Page 251 of The Reluctant Hero

“Maybe I said nothing is wrong because I don’t want to talk about it,” his tone has turned petulant, and he can’t meet my eyes. As soon as he’s done talking, a sense of melancholy falls over him, making me uncomfortable.

“Maybe you should anyway,” I tell him cautiously. He looks two steps away from going to bed with a tequila bottle. It’s not even noon yet.

I recognize this. I went through it myself after I left Blake. It’s the same but not. His sadness seems older. So old that it’s worn him out, like a pattern he can’t escape no matter how hard he tries.

After a long silence, he finally mutters, “I miss my dad.”

The words hit me in the heart like a hammer. I miss my dad, too. The difference is I can make a phone call to relieve that. Cade can’t.

It’s my turn to go quiet as he gazes off at nothing.

“My dad is the one that got me into baton twirling,” I admit. Cade looks at me with a raised brow. “He said I couldcompete without being close enough to hit people when they pissed me off. He forgot that there would be other girls with me, and I could throw iton accident.”

His lips twitch into a weak smile. “Mine got me into football.”

I nod with a huff of laughter. “The old American pastime.”

“I was good at it. Really good. I might have been able to go pro.”

He doesn’t say it like he’s showing off. The words are dripping with regret and a heavy sense of despair.

“Dad would be pissed to know I gave it up.”

My brows furrow as I think back to my dad’s anger when I told him I wasn’t going any further with being a majorette. It was right after I met Blake. I wanted to spend all my time with him instead. I let go of a lot of things for that piece of shit.

“I gave it up to be with Blake,” I sneer. “My dad wanted to strangle me.”

“Seriously? Forthatguy?” He gives me a look of disgust. Like he’s any better.

“Yeah. He never liked Blake and wasn’t shy about saying so. It’s why we moved out here. He got over the baton stuff, but he never got over his dislike of Blake. Good call on his part.”

Cade shakes his head like he’s disappointed.

“Thepointis,” I glare at him, “yeah, your dad might have been mad, but he would have gotten over it because he loves you no matter what stupid shit you do. You can miss him, but don’t cut his love for you short.”

Cade’s eyes turn sharp on me. I expect something cutting to come out of his mouth, but he stays quiet.

“Time passes. Being pissed at your mistakes gets to be pointless and boring. You either let it rest as it is or fix it.”

“It’s a little late for me to go back to playing,” Cade smirks as if he’s being funny.

“Then maybe you aren’t as good as you say,” I mock him with a smile.

“Fuck you,” he glares.

“You’re really defensive about it. Another sure sign you suck,” I nod with a sigh.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” his anger turns into a bitter smirk.

“Then show me,” I gesture to the open lawn.

“Fuck off,” he shuts down just as fast, crossing his arms again. He even looks off in the distance as if he’s dismissing me.

I pull my phone out and shoot off a few texts. Jake entered everyone’s numbers to make sure I had as many ways to reach them as possible. He made his number my SOS alert and my only favorite.

Who knows if it will work, but I’m willing to bet they’ll have his back—if they even know what they’re doing.

Five minutes later, Jake comes out in shorts and a tank top.

---