Page 105 of Heartstrings & Horizons
“Aww, that was disgustingly adorable,” Mags says before Liam cuts in with the next question.
“When asked about getting into Harvard, Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods has what to say?”
I lean over to Cade who has his notepad in hand, ‘“What, like it’s hard?’”
He scribbles quickly and hands me the slip of paper. I dash towards the stage, nearly colliding with Cara in the process. She hands her sheet over to Liam first and unfortunately for me, The Quizzard of Oz team gets the point.
“What color is the infamous sweater in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’?” “Oh, I know this one!” Miles bounces in his seat excitedly. “Blue.”
“Um no. It wasn’t just blue; it’s also not turquoise or lapis. It was cerulean.” Mags is slurring her words slightly as she leans over and boops Miles on the nose. “Good try, Casper.”
I don’t have time to unpack that little exchange. Cade writes down our answer and I’m the first to the stage, taking the win for our team. I return to the table in time to catch Miles scrubbing a hand over his face before standing to walk over to the bar. Miles is the most easy going person in our group, and this is the first time I’m seeing a small crack in his facade.
“Mags... I don’t pretend to know what’s going on between you two and I’m not thrilled that you won’t talk to me about it, but I need you to cut that shit out.”
Mags downs the last of her drink and walks over to Miles. I avert my gaze, knowing that whatever is going on is a secret for a reason, and when Mags is ready to talk about it, I’ll be the first to know.
“E.L. James’ erotic Fifty Shades of Grey was originally created as fan fiction for what series?”
Nana all but shouts, “Twilight!” but the crowd is so loud at this point, only our combined tables notice. I narrow my eyes at my grandmother, wondering how the hell she would know something like that. I’m not sure I want to know the answer. We’re down two members and being the most sober between the two of us, Cade stands to turn in the answer, allowing Cara to go first since it’s pretty much Nana’s point.
“Final question of the night! The Brain Farts are in 3rd place with 13 points. The Quizzard of Oz are in 2nd place with 18 points, and leading the pack is O’Trivia Benson with 19 points. The last question of the night is worth 10 points, and it will determine the winner.
“The finale episode of this beloved sitcom aired in 2004 with the title ‘The Last One’.”
“Omg, Cade, run and write! Go Go Go.” I don’t even have to say the answer. I know he knows. Cade runs to the stage with the entire notepad and pen in hand. Liam has a shit-eating grin on his face as he hands over the final answer.
“We have a winner! Congratulations to The O’Trivia Bensons!”
We celebrated with one more round, but it’s been a long day, so we called it a night a little earlier than normal. Mags is staying with Ivy, and Miles offered to drop Nana off at our house so Cade and I could have some alone time.
We say our goodbyes, thanking everyone for making this day so special, then venture over to Willow Creek Park. The last light of October has sunk over the horizon as we walk hand in hand along the boardwalk beside the lake, leaves crunching underfoot, the subtle glow of the moonlight overhead. It’s hard to believe that we’ve known each other for a year. I can’t stop the emotion from welling in my eyes, my mind tracing back through all the memories we’ve made since then. Cade had been given every opportunity to walk away, and yet he was still here beside me, a pillar of strength, when I so often couldn’t stand on my own two feet.
My heart can be pieced together like chapters of a book. Everything before I met Cade was just the prologue. Every struggle and triumph existing only to lay the foundation for the story to come. Knowing him, loving him, and being loved by him is not my purpose, but it has given me permission to be wholly myself, to find out who I am and love this version of me, for the first time.
We stop on the bank of the lake, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. “I can see the wheels turning. What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about you; about us. About everything it took to get us to this place — to this moment.” I inhale a steadying breath. I’ve already cried too many times today. All tears of joy. “I’m… grateful. You could’ve walked away so many times and you didn’t.”
“If you think for one second that I ever even considered walking away, you’re wrong.”
“No, I know you didn’t. You’re a good man, Cade Brooks. The best man.”
“I don’t know about all that, but I would do anything for you.”
“It’s funny. I can’t really remember my life before us.”
“That’s because none of it matters. Everything before this — us — is inconsequential.”
He doesn’t say anything else as he brings his forehead down to meet mine. Eyes closed, breathing in my scent. We stay like that for what feels like an eternity before he takes my mouth in a soul-crushing kiss.
“I love you, Paige Brooks.”
“I love you, too, Cowboy.”
Epilogue
Paige
