They were standing together, Caia washing up, while Jaeden dried and put the dishes away.
“So how was that for you?” Jaeden glanced back at the table. “I know you were pretty nervous about it earlier.”
Caia smiled shyly, not meeting her eyes. “Honestly... and you promise you won’t tell?”
“Of course.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Ugh, this is stupid. I don’t feel like myself here at all-”
“Bu-”
“No, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that... I just... I feel really goofy because...”
Jaeden grinned. “Because?”
Caia shrugged embarrassed. “Because I’ve never had a better time,” she spoke so quietly even Jaeden with her lykan hearing had to lean in.
“Aw, Cy.” She laughed and shoved at her playfully. “Did you have A Little House on the Prairie moment tonight?”
At that, Caia splashed water from the sink up onto Jaeden’s face. She merely sniggered and pulled back as Caia narrowed her eyes on her teasingly. “Oh I am never telling you anything again.”
“You did.” Jaeden wouldn’t let up. “Aw, I think my heart hurts a little.”
“Oh, you’ve done it now,” Caia growled.
What ensued was a water/bubble/washing-up liquid fight that ended with the two of them slipping on the latter and landing hard on their butts, screaming hysterically.
“What the Hades...”
Giggling, and trying to catch their breaths after having chased each other around the kitchen - which now looked like the great flood had hit it– they glanced up at the kitchen doorway to see Lucien and Ella gazing around in wonder. Magnus stood chuckling behind them.
“What have you done to my kitchen?” Ella squeaked.
“It’s totally her fault.” Jaeden laughed, flicking bubbles at Caia.
“What...” Caia’s mouth fell open.
They turned at the sound of Lucien’s laughter. “If you were going to have a water fight couldn’t you have told us? Some guys pay to watch that stuff, you know.”
“Lucien,” Ella admonished.
“What?” He laughed innocently, and then turned back to look at Caia. “Need a hand up?”
She shook her head, wincing at the pain from her butt when she’d landed on the hard floor. She laughed breathlessly. “I think I can manage.”
“I might need a hand.” Jaeden smiled flirtatiously.
“A hand? You need something but it’s not a hand.” Caia groaned, getting to her feet. She pulled Jaeden up with her before turning to Ella. “We’ll clean it up, I promise.”
“Hmm,” she grunted, un-amused, and spun on her heel to leave.
Lucien and Magnus followed, and she could hear Lucien say, “Leave ‘em be. She’s just having some fun.”
Jaeden raised an eyebrow as she turned back to Caia. “Sounds like Lucien’s championing someone.”
Caia frowned distractedly, looking around them at the mess. “How did we do this?” She snorted.
Jaeden laughed wearily. “I don’t know, but we better clean it before Ella decides to end us.”