Page 40 of Just Is Not Enough

Kaden nods, taking my hand when I wrap the other around his waist walking down the hallway with him. We get only a few steps away when Tyler says, “It was nice seeing you, Kaden. Keep in touch.”

Kaden doesn’t move, but I do. I find myself standing nearly toe-to-toe with Tyler, making it known in tone of voice my loathing so there’s no mistaking my intentions, “I know who you are and what you did. I will say this one time. Stay the fuck away from Kaden. Don’t come near him ever again or you and I are going to have a problem.” I don’t wait for a response. I meet Kaden where I left him and continue walking with him as far away from Tyler as possible. At the end of the hallway, Gabe’s furrowed brows and pursed lips tell me he witnessed enough to understand something isn’t right here.

“Do I need to escort him out of the building?” Gabe asks, the fury in his eyes aimed behind us.

“No. Leave him be. We can’t risk him causing any more of a scene. Can you go get the rest and tell them to meet us outside, please?”

“Will do. Kaden, are you okay?” Gabe being the good man he is checks on his new friend.

Kaden nods to him, a glazed-over look in his eyes.

I escort Kaden out the front doors and step to the side, avoiding obstructing the pathway. My hands cup his face, “Kaden, are you okay? Did he touch you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you for coming for me. I didn’t…” He pauses, thinking about something, “I’m sorry I took you away from your work.”

The group comes rushing out of the restaurant, Ender leading, approaching Kaden in a panic. “Kaden, what happened?”

“I’m fine. I promise, everybody stop worrying.” Kaden’s attempt to reassure us falls flat.

"Guys can I have a second with Kaden, please?” I ask our friends looking at them one-by-one, ending my gaze at Ender.

Ender looks from me to Kaden for approval. “I’m good.”

Once alone, I let Kaden know how ridiculous his last statement to me was, “You need to understand something. You come first. The restaurant and the guests, Gabe can handle. If you need me, ever, for anything, you are my priority. Don’t ever think any differently. Do you understand?”

Kaden stares in disbelief. “Kaden, tell me you understand, please.”

“Yes.” He looks down at his feet.

I pinch his chin and bring his face upright. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

I take his hand and walk back to the group. Gabe joined us outside now.

“Who drove Kaden here?”

Ender raises a finger.

“Can I trust you to take him home, walk him to his apartment door, and not leave until he is inside, and the door is locked?”

Ender looks shocked. “That’s not even a question that has to be asked, but out of respect, yes, absolutely.”

“That’s a bit extreme isn’t it? There’s no need to do that.” Kaden being Kaden, not wanting to be an inconvenience. I hate whoever convinced him he was. I can probably guess that’s a side-effect from that asshole sitting inside.

I refuse to ever let him think that way about himself when it comes to me. “He hurt you once. I won’t let it happen again. I protect what’s mine, Angel.”

“Swoon.” Faith and Connor voice their opinions in a cutesy voice.

I give them a ‘really guys?’ type of look, to which they both reply, “What?”

It’s scary how similar they are if you look deep enough. They merely express it differently most of the time.

I wrap my arms around Kaden and kiss his forehead. “I’ll be over once I finish up here. I’ll text you when I’m in your building. Don’t open it until you hear my voice.”

“Okay.” Kaden shakes his head at me but gives me a smile anyway.

“See you soon.”

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