bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

starter for @alecxkincade

location: bradley's home

"I know it was just the two of us tonight, but there's someone I want to add to dinner with us." His smile grew, cheeks heating up. "I've been seeing Teagan again." Bradley admitted to his brother, though there were hints of it on social media. "What do you say? Would you be up for it? Mom's already been stealing her away from me as much as she can." He shook his head with a chuckle. "What do you want to drink?" He asked his brother, standing up to walk into the kitchen with their dirty dinner plates. "I've got beer, wine, can make you a cocktail or just plain ole water." He set the plates into the sink, figuring that he would deal with them later.

[bradleyxkincade]

Bradley rubbed at the back of his neck as Charlie spoke. He listened closely as he took in weight of the situation that the other was dealing with ."That's.." he paused, "a lot. It's more than anyone should have to carry without warning." And even with warning, it was too much because from what he knew of Charlie and Chantel, they didn't ever deserve for something like this to happen. "He's lucky to have you, even if the courts don't see it that way," though he hoped they'd take into account that the mother abandoned the baby in the first place. "I can't imagine how helpless that must feel." Bradley shook his head. @charliesxdavis

He shook his head, "Yeah, that looks way too cold for me." he shivered at the thought of the water. He sighed as he looked at the water for a moment. "It's fine," he smiled at the other. "Last year, my fiancé... well, she was my girlfriend at the time," he smiled. "Her cousin came in and was expecting... she had her baby and took off on us," so they had been raising him for a year now. "And we are planning on starting to adopt him, but his birth mother showed up...without a word with court papers." It really did break his heart. But worse was how much it was hurting Chantel. "So we have to deal with all of that, and it just isnt that fun, we dont know what to do.."

@bradleyxkincade.

[bradleyxkincade]

📚 a life in logic & longing: the story of bradley kincade

🎵 🎧 🎶 soundtrack to a life - three songs for three chapters

🧒structure, siblings & soft spots ( 1982 - 2000 ) ; the oldest kincade kid, protective, grounded and golden. good at numbers, better at loyalty. he learned early how to show up for others and never really stopped.

free fallin' - tom petty

no rain - blind melon

iris - goo goo dolls

🎓 distance, degrees & detachment ( 2001 - 2006 ) ; champan gave him books, atlanta gave him heartbreak. he left one great love behind and another disappeared without warning. he came back different. colder. careful.

clocks - coldplay

mr. brightside - the killers

let her go - passenger

🏫 classrooms, quiet flings & close calls ( 2007 - present ) ; he teaches with passion, but lives with walls. math comes easy, relationships don't. there's pride in his work, pain in his silence and a wandering heart in the summer sun.

slow dancing in a burning room - john mayer

human - the killers

the night we met - lord huron

🧳🕶️✏️what's in the desk drawer?

a stack of graded quizzes, always returned with thoughtful comments

a polaroid of him, alec and waverly at the lake, sun-faded and soft

a cracked leather journal he pretends not to use

a mint tin that's actually filled with ibuprofen

a keychain he picked up in spain and never gave to anyone

🗣️ 🤫 💬 rumor's whispered in kismet harbor

"he's the kind of teacher who remembers every kid's name and story."

"never married, never settled, but somehow always there."

"he's kind, but not soft. something about him feels guarded."

"if he loved you, you'd never know it until it was too late."

"rumor is, he had his heart broken. once. bad enough to never risk it again."

"he's a steady man, but something in him still drifts."

💭 🧠 📝six thoughts in the last year

"maybe some people only get one great love"

"i don't need a partner to be whole, right?"

"i wonder if teagan ever things about the what-ifs."

"no one ever warns you how lonely stability can be."

"it's easier to care when there's a deadline. four years and they graduate."

"i build lives in fractions and formulas, but mine still feels unfinished."

[bradleyxkincade]

"Whoa, whoa, are you trying to steal my job?" He teased her, mischief sparkling in his eyes as he stole a glance in her direction. "It's my job to make you happy," he continued to be playful with Teagan in return. At her comment of what would Nancy do, Bradley chuckled aloud. The soft laughter passed over his lips, "Yeah, if Nancy starts flipping desks, we will need to get a wellness check done, stat." His lips curled into a grin, followed by another bout of laughter at her comment about his mom. "That's true. You always did have her wrapped around your finger and you don't even try." Bradley's mother had always adored Teagan, the one that got away, is what she'd tell Bradley and he knew that she was right. Even when he didn't want to admit it to himself. "Burgers it is," he said with a nod of his head, "we can get Thai food Friday." He suggested to her, "bring it to my parents place. I know my mom's been asking to see you anyway, so it will work out to be perfect timing for you to be the perfect gift for her," he was teasing but there was a sincerity to his words, ones that noted just how much Bradley cared for Teagan. @teaganweatherford

"I know." she exaggerated her words a long with him. "I'd at least like to go out with a bang if I'm going to die young." she responded, the hint of a laugh in her voice. Inuendo or not starving to death did not sound like something she wanted any part of. "No mood killing on my watch. It's my job to make your mood brighter after all." she smiled, hand resting on top of his that was placed against her thigh. At the mention of her being a saint she felt her cheeks blush slightly, shaking her head. "Just tried to be as patient as I can. Gave myself a moment to think 'what would Nancy do?' and did just that. And if Nancy ever flips a desk we might want to make sure she's okay." she admitted. She thought the world of Nancy, honestly. In a way, she felt like the mom she never had. She only let her smile widen when Bradley mentioned his mom and her birthday; she'd always adored the woman. "She's not that hard." she laughed. "Just bring me over. Let me talk to her for a few hours and she'll tell you it's the best present she's ever gotten." a chuckle. Right hand moved to rest against her growling stomach just as he asked for what she wanted. "I don't think I really have a preference." she admitted. "Thai food's something I haven't had in awhile, but, I could also go for a burger." a pause. "It doesn't have to be what I want though. You can make a choice too, I'm just happy to spend time with you." @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

He leaned into the kiss, his hand moving to rest instinctively on her thigh the moment she settled in. Bradley was not at all bothered by any waiting that he had to do to wait for her. "Well, I can't have you perishing on me me. That would really kill the mood," he grinned at her, "especially when I was hoping we'd make it to dessert." He added with a wink. "That sounds like a mess," he shifted, his concern for her genuine as she spoke about her day. "You're a saint for not flipping the desk," he squeezed gently where his hand rested on her thigh. "Got most of the it done for today, though I am still figuring out what to get mom for her birthday. She's impossible," Bradley chuckled with his words, "but let's get you fed. Where are you thinking?" @teaganweatherford

"Hey handsome!" she eagerly greeted, leaning over the middle console of the vehicle to plant a kiss on his cheek. She'd get an actual kiss from him later, but, he'd been waiting on long enough on her. Not to mention her stomach had been growling for nearly an hour at this point; she was starving. "Ugh, please. I'm pretty sure if I don't eat dinner soon I'm going to parish." she laughed. "Thank you for being so patient. We had some weird glitch with the computers and some of the room requests got lost but I think we finally got it all sorted." she explained. "How was your day? Manage to get everything on your list taken care of?" @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

"Yeah, cold water and pride have never mixed with one another." He chuckled at Charlie's words. "I get that," he said with a nod of his head. "So what's got you needing to get away? Or is that classified information?" He questioned, curiosity and genuine concern for his friend were the reason he asked in the first place. "If you don't want to talk about it, we don't have to." Pressuring people was not something Bradley was in the business of doing. @charliesxdavis

"No one wants to see a wet Charlie," he teased, really, he would have just let the bottle go. "well thank you, I mean I think can tread water, but it looks cold as fuck and I dont want that" he laughed. He smiled as he looked at his bottle and then back at the person who had helped him. "Ah, it's relaxing, so I like it," he smiled at him. "Just a bit going on, so I thought this would help." I did hope so. @bradleyxkincade.

[bradleyxkincade]

Bradley looked up from his desk as he heard approaching footsteps. A smile grew as he realized it was Bridget, bringing him the traditional year end cake. "If it isn't my favorite baker in Kismet Harbor," he complimented, moving a stack of papers from his desk so that Bridget could set it down. "Last year's cake had half the staff hovering outside my door seeing if I would share, so I hope you didn't pass any on the way in." He joked with her, looking over her shoulder, "It will only be a matter of time before they show up." Bradley continued to tease, "How's the bakery and more importantly, how are you doing?" @bridgetxjames

closed starter for @bradleyxkincade location: Kismet Harbor High

Bridget smiled as she knocked on Bradley's classroom door with a cake in her hands. It had become a tradition for him to get an end of the year cake and she liked delivering it. It was a nice break from being in the shop and she liked visiting as well. She smiled as she saw him approach and she held up the cake like a prize. "Hey. Got the cake right here for you."

[bradleyxkincade]

starter for @teaganweatherford

location: the homey inn

Bradley had dropped Teagan off at work on his way to the high school to finish up the last of his end of year checklist and had spent the day doing so. Picking up Teagan had butterflies fluttering in his stomach as he parked the car in the lot. He texted her that he had arrived, but that there was no rush. If he had to wait, he would. They had been dating for only two months, but it had been two months that he had been cherishing. He scrolled, absentmindedly on his phone while he waited for her and how long had passed had not crossed his mind, only stopping as he heard the car door open, "Hey, love," he smiled warmly at her, "are you hungry? We can go out for dinner tonight if you want."

[bradleyxkincade]

Her words physically stopped him. And just for a second, he stopped walking. He looked at her and for once, his expression was not guarded by the walls he had built around himself. "Teagan," he said her name, quietly, as if he might break if he said it any louder. "I tried to let you got. But nothing ever felt right after you." He admitted, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "If this is our second shot, I don't want to waste it." Bradley stopped again, reaching out to place his hand on her forearm to signal her to stop. "I'm all in. No more guessing, no more holding back." His eyes locked with her own and he kept his hand on her forearm as he did so. "I want this. I want you." @teaganweatherford

[bradleyxkincade]

"Figured this saved us both the trouble of watching you fall into the lake," he joked as he handed off the bottle to its rightful owner. "Though, for the record, I would have jumped in after you if that had happened." Bradley, though it wasn't always something that seemed obvious about the man, was someone that would go out of his way for another person. "How are things going with you? What brings you all the way out here?" His brow raised curiously, "Something on your mind?" @charliesxdavis

He wasn't as quick as he used to be, and he was getting up to chase after it. But part of him knew he was better off letting it up to the fates. That he didn't want to end up falling into the water himself. It happened so fast he was hoping the bottle would stop, but before he knew it, Bradly came in and grabbed the bottle. "Thanks, man, I thought I'd end up swimming soon," he joked as he took the water bottle." But go on, sit," he smiled. he didn't mind it at all. @bradleyxkincade.

[bradleyxkincade]

Bradley had been walking along the edge of the marina, when he spotted a bottle rolling like it had a mission. He moved, quickly and without thinking to snatch the bottle before it could tumble off the edge. "Close call," he said, spotting Charlie sitting on a bench. He walked over, holding out the bottle for the man. Bradley nodded towards the empty spot on the bench. "Mind if I sit?" He questioned Charlie. @charliesxdavis

Charlie was sitting on a bench looking over the Marina, just trying to think about things. There was so much going on with Cressida being back in town, and what she had told him and Chantel. She wanted to get Houston back fully. He didn't like that she went right to the courts without talking to them first. That he knew Chantel, and he would let her visit Houston when she wanted to be there. So he was worried what was going to come from all of this.

He sighed as he looked over at the water, just watching some boats coming and going in, thinking about all of it. He had a bottle of water with him, just sipping at it and went to sit it down but missed the bench and it went rolling toward the water "Shit" he hurried to catch it. @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

Her words physically stopped him. And just for a second, he stopped walking. He looked at her and for once, his expression was not guarded by the walls he had built around himself. "Teagan," he said her name, quietly, as if he might break if he said it any louder. "I tried to let you got. But nothing ever felt right after you." He admitted, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "If this is our second shot, I don't want to waste it." Bradley stopped again, reaching out to place his hand on her forearm to signal her to stop. "I'm all in. No more guessing, no more holding back." His eyes locked with her own and he kept his hand on her forearm as he did so. "I want this. I want you." @teaganweatherford

Hearing Bradley be the one to speak up first wasn't a shock to Teagan; he'd always known just what to say when it was a more serious conversation, and when they'd dated before it often times was one of the many things that eased Teagan's mind when harder topics would come up. Of course that didn't seem to change even though years had passed. In fact it just made her feel as if they'd fallen back into older times. It wasn't until he mention being 'straight up' that she let herself smile. "I've always said honesty was the best quality." she admitted, eyes focused on him again, walking a little slower as she tried to process how she wanted to respond. "I don't want to either." she spoke, though her words were barely a whisper. "I - I don't think I've ever fully been able to let you go." she stated, eyes focusing on him as she shrugged, though she was serious. Even though she'd dated Brandon who had emotionally scarred her, her heart had never fully been given back to her when her and Bradley broke up years ago; and something about that night they'd shared together had ignited something in her, something that she couldn't deny. "You didn't." she stated, shaking her head as she let his words linger. "I'm single. You've not missed anything, and if how we're both feeling is any indication of where we should be right now I don't think the universe could get anymore clear." she laughed. "I don't want to run either. I'm tired of doing that." @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

"Leo, yeah," his eyes moved to a box that was labeled kitchen stuff. "I think I've seen you at a few as well," he extended his hand for a quick shake. His grip was firm. "I'm Bradley," he offered his name at the same time, a smile growing against his lips. "Nice to see that I'm not the only person that signs up for activities that say heavy lifting. Most people run for the hills when it comes to moving duty." Bradley joked, "Want to get the stuff from upstairs? We look like we can tackle some of the bigger furniture pieces." @le0nxrd0perez

Always willing to help out a fellow person, Leo had signed on early when first moving to town for Hands On Kismet. He figured it would be a great way to lay down some roots and get to know his fellow residents. No task was off limits, even helping someone move, which wasn't exactly people's favorite thing. But Leo didn't mind and he signed up when the opportunity arose, partially because it almost could be used as a way to get his body moving and working out; lifting heavy boxes and the like. As he had gotten there early, he looked around the home, wondering what had caused the couple to split when he heard a voice. Turning to said voice, he shook his head, "oh uh thankfully no, not one of the former owners. Just helping out with the move. I'm Leo, I think I've seen you around at different Hands On events." @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

"Pets are family." Bradley could understand that sentiment. "Sounds like she already has you wrapped around her paw," he said before his tone shifted. As they stepped out of the coffee shop and started toward the park, the cool May air brushed past them. His expression softened at her words. "No, uh, I'm good," he smiled at her, not wanting to waste more time before they got to talking.

"Yeah, that night," he started, his voice quieter. He was trying to be thoughtful in his response, hesitating just a moment longer. "I'm glad it wasn't just you," Bradley said, trying to gather his thoughts still. "I've been turning it over in my head, this whole time. And trust me," he looked at her, giving her a small smile, "you're not making it awkward. Being straight up, as the kids say, is something we should have done a while ago." Bradley continued on. "I don't want to run from this," he said, his own admittance making his heart flutter. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since." Admittedly, Bradley never stopped loving Teagan. "I'll be honest, I don't know that I want to move on, so to speak." He stated, shoving his hands into his pocket, "I don't want to assume you're single or anything right now, maybe I've missed my chance, but," Bradley trailed off, "yeah. I'll let you go next." @teaganweatherford

A nod as she laughed. "I still feel like if I get too excited about it Dad's going to come around the corner and tell me to take it back outside." she laughed. "But she's kind of perfect. As perfect as any pet parent thinks their pets are I assume." a shrug as she didn't want to seem crazy for talking about her cat all day but she really did love her. Though the shift in tone made Teagan a little sad; she herself didn't know what their night together had meant but she also wasn't sure she could handle being rejected right now. Not from Bradley, as chaotic as it even felt to say that. "I'm glad it wasn't just me.." she'd wondered for a bit if it had been a mistake, simply a reaction to old feelings and a moment of vulnerability, but, listening to him mention that he didn't know what to think of it either was reassuring. "Yeah, it's nice enough out today that I think walking to the park would be good." she nodded. "You need anything else before we do? Like another coffee?"

Once they were ready to go, a few steps ahead as they made their way to the park Teagan sighed. "There's a part of me that wants to jump straight in by asking you what your thoughts are on that night so that we can move past it." she stated. "But you said we had a lot to talk about so I don't want to make it awkward if you have something else that you want to talk about first." @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

"Yeah, that will do it." He said with a nod of his head. "Trying is something." Bradley continued, "You're not the only one left. I mean, come on, that's a pretty skewed mindset right there." He paused, lifting his hand up to rub the back of his neck, "To some degree you've got to stop standing in your own way, if you ask me." Which he knew that Donovan didn't. "You can really stunt your own personal growth if you aren't careful." And Donovan struck him as a man stuck in his ways. @donnymorgan

END.

He shook his head. "I have looked at the apps and done them..." he looked down for a moment. "and then got too much anxiety and deleted everything... " into too much panic that no one would want him or would stand him up, and just all the bad stories he would hear. "I don't think so, and my life has never made it easy." Leaving for the Marines out of high school and being in it so long, it just kept him out of the game. "I know that, but you can't help but feel you're the only one that messes up or the only one that's left out." he let out a breath. "But I am trying my best." hr really was trying. @bradleyxkincade

[bradleyxkincade]

starter for @le0nxrd0perez

location: a house in kismet harbor

Bradley was an active member of Hands on Kismet Harbor and when there was a moving task, Bradley signed up. It was for a couple that recently divorced and were looking for help to move their belongings and subsequently, avoid one another. Showing up to the address, Bradley walked up to the open door where a few others were already inside. As he made his way indoors, he spotted someone that wasn't actively lifting anything. "Hey, are you one of the former home owners or are you helping out?" It would determine how Bradley moved forward.

[bradleyxkincade]

"Yeah, you'd think all that work put into making the profile on an app that they'd want to go out." Yet, it didn't seem like that was the case a lot of times. Or maybe, it was the way that Bradley approached things. He hadn't been able to place his finger on it just yet. "Dating has never been easy and probably never will be." Bradley chuckled softly, "None of us know what we are doing, Donovan." His shoulders lifted in a shrug, "Just keep being honest with yourself and whomever is sitting across from you." @donnymorgan

Donny nodded. He was glad he didn't try that sort of thing and really hoped that he didn't have to. "It all seems so weird to me, like if I really wanted to go out and date, I could never do it online like that..." he would have gone out and tried it for real. "I guess that is true, I don't think dating has ever been easy." he didn't do well even in high school. "I think we are trying that... I am trying, but I still don't know what I am doing anymore..." What he was okay with, what he felt like his mind could handle. @bradleyxkincade