Page 26 of Caden's Situationship

“Not him either,” she said with a laugh.

“So it is Houston, right?”

“None of the above. They are more like brothers to me than romantic interests. If I admitted to a crush, I must have been referring to a friend you didn’t know. Besides, he’s never given me a second thought.”

“Who hasn’t?” I asked.

“Hou,” she replied with a shrug before her eyes lit up. “Oh, look at this! We don’t have this boutique anywhere near Cranberry Heights. Let’s go!”

As I let her drag me into the store, I wondered if she realized she’d given herself away just now. They may all be good friends, but she was telling a white lie about her looking at them all like brothers. Three of them may fit that brotherly role, but Katrina was ready for Hou to notice her in a different way. I could feel it.

Ten

CORDELIA

“Are you sure this is safe?” I asked Katrina as we made our way down a dark alley.

“Look at all the people around,” she said, nodding to a few others walking through the alley and a main street ahead that was crawling with people enjoying the nightlife.

“I guess you’re right. It seems pretty safe. I’m just surprised that you still won’t tell me where we’re going.”

“You’ll see,” she whispered, just as we approached a big, surly man standing outside a red door.See? See what?Didn’t she know it was rude to keep me locked in the bathroom without some floral potpourri? I was too nosey and impatient to be kept in the dark.

“Hey, Samson,” Katrina greeted the man. “I was told you’d be expecting us around this time.”

“Of course, Ms. Katrina.” He glanced to me. “And you must be Ms. Cordelia.”

“I am,” I stated, looking from him to Katrina. “My friend won’t tell me what we’re doing here. Maybe you could give me a hint.”

He shook his head, his laugh boastful as he told me, “Not a chance.” Then he moved aside and let us enter the building. It was darker in whatever hallway we’d entered than it had been outside.

“Okay, you have to tell me what’s going on.”

“Just relax.” Katrina twisted her arm around mine and pulled me forward. “We’re almost there.”

I never understood why folks told you to relax when they knew by telling you to do so it would evoke the exact opposite reaction. “He seemed nice,” I noted, trying to take my mind off my nerves.

“Samson is a teddy bear,” she said. “I’ve known him for years, and he’s kinda a staple for us.”

“Who is this us?” I asked. “Meaning you and guys?”

She giggled. “You don’t quit, do you?”

I didn’t answer because I figured her question was rhetorical. Of course I was dying to know what was going on, and my curiosity increased when we walked into a large room packed with people. Music was playing. The energy was electric. And within seconds, I concluded that I’d never been in a venue quite like this.

“Kat, sweetie. Over here!” We both turned to the direction of the voice.

Kat waved before we made our way to the front of the room. “You’re going to love her.”

On our way to the other woman, I observed my surroundings a little more, my eye catching several people and objects that made me question, “Where in the devil did you take me?”

Kat looked my way and rolled her eyes before introducing me to Drew when we reached the table.

“Nice to meet you, Drew.”

“You too, Cordelia,” she replied with a friendly smile. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from the guys!”

“Really?” I asked in surprise.

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