Page 14 of Cade

CHAPTER 8

Cade

When Dawson’s candy apple red truck pulled up to the curb, I crawled in, waiting for the judgment I knew was coming.

Better to just get it over with.

But instead, Dawson only handed me a clean Jasper Springs Fire Co. long-sleeve, a large iced coffee, and a bag with a donut.

Chocolate glazed, my favorite.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I breathed with relief as my stomach growled.

You’d think the Palisades would have had something unhealthy, but the cafe was stocked with nothing but Nutrigrain bars.

“Figured you’d need to eat your feelings a little bit, you sounded a little stressed. Plus, I’m sure you feel like shit.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” I mumbled as I took a long drink of iced coffee. The sweetness was overpowering, but it made me feel a little better at the moment.

“Did you at least have fun?” Dawson asked with that annoying tone of his, the one that used to get on my nerves, but now I’d become numb to hearing.

I stared out the window, chewing my straw as we took off. Jasper Springs was already bustling as the shops opened and the traffic had started. Stealing a glance at the clock, I noted it was nearly nine thirty.

I usually don’t sleep so late...

Thank God I’m working the afternoon shift today.

“Yeah, I guess,” I answered with a sigh as I shifted in the passenger seat.

It wasn’t a lie. I did have fun. A little too much fun.

“I mean, when I left, you two were practically dry humping each other on stage, and you were giggling up a storm, so...” Dawson teased me, raising his eyebrows.

I knew he wouldn’t stop until he’d gotten every sordid detail like the pain in the ass he was, but after my disaster of a morning, I just didn’t have the spoons to rehash everything and feel worse than I already did.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Dawson,” I said, my heart breaking a little as the memories hazily replayed in my brain on repeat. In truth, I didn’t want to talk about it, or even think about it.

The memory of Weston’s lips, of his salacious tongue, and his cock would be tattooed on my damn brain for eternity.

Along with my stupidity.

Real smooth, Cade.

I half expected Dawson to push for details like he always did, forgoing boundaries altogether, but to my surprise he did no such thing. Instead, his gaze softened.

“Maybe you should take the day off,” he suggested.

It wasn’t a bad idea, but I knew being at home all cooped up would have only given my anxiety full reign to focus on all the spots I’d fucked everything up. No, I needed to move. To keep my mind busy so I wouldn’t think of Weston and his gorgeous green eyes and sweet, chocolatey voice. Plus, there was the fundraiser the hospital was doing with Rhodes Enterprises, which we’d been planning for months and the hospital would be understaffed today because of it.

“I can’t,” I responded, watching the world pass me by. “The pet hospital is spread thin as it is today with the fundraiser, and a hangover with a side of guilt isn’t exactly a reason to call off. At least, it isn’t to me.”

I expected Dawson to refute, to argue with me about how a hangover most certainly counted as a sick day, but he didn’t. Instead, he just turned up the radio and left me to wallow in my own self-pity like the loser I felt I truly was at the moment.

Just once, I’d like things to work out instead of blowing up in my face.

CHAPTER 9

Cade

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