Page 73 of Cade

I realized at that moment, that I could have everything I wanted, if I just fucking jumped. That everything I’d been searching for was right there in Jasper Springs, all along.

“What if...” My voice shook as the reality of the truth ransacked me. “What if I fuck up?” I asked.

My father turned toward me, appraising me with his stoic gaze, his lips pulling up at the corners to show the hint of a smile.

“You think I was perfect, Weston? That I knew what I was doing when I started this company? When I met your mom? When I had you?” He chortled gruffly.

“You’ll always make mistakes. You’re human. But your heart is in the right place, and you show up and you do your best. That’s all you have to do.”

“Can I... can I... think about it?” I said, the words making me feel somehow lighter.

My dad smiled, nodding.

“You’ve got twenty four hours. I won’t be back in the office to start the hiring process until tomorrow evening.”

“Tomorrow evening is the fundraiser,” I said.

“So it is,” he responded, taking another sip of his tea. We both sat there, staring at the birds until my tea had gone cold.

CHAPTER 42

Cade

The Jasper Springs Pet Hospital always closed early on Fridays. With the reinstatement of the last Rhodes Enterprises event, Diane felt it was important that we all attend, not just me.

Though with my track record being pretty decent from the last two events, she wanted me to man the booth, and surprisingly, I’d jumped at the opportunity.

I’d never really liked working with the public, which was one of the reasons I loved working with animals as opposed to humans. But something in me changed over the last week. I still got nervous, sure, but after speaking at two events and in front of some very important people, I knew I could do it.

And when Diane had asked me to be the person to accept the check, the big show of it, anyway, in front of our community, I wholeheartedly agreed.

We’d raised a ton of money from the last two events that I knew would go to great use, and I’d never been more proud of the hospital, or myself.

I waited around backstage for almost an hour until things actually started moving, and Mr. Rhodes came out on stage. I knew from Weston that he’d been doing better since he got home, and had already started to transition his replacement.

Though Weston was pretty tight-lipped about the future of his family’s company, and I wasn’t going to press him. I knew it was a sore subject, and he’d been through a lot this week. Though I’d garnered it’d been a lot for the last few years, if not his life, even though I had no proof, just from the bits and pieces he did share with me.

I wasn’t even surprised to see Weston on stage, standing next to his father, looking every bit Mr. Sexy Suit.

I tried to catch his gaze, but he refused to look my way, instead focusing out over the crowd.

Maybe he doesn’t know it’s me accepting the check...

His father droned on about his heart attack, the company, and what it meant to him, his family and his community. He spoke about matching all of our donations and what we’d raised, and my heart nearly burst.

I hadn’t known that much. I knew the events were good, good enough that we’d done three, but Diane had never said anything about Rhodes matching our numbers.

Just as my musings started to spin, his father called my name, loud and clear.

Shit, that’s my cue!

I took a deep breath, stilling the nerves that still threatened to rile up in me, being as I was walking out on stage in front of a sea of people. But I didn’t focus on them.

I only focused on Weston, who now met my gaze and was smiling with pride.

Someone walked out to hand Weston a large posterboard-sized check, and he took it easily.

I knew it was just a show, but my heart still lifted when I read the numbers, 20,000.

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