Page 113 of The Obvious Check

Everything will be fine.

The owner of the diner already said he’d take me back in a heartbeat. I have a stable home. I’m in school, building something for myself. For us.

And now, with Cade…

I glance toward his bedroom, the one I’ve been making ours, and something warm spreads through my chest.

I’m not doing this alone anymore.

The realization sends a different kind of ache through me. Not panic, not fear, but something quieter, something softer. For years, it’s always been me fighting for Adley and making sacrifices to bring her here.

But now… Now Cade is beside me and choosing this with me.

The ring on my finger is cool against my skin as I glance down at it, twisting it slightly. Simple. Understated. Perfect. It’s like hesomehow knew exactly what I would’ve picked for myself, even when I didn’t even imagine I’d be lucky enough to wear a ring like this.

A lump forms in my throat, the emotions threatening to suffocate me. I don’t know how to let myself need someone. I’ve never had that luxury before, but Cade is here. Steady. Patient. Willing, and I think, Ihope, he’s not going anywhere.

A knock at the door makes me flinch and my heart lurches into my throat as I glance at the time on the wall clock.

She’s here.

Stanley barks once, then wags his tail, his usual excitement dimmed like he can sense that this isn’t just a normal visitor. With one last look at Adley’s room, I force myself to square my shoulders and take a deep breath.

This is it.

I have to be enough because I can’t lose her.

Cade steps out of our bedroom, adjusting the cuff of his shirt, and I almost forget how to stand.

I’ve seen him in every state: sweaty and shirtless after practice, slouched in sweatshirts and joggers, half-asleep in nothing but boxers, but this?

This is unfair.

In a button-down shirt and dark jeans, he looks delicious.

He furrows his brows slightly as he focuses on his cuff, lips pursed in concentration. When he glances up and his eyes lock onto mine, the confusion flickers into amusement, his smirk only growing when he realizes I’m staring.

“Like what you see, Pretty Girl?”

I swallow hard, forcing my feet to stay planted on the ground. “I—uh—no?”

He chuckles before crossing the room with slow, deliberate steps, closing the distance between us until he’s right in frontof me, and then places his hands on my waist. My palms press against his shirt, and his grip tightens, pulling me closer.

“You sure about that?” His voice is rough, his lips barely skimming along my jaw.

My fingers curl around the fabric of his shirt as my breath catches in my throat. “You’re—”

His mouth captures mine before I can finish the sentence.

The kiss is slow at first, teasing, like he’s savoring the moment, but then suddenly, Cade backs me up against the counter, one arm wrapping around my lower back while his other hand tangles in my hair and he starts to kiss me like he didn’t hear the knock on the door.

I whimper as his teeth scrape against my bottom lip, making him groan against my mouth, shifting his grip like he’s ready to lift me onto the counter, but before he can, there’s another sharp knock at the door.

I jump back, my chest heaving, my lips definitely kissed, and Cade groans, resting his forehead against my shoulder. Laughing breathlessly, I press a quick kiss to his jaw before pushing him away.

“I’ll get it,” I say, hoping the delirious look on Cade’s face will fade by the time our guests walk through the door. Heading down the hallway, I smooth my hair down and take a deep breath before opening the door.

This is it.

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