Page 100 of Intertwined Souls

“Everything good?” Cade rumbles.

“Yeah. I haven’t called or texted her in a while, so she was worried.” I give him a genuine smile.

As much as I hated having to lie to her, it warms my chest to know that someone else cares enough about me to come and check on me. It’s new, and a welcomed feeling.

“Alright Tia, let’s go,” I beam, holding my hand out which she automatically takes, and we head upstairs to the guest room.

Opening the door, the second Tia spots Oakley, she releases my hand to run across the room and throw herself at her. “Tia, I’m so glad you are okay!” Oakley exclaims with tears in her eyes.

“I was worried,” Tia whispers, curling up in the bed next to Oakley.

“I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me,” Oakley promises her.

Walking around the bed to where Bri is sitting in a chair in the corner, I check in with her. “How are you?”

She smiles. “I’m alright. Atlas is bringing Oakley and I dinner, but I think I’ll have to tell him to bring something for Tia, too. I doubt she’ll want to leave her side anytime soon.”

I nod. “Okay. Cade and I are going to go for a run and then we’ll probably call it a night. Everything has been so hectic lately. Is there someone to take over up here when you need a break?”

We have been keeping someone in the rooms with them at all times just to be safe for now. And after what they’ve been through, I couldn’t imagine being left alone.

She nods. “Yes. Raven and Stone are going to be up here for the night. Don’t worry, honey. Go take a break. You deserve it.”

Nodding, I give her a hug and then take my leave while Oakley and Tia lay together talking quietly.

“I need to change real quick and then we go for our run,” Cade says as we walk towards our rooms. Giving him a peck on the cheek, I hurry into my room to put on different shoes since I am already in workout clothes. “Ready?” Cade asks when he comes out of his room.

“Yes. I could use a good run right now.” I grin at him.

When we get outside, we head up towards the gatehouse where one of the paths lines the inside of the fence around the property. Taking off at a slow jog, it doesn’t take more than five minutes for Bear to join us, forcing his way between us and keeping pace.

“Ready for more?” Cade asks. Confused, I say yes anyway and then he grins wickedly at me and picks up his pace, sprinting down the path.

Smirking, I do the same and attempt to keep up with him, but with his ridiculously long legs his pace is faster than mine. Although running behind him leaves me a nice view of his ass. That is, until he slows down slightly and spins around, jogging backwards.

“Come on, baby girl, keep up,” he taunts.

Rolling my eyes at him, I pick up my pace again to catch up, but right before I do, he spins back around and takes off again. “You’re an ass!” I yell, growing winded.

We keep running with Bear circling us. Cade mostly stays ahead of me, but I don’t mind because he is pushing me to run harder and I love pushing my body to its limits. By the time sweat has soaked through my t-shirt and my legs feel like they are going numb, I slow to a walk.

“You good?” Cade asks as he faces me, jogging backwards.

“How the fuck are you still just fine?” I gasp, my chest rapidly rising and falling.

He shrugs. “I’ve been running out here for years. Before you, I probably spent more time out here than I did in the club.”

I stop walking and drop my hands to my knees, bent over as I breathe heavily. I haven’t been pushed to this point in a long time.

“Here, come sit down,” Cade says.

Glancing up, I watch him turn off the path to the small, wooded area with trees that are down, the same exact spot the guys and I had a long talk almost a year ago now. I plop down on one of the tree logs and glance around, noticing the same thing I did the last time we were all out here, but then I didn’t say anything.

“This is your spot, right? You come out here?” I ask, still catching my breath.

Cade plops down on the ground and stretches his legs. “I used to. But I don’t as much now.”

“Is that yours?” I wonder, pointing to the car part. It looks like the hood of a car, but it’s off to the side and half buried by branches and weeds, appearing like it hasn't moved since the last time we were out here.

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