Page 41 of Wait in the Truck
A tremulous smile finds its way to my lips. “Oh, yes. Your grandma made sure I was fed. I really am fine—as fine as I can be right now, anyway.”
Giving a swift nod, he closes the distance between us, catching my chin with a few fingers, and tipping my face up. “I’m not sure I buy the story you’re selling, but I’m going to take a quick shower and then we should talk about a couple things if you’re up for it.” He exhales hard, eyeing me again.
My tongue darts out to dampen my lips, unsure of where that conversation will lead us. I hold up a hand to stop him because there’s definitely stuff I don’t have the stomach for hearing. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t want to know what you were doing today. I just don’t.” I let out a long exhale as I peer into his dark eyes and allow myself to consider what sort of horror he and Rhett were forced to deal with on my behalf.
His voice quietly reassuring, Kade murmurs, “I won’t tell you anything you don’t ask about. But frankly, Sage, there are other things I want to know. And things we should discuss.” A breath heaves from him.
My heart thuds heavily in my chest as I take in the concern on his face. And that’s when I realize that whatever he wants to talk about has nothing to do with him andeverything to do with me. What I’ve been through. And keeping me safe. Knowing that takes the sting out of the aloneness I’d felt this morning, because I think Kade might care. And it’s been so long since I’ve had anyone really, truly looking out for me that it practically knocks me sideways. I chew on my lip for a moment.
So, I have Kade… but I guess I have more than one person now, and I’m unsure what to make of that. Both Rhett and Ms. Josie have been there for me today, too, in different ways.
I can’t quite decide how I feel aboutanyoneknowing what I’ve been through. I’ve kept the ugly secret to myself for so long. At some point, though, I will have to figure out how to move on with my life. May as well start now. I drag in a deep, cleansing breath, finally ready to agree to whatever he wants. “Yeah. Okay. We can talk.”
He nods. “Good girl. I won’t be long.” Spinning on his heel, he crosses the room in several long strides and shuts himself in the bathroom. I sit quietly, my head in my hands because nerves have begun to prickle under my skin.
True to his word, the door cracks open no more than five minutes later, and steam billows from the bathroom as Kade steps out in a pair of boxer briefs that leave nothing to the imagination. My breath hitches as he comes over and deftly scoops me up before taking us both down to the mattress. Butterflies take flight in my stomach, and the next thing I know, he’s eased us against the pile of pillows,rolling until I’m on my back and he’s at my side. He grasps one of my hands in his larger one, bringing it to his lips and skimming them over my knuckles.
“You look like you’re about to bolt, Wildflower.” His voice is full of grit and gravel but so damn reassuring at the same time as he continues, “You have nothing to fear from me. Promise.” He squeezes my hand before letting it go.
I shift, peeking up at him from under my lashes. “I know. But I’m scared all the same.”
“Of what?”
“Of what you think of me—” My voice breaks, my lips trembling as I stare into his eyes. As if he senses there’s more to what I was going to say, he simply inclines his head, then carefully slips his hand under the hem of my shirt. His fingertips stroke the words emblazoned on my skin over my rib cage. “‘Grow through what you go through.’ Isn’t that what your tattoo says?”
My brows dart up, surprise rolling through me. The quote is tattooed in a delicate script with a rose. “You noticed that?” Not many people have ever commented on it.
“Wildflower, I notice details. Especially when they have to do with you.” He lifts a hand, bringing the pad of one finger to my bottom lip, tracing it ever so softly. “Keeping that in mind, I have an idea of what’s been happening in your home.”
My chest jerks, and he shifts, caging me in and bringinghis face close to mine. As I stare into the depths of his eyes, I already know I’ll lay my secrets bare. Kade has become someone I can depend on. He’s my new protector. To me, Kade means safety. And because of that, I can tell him anything.
I draw in a ragged breath. “I could let my father off the hook and say he’d been drinking. But”—my body begins to tremble as I force the words up my throat—“that wasn’t the first time.” It feels like I’m ripping in two as I admit my truth to him. “He was a sick man. And it makes me want to vomit to admit that.”
“I thought as much. Back in ninth grade I remember seeing bruises on your wrists and forearms. It was then I started to pay more attention. Watching you from afar until you became my sole focus, my obsession. Did he leave those marks on you, Wildflower?”
I nod, and a muscle in Kade’s jaw jumps mercilessly, and his voice is a low growl when he speaks. “He’s fucking lucky he’s dead. Because I’d have killed him a million times over in horrific, deranged ways for doing what he did to you. For hurting you.” He winces, his eyes crashing shut. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he whispers. “So sorry.”
My body won’t stop quaking, and tears sting the backs of my eyes. Exhaling hard, I grit out, “No.” Shaking violently in Kade’s arms, I repeat myself, my voice sharp. “No!”
Kade raises a hand, cupping my face as he peers into my eyes. “Wildflower?”
Wetting my lips, I grind out, “It’s not you. I just don’t want to break down. Ican’t.”
“I won’t ever fucking judge you for it. And if you need to fall apart, you can do it with me.”
I slowly shake my head. “I won’t let him have that power over me. Especially now that he’s gone.” I press my lips together into a tight line. I’ve got to get this out. “He’s been hurting me for years—both physically and mentally—and nothing would have changed that. I know it.” I press a hand to my chest, trying to hold my heart inside. It’s pounding so hard it might explode through my rib cage. My heart near breaking, I whisper, “I’m not sorry I did it.” Then with more strength, I bite out, “I’m glad.” Lifting a hand, I slide my fingers into Kade’s hair. “Is that wrong?”
“Fuck no. We both know you weren’t at fault for any of it. I hope before his heart stopped he knew who killed him and why. He deserved to never see another sunrise. To never look upon your face again. And because you were strong when you had to be, he’ll never touch you again. The end he met and the way we disposed of him was justified.”
I draw in a breath at that last bit but nod. “Is he”—I wince—“taken care of? Hidden?”
Kade gives a rough chuckle. “You could say that.”
“Like I said, I don’t wanna know.”
“If you ever do, I’ll tell you. But right now, I think we need to talk about what we need to do going forward.”
“Okay. What do you mean?”
