Page 87 of Heartstrings & Horizons
“Not as beautiful as you,” he replies, the deep timbre of his voice sending shivers across my skin as I’m pulled tight against him.
Turning in his arms, I wrap my hands around his neck, playing with the hair at his nape. Cade’s thumb brushes gently over my cheek. “I’m going to miss you so much, Paige.”
I smile but my eyes grow misty, leaving my own words unsaid before leaning in to rest my head against his chest, memorizing the rhythm of his heartbeat. Cade’s fingers dance along my spine, absentmindedly tracing patterns along my back, his touch a balm to the lingering ache in my soul.
“Do you remember the first time we met?” I ask, breaking the silence, and pulling back slightly to meet his gaze. His brown eyes illuminated by the dim moonlight, the gold flecks in his irises sparkling like the stars in the night sky.
Cade chuckles, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “How could I forget? The moment I saw you in that airport, all of the air evaporated from my lungs and my heart stopped beating.”
His words make my heart skip a beat, but I clarify, “No, I mean when you first sent me the message on the app. God, itfeels like so long ago now.”
“It took me so long to get up the nerve to send that message,” he replies. “I had your profile saved for days. I remember seeing your beautiful brown eyes and the dimples in your cheeks, thinking it felt like that smile was just for me.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes locking on mine again. “You changed my whole life, Paige. You’ve made me see a different future for myself — for us. I don’t know how I’m going to wake up without you every day.”
“We’ll be okay. It’ll be like going back to the way things were before… all of this,” I say, gesturing around at nothing in particular. “It won’t be forever. We’ll get through it.” The words were more for myself than anything, though I knew I didn’t hold any conviction in my voice.
“Promise me you’ll come back as soon as you can,” Cade murmurs, his voice tinged with unspoken emotion.
I place both hands on his face in a soft caress, “I promise.”
We knew this moment was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. The thrill of starting over in Oak Ridge came with the bittersweet knowledge that I would have to leave everything behind if only for a short time. As Cade helps me unload my suitcase from the truck, the weight of our final moments together settles over us. He pulls me into a tight embrace, his breath warm against my ear. Having already said goodbye to the rest of our motley crew, Mags ducks into the terminal, leaving me and Cade to have a moment alone.
“Take care of everything and come back to me, baby,” he whispers, a slight hitch in his voice. I nod in acknowledgement, blinking back tears.
“I will.”
With one last lingering kiss, I walk into the airport, my heart pulling me back to Cade, though every step brings me further away. Tears cascade down my face as I catch up with Mags.
“Are you ok, babe?” she asks.
“I will be. I hope.”
The flight to Toronto is uneventful. I pop in my headphones and listen to an audiobook, having to rewind several times as my thoughts continue to drift back to Oak Ridge. To where I left my heart.To my husband.
Chapter 33
Cade
? Something in the Orange - Zach Bryan
Paige has been gone for two days. Two fucking agonizing days, and I’m already lost without her. I need an escape, something to keep my mind occupied while she’s away. There are reminders of her all over the cabin; a hair tie on her nightstand, vanilla scented body wash in the shower, her favorite sweater on my pillow. Everywhere I look, there are little pieces of her.
Not for the first time, I wonder if I could create a sanctuary for her — a space where she can cuddle with Goose and lose herself in her beloved books. It doesn't take long before I have my mind made up, deciding to transform my unused office into a small library with a reading nook.
“If I’m going to pull this off, I’ll need some help,” I mutter to myself, and Goose who has been my little shadow for the past 48 hours. He’s just as distraught as I am. More than once I’ve found him curled up on her pillow, soaking in her scent —I know, buddy. I know.
Cade: Y’all up for another super secret project?
Miles: Will there be snacks? ??
Cade: Is that a yes?
Dean: Throw in some beer and I’m in.
Liam: Will work for beer and snacks.
I agreed to meet with Miles at the local hardware store later today. All the guys are like brothers to me, but Miles is a general contractor so I defer to him for any construction related topics. He might be a bit of a jackass at times, but he takes tools and lumber very seriously; wood related jokes notwithstanding.
“Ok, so what are we thinking?”
