P5 Uploads Batch From Stream

P5 uploads batch from stream

'Cause all of me loves all of you

Summary - Hannah and Beth have their suspicions about Josh and Sam

Genre - Romance, fluff

Characters - Josh Washington, Sam Giddings, Hannah Washington, Beth Washington, Bob Washington, Melinda Washington

Ships - Sam × Josh

⚠️ Warnings - Suggestive themes ⚠️

Character speech is colour coded:

Blue = Josh

Red = Sam

Purple = Hannah

Pink = Beth

Orange = Melinda

Green = Bob

The room was still, steeped in that hazy golden-blue light that only came just after dawn. Outside the frost-lined windows, the mountains were silent. Peaceful. Inside, tangled beneath a mess of blankets, Sam stirred gently.

Josh was asleep beside her.

His arm was slung loosely over her waist, fingers curled in the hem of the hoodie she was wearing—his hoodie, oversized and warm. Sam blinked slowly, mind taking a moment to catch up with her body. Her legs were tangled with his. Her hair smelled faintly of his cologne. The soft rise and fall of his chest was against her back.

And last night…

She smiled. Just a little.

It hadn’t been part of the plan. She was supposed to be in Hannah’s room with the girls, watching movies, doing face masks, gossiping and stealing snacks from the kitchen. But things had shifted—Hannah and Beth fell asleep early, and Sam had wandered into the kitchen for a drink.

That’s when she’d found Josh. Half-asleep, yawning, asking if she wanted to help him finish the pizza in the kitchen.

One thing led to another.

And now here they were.

Sam turned her head slowly, careful not to wake him. Josh’s hair was messy, some strands falling over his closed eyes. His mouth was slightly parted, his breathing slow and deep. Peaceful, in a way Sam rarely got to see.

She brushed his hair back from his forehead, soft and careful. His brows twitched faintly at the touch, but he didn’t stir.

For a while, she just laid there, the weight of the morning pressing down around her like a secret. She didn’t know what today would bring. Didn’t know what Hannah or Beth would say when they realized Sam never came back to their room. Didn’t know if this was a one-time thing, or if—

Josh made a quiet noise in his throat. A breath, maybe a half-word, before his eyes cracked open.

“Hey,” he murmured, voice rough and sleep-heavy.

“Hey,” Sam whispered back.

Josh blinked at her, confused for a second, then smiled slowly. “You’re still here.”

“You sound surprised.”

He reached up, fingers brushing her cheek. “I dunno. I half-thought you’d sneak out to avoid an awkward breakfast.”

“I considered it,” Sam said, lips curving.

“And?”

She shrugged beneath the blankets. “Didn’t want to leave.”

Josh was quiet for a moment. His hand slid down, settling at her waist again. “Good,” he said. “'Cause I didn’t want to wake up alone.”

Sam rolled onto her back slightly, shifting so she could look at him better. “So…what now?”

Josh looked at the ceiling, then at her. “I mean, traditionally, I think we kiss again and pretend we’re not worried about what my sisters are gonna say.”

Sam smirked. “Hannah’s gonna kill me.”

“Nah,” he said, grinning. “She’s probably still asleep. And Beth sleeps like a corpse.”

“She’s still going to know.”

“Then maybe we just don’t tell them. Not yet.”

Sam nodded, but her fingers curled in the blanket. “Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t regret it.”

He looked at her, eyes soft now. “I'm glad. Me neither.”

They stayed there for a few moments, wrapped in warmth and silence, pretending the rest of the world didn’t exist outside the room. The quiet hum of the lodge. The smell of the mountain air. The feel of his hand brushing against hers under the covers.

Eventually, Sam exhaled. “Okay. We have to get up before someone walks in.”

“I locked the door.”

“You did not.”

“I thought about it.”

Sam groaned and sat up, running her fingers through her hair. “You’re the worst.”

Josh grinned, watching her. “You didn’t think so last night.”

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him—he caught it with a laugh, muffled as he buried his face in it.

From down the hall, faint footsteps creaked against the wood.

Sam froze. “Is that—?”

“Beth,” Josh whispered. “Definitely Beth. She pees first thing every morning.”

“We are so dead.”

Josh reached for her hand under the blankets. “Wanna die together?”

Sam squeezed his fingers. “Only if you make the pancakes.”

Josh smiled.

...

The kitchen was quiet, bathed in soft morning light. The smell of old coffee lingered in the air, and the hardwood floors felt cool beneath Sam’s bare feet as she padded inside, Josh trailing close behind.

Sam yawned, opening a cabinet. “You seriously have twenty mugs and not one clean one?”

Josh smirked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “That’s how you know we’re high-functioning.”

“Right.” She finally picked the least dusty mug and started the coffee machine. “You better pray your mom doesn’t come down and see this disaster zone.”

Josh leaned on the counter beside her. “Pretty sure she’s seen worse.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “I feel like last night added to the 'worse.’”

He gave her a crooked grin, and she blushed lightly, nudging him with her shoulder.

Just then, the creak of footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by the soft thuds of slippered feet.

Beth appeared first, hair tousled and eyes squinting at the kitchen light. Hannah followed a moment later, hoodie too big, clearly just rolled out of bed.

“Mornin’,” Beth mumbled, heading straight for the fridge.

“Hey,” Josh said casually, trying not to sound too casual.

Sam waved with one hand, her other gripping her coffee cup like a lifeline.

Hannah’s eyes flicked between the two of them. Once. Twice. Then narrowed.

She elbowed Beth lightly, whispering, “Come with me.”

Beth blinked, half-biting a string cheese. “Huh?”

“Come on,” Hannah said under her breath, dragging her by the sleeve toward the hallway.

Beth stumbled after her, still chewing. “Hannah, what the hell—?”

Once they were out of earshot, Hannah whirled around and leaned in close.

“I think Sam and Josh…” She lowered her voice dramatically, eyes wide. “You know.”

Beth blinked. “Know…what?”

“You know.” Hannah gave her a look. “Did the deed. The devil’s tango. The horizontal tango. The special cuddle.”

Beth choked. “What?! No way.”

“I’m serious,” Hannah hissed. “She didn’t come back to our room last night.”

“She probably fell asleep somewhere.”

“In Josh’s room?” Hannah raised an eyebrow. “Wearing his hoodie?”

Beth looked uncertain. “Okay, that’s not—maybe it’s cold?”

“She’s glowing,” Hannah said, eyes wide. “And Josh is walking like he’s in a Calvin Klein advert. Come on, Beth.”

Beth paused.

She turned her head slowly, peeking around the hallway wall to glance back into the kitchen.

Sam stood at the counter, sipping coffee and smiling to herself. Josh leaned a little too close when he passed behind her to grab a plate, their arms brushing like magnets.

Beth blinked.

“Oh my god,” she whispered. “They did.”

Hannah just nodded with a smug little smile.

Beth looked half-shocked, half-impressed. “I thought she was staying with us!”

“I did too.” Hannah smirked. “Guess she made other plans.”

They both turned to glance into the kitchen again, watching Josh and Sam share a private laugh about something neither of them could hear.

Beth nudged Hannah. “We’re so teasing them.”

“Oh absolutely,” Hannah whispered. “But after breakfast. We don’t want to scare her off too fast.”

Beth giggled. “Deal.”

They turned away and headed back toward the kitchen, putting on their best innocent faces.

The smell of cinnamon and maple drifting in from the kitchen where Melinda had been working all morning. The windows let in soft, golden light, bathing the large dining table in the kind of glow you’d see in a painting.

Josh and Sam were already seated when the rest of the family started to gather. Josh had made sure Sam had everything she could possibly want before he even thought about serving himself. Her plate was arranged with perfect care: syrup-drenched pancakes, strawberries with the stems cut off, exactly how she liked them, and a splash of orange juice—not too much, not too little.

“More butter?” Josh asked, butter knife already poised.

Sam gave him a playful side-eye. “I think my arteries are good, thanks.”

Josh grinned, cutting into his own pancakes. “Let me know if they change their mind.”

Across the table, Hannah had just sat down with a bowl of cereal and immediately froze, spoon halfway to her mouth.

She squinted at her brother. Then at Sam. Then at the very not-subtle way Josh reached to tuck Sam’s napkin onto her lap like he’d done it a hundred times.

“Okay,” she muttered.

Beth sat down beside her, yawning. “What?”

Hannah elbowed her. “Look at them.”

Beth blinked the sleep out of her eyes and followed Hannah’s stare.

Josh was leaning in toward Sam, whispering something that made her bite her lip to keep from laughing. He nudged her juice toward her hand like it was second nature.

Beth’s brows furrowed. “Huh.”

“You see it too, right?” Hannah whispered.

Beth shrugged. “They’re just being friendly.”

“They're being friendly.”

Beth blinked. “Oh my god.”

In the middle of their whispered detective work, Melinda placed another plate of pancakes on the table and smiled at her son and Sam.

“Did you two sleep okay?” she asked, setting down a bowl of fruit with practiced hands.

Josh opened his mouth to respond, but Sam beat him to it.

“Really well. Your guest beds are the comfiest, Mel.”

Josh choked on his juice. “Guest bed?”

Melinda tilted her head. “Didn’t you say you were staying in Hannah’s room, Sam?”

“I—” Sam hesitated.

Josh jumped in. “She crashed in mine. Long movie night. Fell asleep.”

Hannah made a noise. Beth kicked her under the table.

Melinda, none the wiser, smiled pleasantly. “Oh! Well, I’m glad you were comfortable, sweetheart.”

“Very,” Sam muttered into her coffee.

Josh leaned back, arm casually draped behind Sam’s chair now. He hadn’t even noticed he was doing it.

Beth leaned toward Hannah. “Oh no. They’re full on domesticated.”

Hannah stared at the way Josh looked at Sam while she buttered her toast like she’d hung the moon. “You think they’re dating?”

“They’re either dating or ten minutes away from it,” Beth said. “Did you see how he cut her pancakes for her earlier?”

“I thought I hallucinated that.”

“I wish you had.”

Josh poured more syrup onto Sam’s plate when he noticed she was running low. She didn’t ask—he just knew.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

“Don’t mention it.”

Melinda sat down with her own plate, humming cheerfully. “I just love family breakfasts.”

Bob wandered in last, coffee mug in one hand and a half-read newspaper in the other. “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing,” the twins said too quickly.

“Everything,” Beth whispered to Hannah.

Sam sipped her coffee, and Josh absently reached up to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear before returning to his pancakes. She blinked at him in surprised amusement, but didn’t comment.

Beth leaned her chin on her hand. “So, Sam...you staying long?”

Sam looked up, surprised. “Uh, just the weekend. Why?”

“No reason,” Beth said sweetly. “Just wondering if you and Josh have plans.”

Josh narrowed his eyes. “We’re watching a movie later. Is that a crime now?”

“Not unless you forget to keep it PG,” Hannah muttered into her coffee.

“What was that?” Melinda asked.

“Pancakes are great!” Hannah covered.

“Right,” Melinda chuckled, sipping her tea.

Bob didn’t look up. “You kids always whispering.”

Josh passed Sam the last of the strawberries without a word. She bumped her shoulder against his in thanks, and his smile looked like it was carved out of sunlight.

Hannah mimed gagging while Melinda buttered her toast, still blissfully unaware of the subtext at the table.

Sam looked across at the twins, noticed the exchanged glances, and shot Hannah a sharp, knowing look.

It said everything: Yes. Yes, I slept in his bed. Yes, something happened. And no, I’m not sorry.

Hannah’s eyes widened slightly. Beth blinked.

“Oh my god,” Beth mouthed.

Sam just sipped her coffee and smiled innocently.

Josh was halfway through complimenting the pancakes when Melinda cut him off.

“You know, Josh never used to like strawberries. Until he was thirteen.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “You always tell this story.”

Melinda grinned. “Because it’s cute. He had a crush on the neighbor girl—what was her name? Lucy?”

“Can we not—” Josh pleaded.

“She loved strawberries,” Melinda continued. “So Josh suddenly loved strawberries. Ate an entire bowl in front of her to impress her.”

Josh buried his face in his hands. Sam leaned in.

“Is that what this is?” she teased, pointing to her plate.

Josh groaned. “I walked into that one.”

Beth whispered, “You’re walking into something else too.”

Hannah snorted into her drink.

...

The table was finally cleared, plates stacked high in the sink. Josh was helping his mom rinse them off while Sam dried. Bob had retreated to his armchair with the newspaper, and Hannah and Beth were standing by the base of the staircase, watching the scene unfold with suspicion and awe.

Beth crossed her arms. “Okay. They’re literally glowing.”

Hannah gave her a look. “I told you.”

“Still…I didn’t expect her to pull our brother.”

“You’re saying she couldn’t?”

Beth shrugged. “No, I mean—she could obviously. Just didn’t think she’d want to.”

Hannah snorted. “You should’ve seen them last night when we were picking the movie. I saw her elbow Josh when he tried to choose The Thing. That’s their thing, apparently.”

Beth raised her eyebrows. “How long has this been a thing?”

“I don’t know,” Hannah whispered. “But they’re in full domestic mode. He gave her the last strawberry. He’s never even offered me the last anything.”

Beth squinted toward the kitchen. “They’re drying dishes together.”

“In harmony,” Hannah said dramatically. “He handed her a mug like it was made of solid gold.”

“I swear, I saw him pour her coffee without even asking what she wanted.”

“You think they’ve actually done it?”

Beth blinked at her sister. “Seriously?”

Hannah looked back toward the kitchen, where Sam nudged Josh playfully with her hip, and he bumped her back with a grin that reached both ears. “I mean, look at them. You don’t act like that unless something’s happened.”

Beth looked like she was processing a life-altering truth. “You really think so?”

Hannah leaned in, whispering, “Last night wasn’t just a sleepover.”

Beth groaned and rubbed her face. “Okay, I hate how right you probably are.”

Sam and Josh reentered the room, laughing over something quiet between them. Josh’s hand was lightly resting on the small of Sam’s back, casual but protective. Beth and Hannah both stared at it like it was glowing red.

“We’re gonna take a walk,” Josh announced.

“Cold out there,” Melinda warned from the sink.

“I’ll give her my jacket,” Josh said automatically, then realized how that sounded. “I mean—not that she’ll need it—I—”

Sam laughed softly. “You’re adorable when you panic.”

Beth let out a single cough that sounded suspiciously like, “Whipped.”

Josh shot her a look. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” she said sweetly.

Sam slipped her arms into her hoodie. “I’m stealing this,” she said to Josh, tugging on the sleeve. “Smells like you.”

Josh’s ears turned bright red.

Beth covered a giggle with a sudden, dramatic sneeze. Hannah looked seconds away from combusting with smug energy.

As Josh and Sam headed out the door, Hannah turned to Beth and whispered, “We need to get Sam alone later. I need the full story.”

Beth nodded solemnly. “Intervention-level interrogation.”

“I’ll make popcorn.”

“Let’s go spy from the porch first.”

“God, I love mornings like this.”

...

The cold hit immediately, sharp and biting, but it didn’t bother Sam much. Josh had already slipped his hoodie off and wrapped it around her shoulders like a reflex.

“Such a gentleman,” she teased, zipping it up. It was warm and smelled like cedar and clean laundry. “Chivalry isn’t dead.”

“I’m just trying to avoid getting roasted by my sisters again,” he muttered. “I swear they know everything.”

Sam laughed, linking her arm with his. “They’re definitely suspicious.”

Josh raised a brow, voice lowering into something sly. “Think they heard anything?”

Sam smirked. “I was more worried about them seeing something this morning. You’re not exactly subtle when you sleep.”

Josh made a strangled sound. “I don’t snore.”

“You definitely drool.”

He gasped in mock offense, then leaned down close enough that his breath warmed her cheek. “You didn’t seem to mind last night.”

She gave him a shove. “You're insufferable.”

“You like it.”

“I do.”

They walked along the gravel path behind the lodge, past bare trees and scattered red-orange leaves, the crisp scent of autumn settling around them. Sam pulled the hoodie tighter around her. Josh didn’t say anything for a moment, just let the silence stretch between them.

“I like this,” he finally said. “You. This. Mornings like this.”

Sam’s hand slipped into his. “Me too.”

...

“Okay,” Hannah said, closing the bedroom door behind them like they were about to discuss nuclear codes. “What’s our plan?”

Beth flopped onto her bed. “Subtle questioning or full frontal interrogation?”

“Subtle. We don’t want her to shut down.”

Beth raised an eyebrow. “Sam? Shut down? She’s emotionally bulletproof.”

“Exactly why we need to catch her off-guard.” Hannah began pacing. “Let’s go for the casual route. Like, ‘so how was your night?’ then—bam—hit her with the smirk.”

“I’m ready.” Beth grinned. “You do the smirk, I’ll pretend to be shocked when she admits it.”

“She won’t admit it.”

“Then we interpret her every blink as confirmation.”

Hannah paused, listening for footsteps. “They’re back.”

Beth sat up straight. “Showtime.”

...

Josh and Sam reentered, cheeks pink from the cold. Sam had the hoodie’s sleeves pulled over her hands and looked perfectly content.

“We’re back,” Josh said to no one in particular.

“Finally,” Beth said, exchanging a glance with Hannah. “We were worried you froze to death...or something.”

“Mhm,” Hannah added. “You look a little flushed, Sam.”

Josh narrowed his eyes. “Okay, what is happening right now?”

“Nothing,” the twins said in sync.

Sam stretched, unbothered. “We were just admiring the scenery.”

Beth’s mouth twitched. “Bet you were admiring something.”

Josh looked between them. “Are you two high?”

Sam just smirked and made a show of slipping the hoodie off slowly and tossing it back to Josh. “Thanks for the walk.”

He caught it, stunned. “...Anytime.”

Beth’s jaw dropped.

Hannah looked smug.

“Oh my god,” Beth whispered later as the twins returned upstairs. “She dominated him.”

“She is my hero,” Hannah whispered back.

...

Sam barely had time to blink.

One moment she was stretching her arms in the hallway, about to head back downstairs after grabbing her phone charger. The next, two very determined sisters stood in front of her like guards at the gates of gossip hell.

“Hi,” Hannah said, too chipper, fingers laced together like an evil mastermind.

Beth stood beside her, arms crossed, smirking like she’d been waiting for this moment her entire life. “Don’t try to run. You won’t make it.”

Sam narrowed her eyes. “Run from what?”

Hannah took her by the wrist and tugged her gently toward the nearest bedroom. “Just come with us. We need a quick chat.”

“I don’t like the way you said ‘chat,’” Sam muttered, but didn’t resist. She knew better. Once these two set their sights on something, there was no escape.

Once the door closed behind them, Sam was herded to sit on Hannah’s bed like she was about to be interrogated by federal agents.

Beth leaned against the dresser with a smug expression. Hannah stood across from Sam with her arms behind her back, pacing slightly.

“So,” Hannah began, like a professor giving a lecture, “you slept in Josh’s room last night.”

Sam crossed her legs and played it cool. “Yeah. So?”

Beth raised a brow. “That’s not normal sleepover behavior.”

“We thought this was a girls night,” Hannah added, mock-hurt. “We were supposed to eat junk and complain about boys, not go full Fifty Shades in the room next door.”

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” Sam said, hands up. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Oh, wasn’t it?” Beth asked, eyes sparkling. “Because I swear the air in the hallway was thicker than butter when you two walked in.”

“And Josh had sex hair,” Hannah said bluntly.

Sam turned beet red. “He always has messy hair!”

“Not like that,” both twins said in unison.

Beth stepped closer. “So. Spill. Did you guys...do it?”

Sam groaned. “This is so invasive.”

“And yet,” Hannah said sweetly, “you’re not denying it.”

Sam buried her face in her hands. “I am not telling you if I slept with your brother.”

“Okay,” Hannah said, plopping down next to her, “then I’ll just ask the important stuff.”

“Hannah—”

“Was he gentle or rough?”

“What the—!”

“Like, did he go slow? Or was it like—" she made a vague gesture that looked suspiciously like a lasso.

Sam let out a loud, mortified squeak and shoved her shoulder. “I am not having this conversation with you!”

Beth howled with laughter from across the room.

“Oh come on, Sam,” Hannah grinned. “You know I’m gonna be your sister-in-law one day, right? Might as well get the details now.”

Sam glared, eyes narrowed. “Are you like this with all your brother’s hookups?”

“You’re not a hookup,” Hannah said plainly, the teasing tone softening just a little. “You’re Sam. I’ve seen how he looks at you.”

Beth gave a slow nod. “Yeah. It’s like...grossly soft. Like he’d take a bullet for you and then ask if you’re okay.”

Sam looked down, a small smile tugging at her lips. “...He did bring me tea this morning. And my hoodie. And stole all the blankets.”

Hannah and Beth exchanged knowing looks.

Hannah leaned in again. “So...was he good?”

Sam gave her a long, level stare.

Hannah didn’t blink.

Finally, Sam muttered, “...Yes.”

“Knew it!” Hannah cheered.

Beth laughed so hard she nearly toppled off the dresser.

“You guys are insane,” Sam said, red-faced and hiding her smile.

“And you’re in love with our brother,” Hannah sang, flopping backward dramatically.

Sam rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

Beth lounged at the foot of the bed, leaning forward like she was preparing to grill a suspect.

“You’re really not gonna get out of this,” Hannah said, smug. “You might as well just answer everything. We already know.”

“You think you know,” Sam said, tightening her grip on the pillow in her lap.

“We heard things,” Beth added, wiggling her brows.

Sam blanched. “You what?!”

“Kidding,”

“Okay, fine.” Sam sighed, throwing the pillow aside. “Let’s get this over with. Ask your questions, you vultures.”

Beth grinned. “Oh, we’re going in.”

Hannah sat up straighter. “First: who made the first move? Who crossed the line first?”

Sam hesitated. “I guess...he kissed me. But I didn’t push him away.”

Beth gasped. “Our brother seduced you?”

Sam rolled her eyes. “If you can call awkward fumbling and apologizing for having cold hands ‘seduction,’ then yes.”

Hannah leaned in. “Okay, but was he smooth once things got going? Or was it like...Josh being Josh?”

Sam snorted. “He tried to be smooth. Then knocked his head on the headboard. I laughed. He apologized six times.”

Beth was already cackling. “Sounds right.”

“Was he confident though?” Hannah asked. “Like, did he take charge?”

Sam’s ears turned red. “Yeah. I mean...yeah. Eventually.”

Beth raised a brow. “So he has a dominant side.”

“Beth!”

“I’m serious! Was he soft and slow, or like—hands everywhere, whispering in your ear, biting your neck—”

“Okay wow,” Sam said quickly, holding up a hand. “You guys are relentless.”

“Not denying it,” Hannah said with a smirk.

“Fine.” Sam exhaled. “He was sweet. At first. Then he kinda surprised me. In a good way.”

Beth’s grin widened. “Surprised you how?”

Sam looked away. “I didn’t know he had it in him.”

“Oh my god,” Hannah whispered. “You mean he—”

“Yes,” Sam said quickly. “Yes to whatever you’re going to say. He was passionate and intense and I did not expect that from Mr. Movie Commentary.”

Beth leaned in, eyes wide. “Did he say anything dirty?”

Sam hesitated.

“Oh my god,” Beth said again. “What’d he say?”

“I’m not—”

“We’re not letting this go,” Hannah cut in.

Sam sighed, defeated. “He said...‘I want to make you feel so good.’” She paused, then added, “And then something about me moaning being his favorite sound.”

Both sisters screamed into the pillows at the same time.

“HE DID NOT—” Beth shouted, laughing hysterically.

“I cannot believe my brother is a closet romantic perv!” Hannah shrieked.

Sam was dying of secondhand embarrassment. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with his sisters.”

“We’re not done,” Beth said, wiping tears of laughter. “Did he do the thing? Y’know...that thing.”

“What thing?”

“You know,” Hannah said, nudging Sam. “The hand thing.”

Sam stared. “I need more context.”

Beth made a gesture. “That thing. With his hands. The good stuff.”

Sam blinked. “Do you mean—wait, do you guys seriously want to know if your brother—?”

“Yes,” they said in unison.

Sam buried her face in her hands. “This is wrong.”

“But was he good?” Hannah asked.

Sam mumbled into her palms.

“What was that?” Beth leaned in.

Sam peeked through her fingers. “Yes. Okay? He was really good. Too good.”

Beth nearly fell off the bed. “Oh my god, he’s been practicing.”

“Stop!” Sam yelled, face fully red.

Hannah was wheezing. “Did he do the thing with his voice? That low tone he gets when he’s being serious?”

“Yes.”

Beth smirked. “Did it make your knees weak?”

“I hate you both.”

“Okay,” Hannah said, trying to regain composure. “Final question.”

“Oh thank god.”

“Was it just a one-time thing?” Hannah asked, voice soft for the first time. “Or do you...actually feel something for him?”

Sam looked between them. Her smile softened. “I’ve felt something for him for a long time. Last night just confirmed it.”

The room went quiet for a second.

Then Beth sighed dramatically. “We’re gonna be sisters-in-law, aren’t we?”

Sam threw a pillow at her face again.

A voice echoed up the stairs.

“Sammy!” Josh shouted from the kitchen. “You disappeared on me, and I’m dangerously close to burning toast. If I burn toast, I blame you!”

Hannah and Beth immediately exchanged a look. Sam was sitting frozen between them, still recovering from the interrogation.

“You gonna survive this?” Hannah whispered.

“No,” Sam muttered.

Beth grinned and linked arms with Sam. “Come on, toast boy’s waiting.”

“Try not to blush when he looks at you,” Hannah added with a wink, slipping to Sam’s other side.

They walked together down the stairs, Sam sandwiched between Josh’s twin sisters like a girl being marched to the gallows — except the gallows were a warm kitchen, and the executioner had messy hair and a crooked smile.

Josh looked up the second he heard them coming down. He stood by the counter, holding a knife in one hand and butter in the other.

“There she is,” he said, eyes lighting up when he saw Sam. “I was about to come drag you out of whatever black hole you fell into.”

“You’d have to get past us first,” Beth said sweetly, plucking a slice of toast from the plate.

Josh raised an eyebrow at his sisters. “You guys look...suspiciously smug. Should I be worried?”

“No,” Hannah said too quickly.

“Yes,” Sam muttered under her breath.

“What was that?” Josh tilted his head.

“Nothing!” Sam and the twins said in perfect unison.

Josh squinted at all three of them, then slowly turned back to the counter. “Okay...definitely not weird at all.”

Sam glanced at Hannah and Beth, who looked like they were biting the insides of their cheeks trying not to laugh.

She whispered to them, “Not. A. Word.”

They both gave her innocent smiles.

Josh turned back around, toast now buttered and on a plate. “Here. I made your favourite,” he said to Sam, like it was the most casual thing in the world.

Sam blinked. “You remembered?”

He shrugged, but there was a subtle proudness in the lift of his shoulders. “Of course I did. You like cinnamon sugar on one slice, plain butter on the other. You’re a toast split-personality kind of gal.”

Hannah made a quiet awww sound behind her hand. Beth just mouthed, You’re so screwed.

Sam sat at the table, cheeks burning, and Josh slid the plate in front of her with a small, crooked smile.

She tried not to melt.

Beth sat across from them, nudging Hannah and whispering, “Do we just leave? Let them kiss and get it over with?”

“We’re not leaving. I want to watch him be all cute and unaware,” Hannah whispered back.

Josh leaned over Sam’s shoulder to grab the sugar dish and said low in her ear, “You okay?”

Sam turned her head slightly to meet his eyes. “Yeah. Just recovering from your sisters.”

Josh snorted. “You brave soul.”

She smiled and nudged his arm gently. He bumped her shoulder back in return. To anyone else, it would’ve looked like friendly teasing—but not to Hannah and Beth. They saw everything.

...

Beth had been bouncing her leg under the table for five straight minutes, glancing between Josh and Sam, then at Hannah. Finally, she slammed her hands on the table.

“Okay, I can’t take it anymore!”

Everyone froze.

Josh looked up mid-pour, nearly overfilling the glass. “What?”

“You two slept together!” Beth blurted, pointing an accusatory finger between Sam and Josh.

The juice glass overflowed.

Josh blinked. Sam nearly choked on her toast. Hannah covered her face with both hands.

“BETH!” Sam gasped, her voice strangled.

“What!?” Beth defended. “You two snuck off, you came back all giggly and secretive, and Sam gave Hannah the look. You know the look!”

“I am going to crawl into the oven and turn it on,” Sam muttered, hiding her face behind her hands.

Josh, still frozen with the juice carton in one hand, finally spoke. “Wait, hold on—what are we talking about here?”

Beth looked at him like he was the dumbest man alive. “You and Sam! Last night!”

Josh dropped the juice carton. “Oh my god—”

The door burst open.

“What’s going on in here? We heard yelling!” Melinda asked sharply, stepping in with Bob right behind her.

Everyone froze like deer in headlights. Sam looked like she wanted to die. Josh had his hands in his hair. Hannah whispered “abort mission” under her breath.

“Josh and Sam slept together!” Beth shouted again, her hands flailing.

Everyone froze. Again.

Melinda’s gaze swept over the room—the flushed faces, the awkward postures, Sam looking like she wanted to vanish into the floor, Josh with one hand gripping the edge of the table like he was preparing to be struck by lightning.

Then her eyes locked onto Beth’s still-raised arm and the very obvious accusation written on her face.

Melinda’s mouth twitched.

“We know,” she said calmly.

A heavy silence followed.

“You knew?!” Beth and Hannah said in unison.

Sam looked like she was about to pass out. “What?!”

Josh choked. “Mom!”

Melinda smiled, completely unbothered. “Oh, honey, I gave birth to you. I know you. And I know what it looks like when you're in love.”

Hannah’s jaw dropped. “You knew this whole time and just said nothing?!”

Melinda shrugged. “I figured it would come out eventually. You’re all adults. You’re allowed to have feelings—and make...questionable decisions.”

Sam looked like she had disassociated from her own body.

Josh ran a hand over his face. “This is—how did you even—?”

Melinda raised an eyebrow. “The way you look at her, Josh. The way she looks at you. You carried her plate to the table, filled her mug before your own, tucked her hair behind her ear when you thought no one was watching—do I need to go on?”

Josh groaned and dropped his head to the table. “Please stop.”

Bob took a long sip of coffee, finally joining in. “Honestly, I’ve known too.”

Josh looked up slowly. “You too?”

“Son, I’m not blind,” Bob said dryly. “You two practically orbit each other like a couple of lovesick satellites. I just chose not to say anything because I really didn’t want to know the details.”

Beth looked personally offended. “You both knew, and you just sat there this morning like nothing was happening?!”

Melinda raised a brow. “Yes. Because we're the parents, and we’re mature adults.”

“Speak for yourself,” Bob muttered.

Sam finally let out a tiny laugh, hiding behind her coffee mug. “This is the weirdest breakfast I’ve ever had.”

Melinda leaned over and gently brushed Sam’s shoulder. “We’re glad you’re here, sweetheart. You make Josh happier.”

Josh peeked over at Sam, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Then Hannah made a gagging sound.

“Oh god, don’t look at each other like that. Not after what I think I heard through the vent.”

“Hannah!” Sam and Josh both exclaimed.

Beth slid dramatically down in her seat. “This is my villain origin story.”

Josh laughed, groaning into his hands. “I’m never gonna live this down.”

Melinda sipped her tea with a smirk. “Not a chance, sweetheart.”