Page 8 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Cade can cook,” Macklin reminds.

That is true. I used to like to spend time with Mom. As an NHL player, Dad was on the road a lot. It had been Mom and me against the world growing up.

“I’m going to Florida tomorrow,” Hayden announces. “Tampa Bay invited me to spend the weekend with the team and watch their game tomorrow night.”

We all congratulate Hayden. This means he’s getting an early contract.

“If you have your own hotel room, then maybe we can come along,” I suggest.

“Bro, I’ll be busy,” Hayden replies.

“But we don’t need to be with you, we can just crash in your room,” I say to him because I need to get out of Riverside right now. I keep thinking about Scarlett making out with that guy, and how she tried to tell me it was a dare. She must think I’m an idiot. She also sent me about ten text messages between last night and this morning. I should block her.

“Who wants to come?” Hayden asks, looking around the table.

“I can’t,” Finn says.

“Neither can I,” Aaron adds.

“I can,” Luc chimes.

“So just the two of you?” Hayden says to himself. “I guess it should be okay, if you guys don’t pull any nonsense. This is my future,” he says to Luc and me. He clearly feels bad for me after what happened last night. I appreciate him being a good friend.

“We can just chill by the pool,” I tell him.

“Okay, yeah, that’s cool,” Hayden replies.

Luc gives me a fist bump. The rest of the day goes by at a turtle’s pace. I keep thinking about my arrangement with Annie. It seems a little out there. When I agreed to it last night my head was spinning, and it wasn’t only because of what happened with Scarlett. That kiss I shared with Annie was hot as fuck. The way she melted into me, her taste, the sweet scent of her. The kiss came out of nowhere, but the way it made me feel practically knocked me on my ass. I can’t erase it from my mind.

I pack a small carry-on. The next morning Ruby uses my car to drive us to the airport.

On the way, I get another text message from Scarlett. She’s apologizing again.

Luc looks my way. “Is that her?”

I nod.

“Fuck,” he hisses.

“You need to move on, Cade. You’re getting laid in Florida. You need to forget about her,” he insists.

“What about Annie?” Hayden asks. “You guys had some serious chemistry last night.”

Don’t I know it.

“I’m a mess right now. I don’t think she’s interested in me in that way,” I answer.

“I think you’re wrong, bro,” Hayden says.

“Nah, she isn’t looking for anything and neither am I.” After being with Scarlett since sophomore year, the thought ofa relationship feels like a jail sentence. Only I fucked up by saying that because, at some point, Annie and I are going to start pretending we are dating, and I need everyone on board, thinking it’s real, if we are going to convince our exes we are the real deal.

CHAPTER THREE

Cade

We are driving back to the hockey house. I feel awful and guilty for ruining Luc’s weekend. He should be annoyed with me after I didn’t want to do anything fun in Florida. He wanted to rent a boat. I wanted to lounge by the pool all day. At night he wanted to go clubbing. I wanted to stay in and watch movies. When my parents messaged they were coming to Riverside on Monday, I realized I forgot to inform them I was in Florida. I was happy to be free of Scarlett, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. I should’ve wanted to get laid in Florida, but that kiss with Annie was sealed in my mind. I changed my ticket to come back a day early, and Luc said he would just come home with me since Hayden was busy doing his thing with the team.

My phone buzzes. I check it then turn it over.

---