Page 86 of The Obvious Check

“Uh.”

I smile because I enjoy taking her by surprise. “Obviously, I’m partial to winter, so I can literally skate you off your feet on the ice, but I’m open to negotiation. Plus, summer means no scheduling conflicts with games.”

“I haven’t really thought about that.”

“Really? So it’s not running through your mind every second of the day like it is mine?”

She laughs, and I let her think I'm joking. Better that than her realizing I'm completely fucking obsessed and have been planning our wedding since approximately five minutes after she said yes.

“I've been thinking about it a lot too. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the engagement part, though. Wedding planning is… overwhelming.”

“No sweat,” I say easily. “Any other logistical landmines we need to defuse?”

“I mentioned it before. What happens when you move to Atlanta?”

The million-dollar question. “Honestly? I have no fucking clue. But I'm good with taking it one day at a time, and I'm not expecting you to uproot your life for me. Especially not when Adley's just getting settled.”

She worries her bottom lip between her teeth, a habit that's going to be the death of me. “But how would being married even work if we're living in different states?”

I shrug like it doesn't terrify me. “Same way marriages work when people are in the same place. We'll figure our shit out. That's what couples do.”

“Okay,” she says, but she sounds about as convinced as I feel.

“Any other concerns we need to tackle?”

“I don't know. Maybe I can think everything through and we can talk more over dinner tonight?”

Fuck.My stomach drops.

“What's wrong?”

I scrub my jaw, already hating myself. “I'm out of town tonight for a game. We're staying overnight in case it runs late.”

She doesn't react visibly, but the temperature in the room shifts. All that progress we just made, all the walls I've beencarefully dismantling, and now I have to leave her. The first night we could actually celebrate being engaged, talk through all her fears properly.

“Where are you going?”

“Not far. Southern Collegiate.”

She nods, lips pressing together like she wants to say something but doesn’t. “That’s fine, I—”

She stops, cutting herself off. Then looks down at her coffee. What’s she so afraid of?

And then it hits me.

“Are you going back to Luke’s?”

Her lips part, and she shakes her head. “He told me to take a few days off after last night.”

“Mhm.” Buttering her up, making her think he cares.

“You can quit, you know.” I keep my voice level, controlled, because this conversation is a minefield and one wrong step will send her running. “You could go back to the diner if you want a job. Not that you need to work—focusing on school is what matters, and things might get hectic when Adley comes home.” I'm rambling like an idiot and force myself to stop. “I just want you happy.”

“I appreciate that, Cade.” She glances up with a smile that's all heartbreak and resignation. “I just wish it were that simple. You know Luke… there's a lot of complicated history there, and I'm kind of trapped working for him right now.”

“Youweretrapped.” I set my mug down and cover her hand with mine. “You've got me now, and I'm going to help you fix this shit.”

She exhales slowly, doubt written all over her beautiful face. She wants to believe me but doesn't understand how I'll pull it off. Perfect. I fucking live for proving people wrong.

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