Page 53 of Getting Over You

“I enjoy hanging out with you,” he says. “But keep your hopeless romantic shit to yourself.” As he says this, his jaw does that thing again.

Then my heart ignites. Good thing I’ve got a spare now.

It’s been a few weeks since my tattoo, and things with Cade haven’t felt any less…heatedsince then. Time seems to fly between working at the diner, making a second job out of evading Shane while I meticulously plan a breakup, and hanging out with Cade. He still hasn’t heard from Eddy about the loan for the tattoo shop, and with every day that passes, he gets more and more antsy.

He told me at the boardwalk weeks ago he had his shop. And I thought he meant it—that he really owned the thing. But apparently, he rushed down to the boardwalk to announce to me theheightened possibilityof owning the shop.

The fact that Cade was that excited to tell me about a phone call that was essentially meaningless makes me hopeful. But it shouldn’t. The fact that he has a tattoo that saysruin, with the letters starting to engulf in flames, is just too… fitting. It’s too Cade.

I hate—love?—the way my mind drifts to him all the time. Hooking up with Shane has turned into hooking up with an image of Cade Deans that sits like a god behind my eyelids. And as fun as that is, I want the real thing.

But I have to break things off with Shane first. I’m not a girl that just hooks up, not really, even if I pretend to. But I’m especially not a girl who will spend time with two guys at once.

At least, not naked.

I can’t stop thinking about the breakup being number one on my to-do list. Even if I’m in Cade’s vicinity at the apartment all the time. Tonight is no exception.

“Have you told her?”

“No, I haven’t told her. Why don’t you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Tell me what?” I ask, coming to take a seat on the couch and depositing the drink I grabbed into Cade’s hand. “Did you finally decide to screw each other?” I ask, pointing at EJ and Rory.

“I’m trying,” EJ laments.

At the same time, Rory says, “No. Have you guys?”

Cade snickers. “No,” he says. “But not without trying.”

I roll my eyes.

It’s a Friday night, and Rory and I are at EJ and Cade’s. I have a date with Shane tomorrow, but that’s tomorrow, I’ve told myself again and again. Tonight is for Cade. I’m making it for Cade. Drinking beer with him, laughing with glee at his jokes, enjoying him. Immersing myself and pretending Shane doesn’t exist, simply because I can.

“EJ wants to have a party. For Independence Day,” Rory says.

“Do you… normally?”

“No,” EJ supplies. “But why not start?”

“What’s different about this than all the other times we hang out here?” Cade grunts.

“Fireworks,” I say. “Right? There’s a fireworks show on the beach.”

Cade’s eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”

“Duh,” I say, grinning widely at him. “Have you never experienced Independence Day in Texas, Cade?Texas?”

He smirks, dimples popping. “Shut up.”

“Make me,” I challenge with a coy smile.That was too freakin’ bold, Gigi. Too much. But god, do I ever hope he catches on.

The words come out before my brain registers them. Right as they click into place, Cade is standing. “You asked for this,” he mumbles. Then I’m airborne, being flung with ease over Cade’s shoulder.

I squeal, pounding on his back. He secures a hand beneath the curve of my ass. “Cade! Put. Me. Down.”

“We need to talk,” he mutters. “Excuse us,” he calls to Rory and EJ as he carries me the short distance to his room. He uses his foot to kick the door shut, then sets me gingerly on his bed, not bothering to flip on any lights. My skin is buzzing with the feeling of his arms holding my body to his.

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