Page 54 of The Obvious Check

Her head snaps up, eyes wide again. “What?”

I shake my head quickly, holding up a hand. “I’m not letting you sleep in your car ever again.”

“I, uh.”

I point at her. “No talking. Eat, please. Hey, Chloe.”

Chloe jumps at my call and quickly comes over. “Yes?”

“Can you add three more of Savannah’s favorite meals to our bill and put them in a to-go box?”

“Uh.” Chloe looks between me and Savannah, seemingly getting her approval. “Sure thing.” She turns on her heels and walks off.

“Why are you—”

“Because I want to make sure you have food you actually like at my place.” My voice is steady, but inside, I’m bracing myself for her to push back and tell me this is too much. She’ll insist she doesn’t need me because she’s a fighter.

“Cade. I—”

“Please.” I cut her off gently, leaning forward, trying to make her see that this isn’t just some casual offer. “I understand if you don’t want to live with me permanently. I just… We’ll figure something out. Until then, I need you to stay with me. Okay?”

Her breath catches, and for a moment, she doesn’t say anything. I can see it in her eyes, though. The pride pulling her one way, and something else tugging at the other. She’s alwayshad pride, a whole wall of it, but this? This looks like relief slipping through the cracks.

Then, finally, she nods. “Okay.”

My shoulders loosen, the tension melting out of me like I’ve been holding my breath this entire time.

She said yes.

ThankGod.

She turns back to her food, and I let out a quiet breath, thanking Chloe as she drops off three to-go boxes, giving me a knowing look before walking away. If she had said no, I’m pretty sure Chloe would’ve tackled me before I even got a chance to drag Savannah out of here myself.

For a while, we just sit there, eating in comfortable silence. It’s almost as if we both understand there’s nothing else that needs to be said right now.

When she’s finished, she wipes her mouth with a napkin and softly murmurs, “Thank you.”

I meet her gaze, holding it steady. “So does that mean you’ll stay with me?”

“Just for tonight,” she murmurs with a nod.

“Just for tonight,” I echo, knowing damn well I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure she stays longer than that.

I drop enough cash on the table to cover the food, grab the to-go boxes, and stand. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Outside, the cold bites at my skin, but all I can focus on is her. Her small frame, the way she tucks her arms around herself like she’s used to fending off the chill.

Without thinking, I shrug off my jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

She stills, blinking up at me in surprise.

“It’s freezing,” I say simply.

For a second, I think she might refuse and tell me she doesn’t need it. But instead, she grabs the lapels and pulls it closeraround herself. She doesn’t say anything. She just tucks her chin into the collar, letting the warmth settle around her.

She’s accepting it, and, in a way, she’s accepting me.

Something shifts between us in that moment, something unspoken but heavy, curling in my chest.

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