Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 25

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 25**

The storm had arrived with a ferocity that rattled the very foundations of our lives. One moment, I was ensconced in the rhythm of classes, the familiar hum of academic chatter surrounding me, and the next, I found myself hastily departing my internship, the ominous rumble of thunder echoing in the distance.

As I stepped out into the tempest, I spotted Caden leaning against the wall, waiting for me. His presence did not go unnoticed by Jamille, who shot me a look that could pierce steel—a look filled with a hundred unspoken questions. I still couldn’t quite grasp what the issue was, but it hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating and confusing.

Upon arriving home, I was greeted by an unexpected sight: Tylon and Leo were already lounging in the living room. The oddity of the scene struck me; they were engaged in the most mundane activity imaginable—watching a movie.

Caden, seemingly unfazed by the surreal nature of our situation, followed me inside. After I changed out of my soaked clothes and warmed my chilled bones with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, I settled onto the couch beside him.

As the lights dimmed, I couldn’t help but voice my curiosity. “Why horror?” I asked, glancing at the screen as the eerie music began to swell.

“Because you’ll end up clinging to me,” Caden replied with a playful smirk, settling comfortably beside me.

I couldn’t resist the urge to throw a pillow at him. “You’re delusional,” I shot back, though a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

“Could you two keep it down?” Tylon interjected, his tone sharper than necessary as I maneuvered to sit on Caden’s lap.

I blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by Tylon’s sudden outburst. Okay then.

As the movie played, we struggled to catch up on the plot, Tylon adamantly refusing to restart it for our benefit. However, midway through, the power suddenly cut out with a sharp click, plunging the room into darkness. The only illumination came from the flickering glow of the fireplace, casting dancing shadows across the walls.

“Well,” I said, breaking the silence, “that was anticlimactic.”

Caden glanced around, his brow furrowing. “The storm must’ve hit a power line.”

“Or you just pissed off the power company,” Leo chimed in, his tone light yet mischievous.

Without a word, Tylon vanished from the room, only to return a few moments later, his expression unreadable. “The generator’s dead. It’ll come back on its own.”

“Or we could make this interesting,” Caden suggested, reaching for a candle with a grin. “Truth or dare, anyone?”

I groaned, rolling my eyes. “You’re kidding, right?”

Leo’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “I’ll play!”

Tylon let out an exaggerated sigh, placing his candle down with a resigned expression. “Fine. One round.”

His unexpected willingness startled me, igniting a flicker of intrigue.

The game started innocently enough, with questions about favorite foods and lighthearted dares like chugging water or complimenting the person next to you. But, of course, Caden had to push the boundaries.

Leaning closer, the flickering candlelight accentuating the sharp angles of his jaw, he asked, “Truth or dare?”

I felt my heart race. “What did you think would happen today?”

The playful glint in Caden’s eyes was steady, filled with a confidence that both excited and unnerved me.

Leo shook his head, a bemused smile on his face. “You two are hopeless.”

Even Tylon’s lips curled into a ghost of a smile. Hopeless was certainly one way to describe our predicament.

Outside, the storm continued to rage, the windows rattling in response, but inside, warmth enveloped us. For the first time in days, the heaviness that had settled in the house seemed to lift. We were simply housemates, laughing and teasing, momentarily forgetting the strange shadows that loomed over us. Perhaps we were even… friends.

“Truth or dare?” Caden turned to Tylon, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Dare,” Tylon replied, and I could sense he was nearing the end of his patience with the game.

In the dim candlelight, I caught the smirk that spread across Caden’s face.

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