Page 49 of Dirty Play

It helped that Cade was in another wing of the hospital and I could sneak off to go see him on my breaks if I was already there—but that’s beside the point.

I haven’t felt the stress that I expected to feel if I tried to spend time with someone I liked while trying to remain devoted to my job. Cade and I are not dating, we’re not anything except two people who enjoy each other's company, both dressed and naked. But the time we’ve spent together is similar to what I’d spend with someone if I were dating them.

So… maybe I can actually have both? Maybe this thing between Cade and I really can be something more. Not just something we’re passing through, but maybe a destination.

Cade is definitely someone I can imagine being my destination, someone I can enjoy life with.

He’s quickly becoming more to me, and I’m afraid I’m too far in to try to stop it.

Chapter 19

Cade

Ifinally convinced Gwen to come with me on this trip. Even after she agreed, I still had to promise that one day she’d hear more about my family. We faced a little hurdle when her initial request for leave got denied, but when she mentioned that the doc was a huge fan of mine, I used it to my advantage and asked him myself. All I had to do was tell him I needed help with travel for my parents… Oh, and I slipped in a pair of tickets for the first home game next season.

Oh well, it’s worth it.

I had her drop me off at my place so I could get everything packed while she went back to her place to hang out with the girls for a bit before we left for Ivy Falls.

“What the hell do you mean you donated a kidney?” Harris barks into the phone.

“I don’t know how else to say that… it’s pretty self-explanatory,” I retort, grabbing my duffle bag from the closet.

“Start from the beginning. I need to hear the whole story before I decide if I’m calling my mom.”

“Fuck off, Harris, you wouldn’t.”

“Wanna bet, fucker?”

“No. No, I actually don’t,” I tell him, grabbing my toiletries and tossing them into my bag.

“Good. And actually, hold on story time, I’ll be there in five,” he says, disconnecting the call.

God dammit.

While I wait, I start throwing clothes into the duffle bag. Well… setting them in gently, not moving too much, and making sure not to lift anything over ten pounds—and whatever other bullshit Gwen said before she left. I’ve still got a few more hours before we head out. I’ve timed it so that way we arrive before it gets too late but not too early that we’ll have to face the whole inquisition tonight.

I walk around, putting everything away until I hear a knock on my door less than ten minutes later. I guess it’s time to face Harris.

Shit, I thought I had more time, he must’ve been closer than I thought.

I let him in and immediately see the concern on his face as he quickly checks over me from head to toe.

“Aww, Harry, were you worried about me?” I joke, and the concern is replaced by anger.

“Fucking hell, Cade, you can’t just drop this shit on me. You had surgery? What the fuck? That kind of thing is planned in advance. Especially when it’s something like donating a damn organ,” Harris snaps.

Eyebrows raised, I just stare down at him. “You done yet?”

“If you hadn’t just donated a kidney, I’d punch you in it,” Harris seethes, barreling past me into my apartment, heading straight for the living room.

Shutting the door, I follow him, taking my spot on the couch while he takes a seat across from me, elbows resting on his knees, fingers intertwined like he’s holding himself back from that kidney punch.

His concern and the fact that he’s so angry at me for not talking to him—I’m feeling some things over it. For one, like I’m a pretty big asshole for not telling my friends about this, especially him. I can only imagine what’s going to happen when I actually see my family and they find out.

Between my mom and Ky, future me might be fucked because they don’t mess around. Just like Gwen, which is part of the reason I like having her around so much.

The other feeling, though, is that I’m cared for. This fucked up situation is making me realize that these wonderful people—my best friends—that I keep at arm’s length, really care about me. They think I’m worthy of their time… so why the fuck can’t I believe it’s possible?

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