Page 58 of The Obvious Check

He looks like he means it, and I’m still having a hard time believing it.

“Wanna use my iPad to call her? That way you can FaceTime her without all the cracks getting in the way.”

“FaceTime her?”

“Isn’t that what you do right now?”

I shake my head. “No. I just call her.”

“Well, then you should definitely use my iPad. It’s just on the coffee table over there. I only ever watch game replays on it, so we might as well test out its capabilities. Passcode is my birthday, July 17. Do what you want on there. It connects to the Covey Cloud app, so you can access assignments and things too.”

“Oh, I’ll just use it for the call.”

“Like I said, Sav. I don’t care what you use it for. Just use it.”

“Are you sure?”

He nods, and I don’t even think. I just move. Pushing out of my chair, I slip around the counter and wrap my arms around him, something that’s becoming a habit of mine. He pulls me inwithout hesitation, and I melt against his solid chest, breathing him in. It feels too good, and a little like home. Not that I’d ever admit that to him.

I try to ignore the tingly feeling in my stomach as his hand gently brushes my back, but it’s hard. It always has been when he’s around, and now that I’m spending more time with him, it’s getting worse. Cade is my literal dream come true. He’s not only gorgeous, but I feel safe when I’m around him.

“Thank you, Cade,” I say, muffled into his chest. His warmth seeps into my skin, and for a moment, I let myself exist in this space. In the steady rise and fall of his chest and the way I can feel his fingers twitching against my back.

Then I pull back just enough to meet his eyes, and I search them. Does he really understand how thankful I am? That he makes me feel like I might have a chance at being normal?

His lips part as if he’s about to say something, but I don’t let him.

I already know what I want.

Pushing up onto my tiptoes, I kiss him again.

It starts out soft like last night. Just a brush of our lips, but the second Cade exhales sharply, everything shifts.

His hands fist the fabric of my shirt, yanking me closer until our bodies are pressed together, instantly making my skin ignite.

I slide my hand up his jaw and my fingertips trace the stubble along his cheek. The second I do, he tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and a needy sound escapes my throat. He swallows it whole, drinking me in, devouring every breath and sigh. I’ve never been kissed with such raw hunger like this before, and it makes me realize he’s been waiting for this as much as I have.

Cade grabs the backs of my thighs and effortlessly lifts me, setting me down on the edge of the kitchen counter as he steps between my legs. His body is like a solid wall of heat and muscle as I hook my legs around his waist to steady myself.

I feel it. His hardness is right against me, and the low growl rumbling from his chest tells me he feels it too. Leaning forward, he pushes the breakfast aside and the plates crack as they hit the floor.

I barely flinch.

I don’t care about anything but him in this moment.

“Cade—”

He doesn’t let me finish. He crashes his lips back onto mine, rougher this time as he lets his teeth graze my bottom lip. His hands roam up my sides, his fingers teasing the sliver of skin between my leggings and sweatshirt. My back arches into his touch, desperate for more, for his hand to touch me where I need him the most.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The sharp vibration of his phone cuts through the haze, and Cade groans against my lips, his breath ragged as he drops his forehead to mine.

“Can you ignore it?” I whisper as the frustration coils tight in my stomach, and I push my hips into his, not wanting to pass up the feeling.

His hands slide lower, gripping my hips like he’s considering it before he laughs, low and breathless. “I wish.” He gently strokes his thumb across my hip bone.

“If I don’t go now, I’m going to be late for practice.”

---