Page 63 of Cade

I felt frozen in place. How...

She must have sensed my confusion, because she sighed. “Anyone with eyeballs can see the tension between you two in that photo in the paper. Plus all the ladies in town are talking about it. You have been seen together quite a bit...” Diane twisted her lips.

Busted.

“It just sort of... happened,” I said. It wasn’t a lie, but... how else could I explain who or what Weston was to me. Sure, we’d admitted that we had feelings for one another, but it wasn’t like we’d declared our undying love or anything, but a part of me wished I had.

“I’m sure your boyfriend is a mess, so I’m going to be nice, just this once, Cade. You’ve done a lot for me this week, especially with the events. I’m more than equipped with a full staff here today. Take the day off. I know you’re already off tomorrow, so just... do what you need to do and I’ll see you on Saturday, yeah?” she said kindly.

I grabbed my coffee, twirling my keys in my hand.

“Thank you, Diane,” I said with the utmost appreciation.

“Mhmm. Don’t mention it loverboy. Go be the hero of your story today,” she said with a wink and I was out the door in seconds.

When I got to the car, I texted Weston immediately.

Can you meet me at Penn’s Bakery? Grab some coffee?

It was like an eternity until he’d messaged me back, and I started to fear the worst.

Be there in ten minutes.

I sped off in the direction of Penn’s Bakery, my heart in my throat.

I had no idea what to do or how I was going to help.

All I knew was that I needed Weston just as bad as he needed me, and if there was something I could do, even if it was meeting up over coffee and telling him everything would be okay, even though I didn’t know it would be... that was what I would do.

Because I loved him.

I wanted to be everything he needed me to be and then some.

Because he was so much more to me.

Weston made me come alive. He inspired me, pushed me, and brought out parts of me I wanted to explore with great depth. I wasn’t sure what the future held for us, but I knew as I hurried my ass over to Penn’s Bakery, that I didn’t care where the road led me.

As long as Weston was there too, I knew everything would be all right.

CHAPTER 35

Cade

I walked into Penn’s Bakery to see Weston sitting in the corner booth, looking like a lost puppy. I slid into the seat across from him.

“Have you eaten anything?” I asked, noting he looked a little pale.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Are you hungry?” I asked, going into crisis management mode, as Dawson would call it.

“I mean, sort of...” he said with a huff.

“Stay here,” I commanded as I got up, heading over to the bakery counter.

“Cade...” Weston groaned.

I shot him a look that froze him in place.

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