Summer kick off (post Jacob's return) at the Landry house.

Kat stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the strap of her sundress. The annual summer kickoff party at the Landry farm was always a big deal, but this year, it felt even more special—Jacob was home.

She reached for her bracelet when a muffled curse drifted from down the hall. Jacob's voice. Sharp, frustrated.

Kat turned her head toward his room just as another voice—steady and familiar—cut through the tension.

"Need help?"

Elliot.

She hesitated, then padded quietly to her bedroom door, pressing her palm against the cool wood. Eavesdropping on her brother and her boyfriend felt childish, but curiosity won over shame.

"I never learned how to tie one of these," Jacob admitted, voice tight with irritation.

Kat imagined him standing there, shoulders stiff, a black tie hanging uselessly from his fingers.

"I got you." Elliot's voice carried the easy confidence she loved. "Do you have a spare?"

There was a shuffle, the sound of a drawer sliding open. "I think all of these were my dad's," Jacob said. "I found them in a box in the basement."

A pause.

Kat pictured Elliot stepping closer, peering into the drawer beside him. A rustle of fabric.

"This one," Elliot said, his voice softer now.

Kat resisted the urge to peek.

A moment later, Jacob asked, "Why that one?"

Elliot chuckled. "Colton taught me with this tie, actually."

Jacob huffed, clearly intrigued. "When?"

"In middle school. Fifth grade. There was a dance."

Kat's breath hitched. She knew exactly which dance he meant.

"Kat and I went as friends," Elliot continued.

A beat of silence. Then Jacob, flatly: "Are you serious?"

Elliot laughed, the sound a little sheepish. "I chickened out on asking her to be my date, so we just went as friends and had fun."

Jacob let out a low chuckle, the tension in his voice easing. "Well, I'm glad you finally manned up."

There was a soft thud—Jacob clapping Elliot's shoulder. Kat could almost see the knowing smirk on her brother's face.

Elliot hesitated, then exhaled. "Honestly? She called me out on my feelings. That's the only reason we got together."

Jacob snorted. "Yeah, my sister always did go for what she wanted."

Kat grinned, warmth spreading through her chest.

"Okay." Elliot's voice held a quiet determination as he took the two ends of the tie into his hands.

"When Colton taught me, he told me to just follow along as he showed me in the mirror. So try and do as I do."

From her hiding spot just around the corner, Kat watched as Jacob stood stiffly in front of the mirror, his brow furrowed in concentration. Elliot moved with practiced ease, looping the fabric with confident precision, guiding Jacob through each step with patient instruction.

For a moment, Kat could almost see another figure standing behind them. Colton. His familiar, warm smile—the one that always radiated quiet pride whenever she or Jacob reached a new milestone. Whether it was tying a shoe or riding a bike, their dad's pride had never wavered, no matter how big or small the accomplishment.

A lump formed in her throat.

Jacob had finally gotten his father-son moment of learning to tie a tie—even if it was years too late. But at least Elliot had been given that experience with Colton. And now, watching Elliot step in and be there for Jacob, helping him navigate the little things that made up modern life again, Kat felt her heart swell. If it was possible, she fell even more in love with Elliot right then.

It took a few false starts, some tangled loops, and one muttered curse under Jacob's breath, but after a few tries, he finally got it right.

"Nice job," Elliot said, stepping back to admire their handiwork.

Jacob looked at his reflection, tilting his head slightly. The knot wasn't perfect, but it was decent—his expression shifted from frustration to mild satisfaction. Beside him, Elliot's bright red tie was tied flawlessly, standing out against his crisp shirt.

Elliot reached up to loosen it, but before he could, Jacob leaned in slightly. His voice was low but just loud enough for Kat to hear.

"How long do you think it'll take before my sister realizes we actually know she's there?"

Kat's stomach dropped.

Damn it.

Of course Jacob knew. She should've picked a better hiding spot—one that wasn't the exact same one Jacob used to spy on her when they were kids.

Sighing, she stepped out from around the corner, arms crossed.

Elliot turned, his expression instantly softening. Unlike Jacob, he hadn't known she was there, and the slightly embarrassed, shy smile creeping onto his face only made her love him more.

"Dad would have loved to see this," she said, her voice quieter now, the weight of her emotions settling between them.

She stepped forward, closing the space between her and Elliot. Rising onto her toes, she placed a soft kiss against his cheek. His skin was warm beneath her lips, his blush deepening as she pulled back to look at him. Her eyes lingered on his, silently conveying all the love and appreciation she felt.

Thank you for being here. For helping him. For being you.

Then she turned to Jacob. He shifted awkwardly, tugging at the tie as if it suddenly felt too tight.

"Do I look okay?" he asked, his voice quieter now, uncertain.

Kat smiled, her heart squeezing.

"You look great."

Kat stepped in front of Jacob, her hands instinctively reaching for the collar of his shirt, adjusting it so it sat just right. The movement was second nature, something she had done countless times when they were kids. Back then, whenever they had to go somewhere, she'd fuss over him at the last minute—fixing his collar, smoothing out his shirt—and he would pretend to do the same, playfully brushing nonexistent dust off her dress or fixing her hair just for the sake of it. They'd always giggle, a secret ritual only they understood.

Jacob remained still as she made her adjustments, his expression softening with nostalgia.

"Just like we used to do," Kat murmured, catching the familiar gleam in his eyes.

Jacob only nodded, silent but content, letting the moment settle around them like a comforting embrace of the past.

As she continued, Kat suddenly felt the gentle brush of fingertips at her lower back—a featherlight distraction. Elliot.

She had left her zipper undone, unable to close it herself, and without a word, Elliot had stepped in. His touch was effortless, natural, as though he had done it a hundred times before. Slowly, he guided the zipper upward. Halfway, his fingers brushed through the dark waves of her hair, sliding them over one shoulder with careful precision to make sure none got caught. Then, with the same practiced ease, he zipped the rest, letting his touch linger just enough to smooth her hair back into place, letting it fall freely down her back.

It was such a simple thing, but the quiet intimacy of it made her breath hitch.

She forced herself to focus on Jacob, straightening his collar one last time. Satisfied, Jacob pulled at the edges of his sleeves, adjusting the cuffs of his suit jacket.

"You look great, Jacob," Elliot said, his voice warm with sincerity.

Jacob hesitated for a moment, something unreadable flickering across his face.

"You look a lot like him, actually."

They all knew who Elliot meant. No one had to say it.

Jacob swallowed, glancing at his reflection again, seeing something more than just his own face staring back at him. "Yeah," he finally muttered.

The quiet between them was thick with understanding.

After a beat, Jacob turned to Elliot. "Thank you for teaching me."

Elliot simply nodded. Then, as if drawn by an invisible thread, he wrapped his arms around Kat's waist. She instinctively leaned into him, her back pressing against his chest, his warmth sinking into her like an anchor.

A kiss, featherlight, landed on her neck.

She closed her eyes, savoring the sensation, tilting slightly into him. When she turned to face him, his arms stayed secure around her, holding her close. Their eyes met, an unspoken exchange of love and gratitude passing between them.

Kat slid her hand up behind his neck, fingers curling into the soft hair at his nape. She pulled him in, and their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss—momentarily forgetting they weren't alone.

A throat cleared behind them.

"Okay, one rule of my room hasn't changed since I was seven."

Kat and Elliot broke apart, and she turned to shoot Jacob an annoyed big-sister look—the exact one she used to give him when he barged in on her and her first boyfriend, Brady, all those years ago.

"No boyfriend makeout sessions in my room," Jacob declared, arms crossed, but the teasing glint in his eyes betrayed him.

Elliot blushed, looking properly scolded.

"You are such a buzzkill," Kat grumbled, rolling her eyes.

Jacob smirked.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I didn't realize how much I missed your sibling teasing." Elliot let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

Kat glanced back at Elliot. "Even now that it's directed at you too, as my boyfriend?"

Jacob chuckled, shrugging.

"Yeah," Elliot admitted with a nostalgic smile. "It's a small price to pay for having the real Kat back—and for seeing you two together again."

Kat's heart squeezed at that. She knew exactly what he meant. Jacob had been gone for so long, and now, for the first time in years, it felt like they were whole again.

"Ohhh…" she teased, dramatically touched, before turning back to Elliot and pulling him in for another kiss.

Jacob groaned. "Okay, out—" he started, trying to sound firm, but the joy and affection in his voice ruined the effect.

"Alright, alright," Kat said, laughing as she grabbed Elliot's hand and tugged him out of Jacob's room.

They barely made it into her old bedroom before Kat swung the door shut behind them, her amused smile still lingering from teasing Jacob. The playful back-and-forth had felt so natural, so effortless—gosh, she had missed this. Their sibling bickering, the way he used to roll his eyes at her, the teasing that was always laced with affection. It had all vanished when he disappeared. Now, having him back felt like a piece of her past had been restored.

She let the wave of nostalgia settle, exhaling softly before turning toward her vanity. She still needed to pick out a necklace and put on a pair of earrings before heading to the party—

But before she could take a step, Elliot's fingers wrapped gently around her wrist, stopping her in place.

"I don't think we got to finish," he murmured, a sly smile playing at his lips.

Before she could respond, he pulled her back toward him, his arms slipping around her lower back, drawing her in effortlessly.

Kat giggled, her cheeks warming as she melted into him, her fingers trailing up to rest against his chest. His embrace was steady, grounding, and she let herself get lost in the way his lips found hers—slow, deep, unhurried, as if they had all the time in the world. The rest of the house, the party, even Jacob—they all faded for a moment, leaving just the two of them in this familiar, electric closeness.

Then—knock, knock.

A firm double tap on the door.

"Party starts now, Kat. Come on!" Jacob's voice rang through the wood.

Kat broke the kiss, a knowing smirk spreading across her lips.

She could almost see seven-year-old Jacob standing outside, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently, just like he used to when she took too long getting ready. Then, without fail, he'd bolt down the stairs ahead of her, already scouting out the best snacks at the buffet table before she even got there.

Some things never changed.