemed dead without Dean there. 

Even though he said he wanted space, he was already regretting it since day one. Yesterday, Dean stayed out with his friends, and today is the same. 

Tomorrow, the space thing will be over because they have a meeting with a wedding planner. But Caden wished for the day to go faster. 

Caden doesn't even remember all the things he did yesterday since he spent it doing schoolwork to not think about Dean. 

And today, he had nothing, so he has been resting on the couch, trying not to text Dean, which was getting hard. 

He went back to his home screen, staring at it for a long time before going to his contacts. Caden had been at this school for almost four years, and he did not make any friends. The only people he hung with were Dean and his friends. 

But it did not bother him because he had friends outside the university. 

Scrolling through his contacts, he found the name he wanted as he pushed the call button, turning it on speaker. 

It ringed three times before the person answered. "What is this I see? Big brother is calling me?" 

Caden can hear music and people talking in the background as the voice fills the phone. He rolled his eyes at the words he heard, "Haha. Don't act like we did not just talk yesterday, Yaya." 

Yaya laughed, "I know, but I have not seen you in months. I miss you, big brother. You know what they say: absence makes the heart grow fonder." 

"I know." Caden softly sighed. 

His parents are not good people because Caden had to take care of himself and his sibling. (Caden never mentioned his sibling to anyone, not even Dean). 

His parents always wanted a girl. When Caden was born, and his parents found out he was a boy (the parents wanted to be surprised by gender until birth), they were disappointed. So, they tried again. Only to end up with another boy. And when they pushed for the third time, the parents had twin boys. 

They were upset and stopped, deciding to raise Caden and Yaya as girls because they had feminine looks. On the twin boys, his parents sold them to some wealthy family for money. (He never got to meet his other brothers). 

Years passed as his parents would neglect them unless they acted and dressed as girls. Then, when Caden was nine, and Yaya was eight, his parents finally had a girl. 

Once his little sister was born, Caden and Yaya did not exist in their eyes. Caden did not care because he has been raising himself since he was young. But Yaya became depressed because she was female, and the parents did not see it. 

So, at fifteen, he moved out of the house with the money he earned from odd jobs, taking Yaya with him. 

He raised Yaya as a parent should. Caden paid for everything she needed to survive; he even paid for her transition. 

The hardest thing Caden had to do was leave Yaya when he started college. But his sister proved that she could take care of herself. So, even today, they do not see each other as much but still talk a lot. 

"So, what's wrong? I can tell that your mood is not there. Is there anyone I have to beat up or even murder? I swear I can make it look like an accident." Yaya spoke, interrupting his thoughts. 

Caden burst out laughing at his sister being ridiculous, "Stop trying to murder people, please. I am not trying to see you in jail. And you know I can take people myself." 

"I know your freakish strength can send anyone to the hospital. The only manly thing about you." 

"Are you asking to be sent to the hospital?" 

"No. Now tell me, what's wrong?" 

Caden rubbed his face, staying silent for a second before speaking again, "Remember when I told you about Dean?" 

Yaya jumped in excitement, knocking down someone's drink without apologizing, "Yes! The hot rich man you wanted to bone. I remember you talking about a dream where you picked him up against the wall and-" 

"Yaya! Seriously? Is that all you can remember from our talks? Dean is my best friend who I fell for and did something foolish to." 

"What did you do? Don't tell me you slept with him and did not give me any details. I want a new brother; I am going to put out applications for the position." 

Caden started to rub his temples; he did not know if he should laugh or grow annoyed with his sister. "I am ten seconds away from hanging up." 

"No, don't do it. I miss you, and I moved away from serving drinks to talk with you. I will behave, maybe. Now, tell me: did you sleep with the rich boy?" 

Yaya works as a bartender at a drag bar, and Caden forgot that she is working tonight. "Are you sure you can be on the phone right now? Should I hang up?" 

"Caden, I swear if you hang up, I am going to murder you in your sleep. I can talk, the boss won't mind. Now, stop dodging the subject." 

Shaking his head with a smile, Caden finally answered his sister, "I did not sleep with him." He could hear a groan coming through the speaker. 

"But we did make out and may have dried hump in the car." 

"What!" Yaya screamed, causing others in the club to look at her. She crouched down, putting her phone closer to her before she started talking again. 

"Are you serious? Why didn't you sleep with him? Dry humping is so boring." 

"Because we are not together." 

"You don't have to be with someone to have sex. I did it plenty of times." 

"Well, I care for," Caden stopped himself before yelling, "what! Yaya, do I have to get you and put you under my roof to raise again. Who are these people you slept with? I want names." 

"Brrrrother," Yaya whined, "I am an adult, so no sending anyone who talks to me to the hospital. And this is about you, not me." 

Caden sighed, wanting to say something but decided to drop it. He raised Yaya, so he could not help but feel like a father to his sister. It was hard to see or hear others doing things with his little sister. 

"Fine. I will drop it. And I was going to say; it is different with Dean. I care for him. I didn't mean to do the things I did, but he makes me lose my strand of control. I want him, I care for him, and I love him." Caden whispered the last sentence like he did not want anyone to hear. 

"Oh my gosh! That is so cute. I am happy for you. Why are you talking with me and not him? He should hear this." Yaya squealed over the phone. 

"Because I told him we need space to figure out our feelings. We have been with each other 24/7, so I wanted to make sure it is not feelings made from always being together." Caden answered. 

Yaya hummed while nodding her head, "I can see that. But you love him, right? Then forget about the space thing and talk to him. And you should add in how you have a sister. No relationships built on lies, sir." 

"It is not a lie, only forgotten information." 

"I will ignore how I am 'forgotten information' for now. But, tell me you will talk to the man." 

"Yaya." 

"Caden." 

The silence began to grow as they were facing each other down over the phone. Three minutes passed with no one talking when Caden heard the door starting to open. 

"I have to go. I love you, sis; talk to you tomorrow." As Caden was hanging up, he could hear his sister trying to say something. But Caden already cut the line as he turned off his phone. 

Dean walked into the flat, closing the door behind him before hanging up his keys. When he walked in, looking towards the living room, he was surprised to see Caden. 

They stared at each other for a minute too long before Dean looked away, making his way to his room. 

Once the man started walking, Caden moved on the couch, quickly grabbing Dean's wrist, stopping him. The man looked at him with surprise before biting his lip. 

"I know there are still a few hours remaining on this space thing, but I think we should talk now," Caden spoke. 

Dean looked at his hand before pulling his wrist back since Caden was softly holding it. Caden thought the man was going to walk away when he felt fingers intertwining with his. 

"I want to talk with you too." Dean softly spoke. 

Caden pulled him towards the couch as the man walked over, sitting down next to him. They sat there as they both looked anxious. 

Dean worried about the man not wanting him anymore, while Caden was nervous about confessing how he feels. 

Five minutes passed as they continued to hold hands with words not leaving their mouths. When another minute started to roll in, Caden took a deep breath before opening his mouth. 

"I want to take you out on a date."