Page 27 of Cade

What I wanted lay in Jasper Springs, and as I left Sedona, I barely registered as I walked past the waiter, and I did not meet his goodbye. Instead, I only focused on searching my social media for the Jasper Springs Pet Hospital, in search of a very big, sparkly fish.

CHAPTER 16

Cade

I leisurely sipped my coffee as I sat down for breakfast at my kitchen island. I’d always been a stickler for my morning routine, and as such I did not usually check my messages or peruse my social media until I’d at least showered and dressed for the day.

As I took a bite of my cherry poptart, I noticed my Facebook messenger had a new message notification.

No one ever messaged me on the app, for most of the people I regularly saw or had contact with, knew I rarely checked the thing, and that texting my cell was a hell of a lot more efficient.

Still, I could not deny my budding curiosity, and so I opened the messenger, to see a message request that made my eyes widen.

Weston Rhodes would like to send you a message.

I stopped mid-chew to contemplate how I should respond, or if I should respond at all.

After all, Weston had said himself that just because we had sex, that didn’t mean anything. And though he’d offered to grab us both something to eat, he hadn’t shown up after. I knew I shouldn’t have cared, after all, Weston was no different than the other assholes of my past, but I was still disappointed. A part of me had dared to hope that maybe, just maybe this once, things would be different.

But I also knew that it was rude to make assumptions.

So I did the noble, polite thing. I accepted the message.

I didn’t know how else to get a hold of you. I wanted to apologize for... well... everything.

I feel like we got off on the wrong foot.

I glanced at Weston’s profile picture, at his GQ smile and debonair attitude, at the little green circle that told me Weston was online. His pixelated face tempted me even then to answer.

And I couldn’t deny him or his little icon as my fingers typed of their own accord.

You stood me up.

I chewed and swallowed the remainder of my poptart, feeling a sense of nervousness overcome me as I watched those three little dots flash on the screen.

I was detained. Believe me, I would have much rather been eating bon-bons with you.

I chewed my bottom lip as I considered his words.

Was there an emergency?

Cat stuck in a tree?

I actually felt a tad big smug at my cheeky response.

Score one for me!

Weston responded almost immediately.

Worse. My mother needed to parade me around like some prized pony.

Surprised at his candidness, I debated his words. He could be telling the truth, or it could be a lie, a cover up constructed to make him look better and not like an asshole, but...

But what reason would Weston have to lie to me?

What would he have to gain?

You catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar.

---