Page 2 of Cade

“And, it’s tonight. You work until four, right?” Dawson pressed.

I knew exactly what he was getting at, and I also knew I should say no. That I should just put in my hours, go home, eat some ice cream and call it a night.

But I hadn’t seen Mitch or Dawson since Bill and I broke up right before Christmas...

Who breaks up right before Christmas?

Worst holiday movie ever...

“I do, but that doesn’t mean—”

“What? Like you have something better to do? Stay home in your fluffy bunny slippers eating your weight in Rocky Road?” Dawson drawled sarcastically.

I was both aggravated at the fact that the firefighter knew me so well, and offended that Dawson didn’t think that was precisely my idea of a good time.

I just wish I didn’t have to do it alone.

“Way to be harsh, Dawson.”

“I’m sorry, man, but it’s for your own good. You’re just nursing the wound at this point. Time to take off the band-aid. Get back out there. Catch some bigger fish to make you forget all about Billiard-No-Brains,” Dawson encouraged.

I rolled my eyes at my friend’s nickname for my most recent ex.

Dawson had given him the nickname when Bill lost a game of pool to him and Mitch. Ultimately, it was a shitty call. Bill shot for a higher ball, when he clearly could have had an easy point, and it cost us the game. Dawson had taken it upon himself to refer to him as nothing else since, except, of course, in his actual presence. Though I did always worry that he was going to slip up eventually.

Guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

I rolled my eyes again at Dawson’s tone, running my hand over my face and let out a deep sigh.

I knew without a doubt that I wouldn’t say no, because whether I liked it or not, Dawson was right.

I need to get out, to get myself back on track and put Billiard-No-Brains behind me.

“Yeah, okay.” I conceded. “I got to go, Diane is probably wondering why I’m still sitting in the car,” I said quickly.

“Excellent!” Dawson said, his tone something between a cartoon villain and a man who just won the lottery. I hung up, breathing a sigh of defeat.

It was just an evening out with friends, catching up.

What was the worst that could happen?

CHAPTER 2

Cade

The bar was packed, as was typical for Bar Bingo & karaoke. Jasper Springs wasn’t exactly the biggest town on the map by far, but it wasn’t uncommon for some of the folks from the neighboring towns of Paradise and Deer Hills to mosey on over to M’s for the Bar Bingo nights.

Dawson slammed down his beer, rolling his eyes.

“Come on, Cade. Live a little, have some fun for once,” he taunted me.

Dawson had been trying to get me up on stage to karaoke for the last hour, despite the fact he knew how much I despised that kind of thing.

It’s not that I couldn’t sing, because I very well could. I just didn’t normally do that sort of thing outside of my house or car, and I wasn’t the type to seek out attention. Everyone’s eyes on me would make me nervous, but Dawson told me no one would be paying any real attention to me.

I’m not sure if that made it better or worse, to be honest.

“Leave the boy alone, Dawson,” Mitchell said, taking pity on me as usual. I’d known Mitch since the sixth grade, though I’d never really considered him a best friend or anything, but nowadays I felt differently. Though I knew many people, I was closest to Dawson and Mitch, and did consider them my best friends.

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