Page 36 of Quiet Chaos

“Like you’re his sky...” He lets out a laugh. “And dinner.”

I’m clueless to what he means by dinner. Maybe it’s best I change to another topic. My eyes roam the room in search of Cade, and I’m surprised to see him holding a little girl. I angle my head to the side, observing him as he tickles the little girl’s belly. She screeches, trying to wiggle free, so he puts her down.

Then I see her, the woman who pushed me into the table. Her hand touches Cade’s butt, circling around to his thighs. He catches her wrist before she touches his front. Both her hands caress his chest and biceps while she talks and he doesn’t stop her, yet he appears to not be listening either. She wraps her arms around his waist and her hips rub against him. His eyes lock on mine as he pushes away from her. I swallow and turn to Reed, who has seen what occurred.

Patsy arrives carrying two large platefuls of appetizers.

“I brought a little of everything.”

I press the pillow into my stomach and tip forward to get a better view of the food. She takes a plate and places one in front of Reed, me, and Cade’s space, which is now filled by Influencer, bobbing his eyebrows. I’m still confused about what the gesture means. I’ll have to ask Patsy about it later.

With a playful smile, he says, “Patsy, you didn’t have to bring me food.”

She smacks his hand as he reaches for the plate, which causes me to snicker. He glances at me from the side with a crooked smile and puts an arm on the back of the bench where I’m sitting.

“So, Sky, aside from some asshole fucking you up, what else have you been up to?”

I shrug. “Not much. I’m still healing.”

His head bobs up and down. “When you’re better, how about we hang out some time?”

Uncertain when he arrived, Cade stands, arms folded over his chest, scowling at Influencer.

When he spots Cade, he pushes back into me. “Jesus, Prez! You scared the shit out of me.”

“You’re in my seat.”

Influencer slides out to let Cade sit down. He stands by the table, tipping his beer at me, and asks again, “You wanna hang out when you’re feeling better?”

My eyes wander to Cade for a reaction. With his head bowed, petting Armstrong under the table, I assume it’s alright. Influencer seems safe. Besides, if he was mean to me, he’d have to answer to Cade.

I nod and say, “Sure. That would be nice.”

He has a big smile on his face until Cade glares at him and wipes it away.

Influencer clears his throat and says, “Well then, I’ll talk to you soon.” He backs away and points to me. “Looking good,Sky.” And with a final wink, he turns to join a group of guys on the other side of the room.

The table is quiet for a moment until Patsy, always the rescuer, asks me, “Why don’t you try an appetizer?”

I reach for a toasted piece of baguette with tomatoes and herbs and put it on my plate along with a few shrimps. The bread is new to me. I bite into the delicious tomato, garlic, and onion combination, and my eyes pop open. A burst of flavor awakens my taste buds.

With my hand covering my mouth as I’m still chewing, I point to the piece in my hand. “What is this?”

Cade responds. “Bruschetta.” He offers a gentle smile.

“I’m going to have to make it.”

Tension lifts while they talk and drink. We fill up on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Shortly after I chew my last bite, my eyes droop. Cade puts his arm around me. All it takes is his warmth and sleep prevails.

18

“One sip of warming bourbon gives me a Christmassy feeling, the spicy heat teasing out memories of the fragrant liquor.” Lynn Marie Hulsman

Cade - December 2019

In the chilly morning, I find Sky shoved halfway underneath me, laying on her stomach with her arms tucked under her breasts. I’m leaning on my right side, angled enough to view her petite body. She wears her old white shirt that reaches her ankles. After a night of sleep, the shirt has crept up above her knee, exposing part of her thigh and calves. Sky’s unblemished skin causes my breath to hook in my throat. My dick expanding in my boxer briefs.

Although I saw her naked, I didn’t get much of a chance to honor her small body. Too focused on calming and getting her cleaned up. Now, it takes everything for me not to run my hand along her smooth leg. To not peek under the shirt at her untouched pussy. I lay back down on top of her, taking a bunch of her hair and rolling it around my fingers. She smells the way I’d picture purity smelling like fresh fallen snow, morning dew, and spring rain.

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