Page 17 of Cade

“Don’t be such a stick in the mud,” my mother nipped as we strolled down Main Street, stopping in front of a food truck selling donut holes and homemade poptarts.

“I am not a stick in the mud,” I retorted, wrinkling my face at her tone.

“You’ve been scowling ever since you showed up, my dear. If your skincare routine wasn’t handpicked by Francesca, I’d worry about you getting wrinkles from that incessant frown.”

I rolled my eyes. Nothing ever got past this woman, I swear.

“I’m just... it was a rough morning.” I chewed on my lip, wishing I hadn’t said anything the moment the words left my mouth.

My mother’s eyes lit up with resounding judgment. She’d snared me in her trap, again.

“Stay out past your bedtime again?” she nipped, her tone sweet yet full of venom at the same time.

My mother, Hilaria Rhodes, was quite capable of getting even the toughest soldier to dispel their secrets. I’d watched her on many occasions when we’d attended a plethora of events.

“I haven’t had a bedtime since the third grade, mother.”

Her phone rang, dissolving the moment and her attention, and I thanked my lucky stars. She answered her phone immediately, holding up a hand to me, if only to brush me off for something far more pressing. Perhaps someone had a more dramatic situation that needed judgment than just her reluctant son.

I was more than familiar with the life of my socialite mother though, and therefore, I knew there would be no better time to exit than the one moment I’d been given. So I smiled and nodded as she turned away, spouting off “No, Cynthia’, and ‘that will not do’, and ‘please ask Mr. Lammie.”

I did not waste my moment, taking my leave as I ambled down Charleston Street alone, checking out the booths one by one. The sun beat down on my back, causing steam to heat my skin beneath my shirt.

And that was when I saw him, though to be fair I wasn’t entirely sure I hadn’t imagined a mirage from the dire heat.

Cade stood behind one of the booths, dressed in a pink polo shirt, smiling that bright Jasper Springs smile. Jasper Springs Pet Hospital was sprawled across the banner in stark white font, little pawprints bespeckling the bright blue tablecloth. A part of me wanted to casually stroll over and strike up a conversation, even though Cade had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me after this morning.

But there was also a part of me that was terrified of being caught staring, at being caught wishing for something more.

Just this once.

CHAPTER 12

Cade

I had just gotten done setting up the Jasper Springs Pet Hospital booth, when Regina, one of the firewomen from Dawson’s firehouse—who was conveniently set up next to me—whacked me in the arm.

“What the hell, Gina...”

“The prodigal son returns,” she deadpanned, and I huffed in annoyance.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked. Being as close to Dawson as I was, I was more than familiar with a handful of the firefighters from the firehouse, though I didn’t consider many of them my friends like I did with Dawson. However, Gina Corolla didn’t seem to be phased by my lack of social skills.

What were the odds the firehouse would be set up next to the pet hospital booth anyway?

“Haven’t you heard about the Rhodes’ very hot, very single, and very gay son?” She looked at me with question.

I avoided her gaze, choosing instead to straighten out some brochures on my table.

“You know I don’t keep up on town gossip,” I said. And it was true. I’d never cared for the secret whispers and looks, the currency of small town suburbia, and I certainly didn’t want to end up a whisper on someone’s tongue myself.

No, I preferred to keep my life more than private, and I respected others rights to do the same.

“Well, since you’ve been living under a damn rock, he’s coming this way so you can get a good look at him.”

“Gina...” I protested, but all she did was turn my head in the direction of...

Holy shit.

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