Page 13 of Cade

Reality was a cruel mistress.

The silence between the two of us was deafening as I pulled my shirt back on. Weston looked at me for a moment, before breaking the silence.

“Are you hungry?” he asked warily, as if I were nothing more than a caged animal.

“I’ll be fine,” I told him, feigning a solidarity I certainly did not feel at the moment.

Last night my walls came down, albeit due to the alcohol, but I’d be damned if I prolonged this only for Weston to pretend he wanted to talk to me, when really he just wanted this awkward moment to be over too.

I pursed my lips as Weston nodded in understanding.

So he can get back to his Sexy Suit Life, doing whatever assholes in sexy suits do.

Drink coffee, run some board meetings. Pick up locals for a night of smoking hot sex.

The memory of Weston’s lips at my ear, his words echoing in my brain, ‘such a good boy,’ echoed like warnings, making my cock twitch and I had to ignore it.

Absolutely not! That is not happening again...

“Do you need a ride?” he questioned as I watched him pull a fresh suit jacket on. He did not look at me directly again, instead just focused on putting on his watch, which looked like a brand new Movado.

Just because I live in Jasper Springs doesn’t mean I don’t fashion. I’ve been oogling one of those since Christmas.

“No, I’m good, thanks,” I answered as I pulled out my phone.

Six missed calls and texts from Dawson.

Did James Bond murder you?

I tapped out a reply quickly, focusing for the moment on something that wasn’t Weston.

The only thing he murdered is my dreams.

I kept my gaze trained on the screen as the bubbles popped up, and Dawson responded immediately.

That bad huh? You need me to call you? Pretend there’s a family emergency?

His words made me feel a little better. It wouldn’t be the first time Dawson would have had to come pick me up from a night of bad ideas with bad for me assholes.

Not to mention, he was one of them at one time.

I tapped out my reply almost immediately, thankful for the save.

Actually can you give me a ride to work?

Dawson answered fast, clearly prepared.

Of course. Not like I have any cats in trees to save.

He added some cat emojis for good measure.

I tapped back a thumbs up with the address of the Palisades Hotel.

“Well, it’s been fun, but... I, uh... gotta go. Work... and stuff,” I said quietly.

Weston slid his hand in his jacket pocket, his expression emotionless. He shrugged. “I get it. See you around, Cade.”

“See ya,” I answered as I headed out the door and down toward the lobby in search of something sweet to soak up all the shame, guilt, and sadness in my system while I waited for Dawson to get me.

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