Page 33 of Lost Boy

I watch Cade scramble to come up with an excuse, but eventually, he shrugs. “I told Poppy we’d go to dinner after. So, you know, I’d kind of feel like a dick if I canceled on her.”

I visibly flinch just as the words leave his lips, and my heart sinks. We had sex hours ago, and now, he’s taking another woman to dinner.

How could I have been so dumb?

Why would he like me? He could have anyone he wants.

“Ooh, you and Poppy?” Watson smirks, cupping his chin with his fingers and nodding slowly. “She’s hot. I can’t lie.”

“And super bitchy,” Hunter grunts, and I want to high-five him, but I refrain. “Personally, I don’t like her. At all.” Just when I think I couldn’t agree with my brother more, he adds, “But maybe she can whoop your unruly ass into shape. Who knows?”

“For real, I’d be fucking scared of her if she were my girl.” Watson laughs. “Attaboy, Cade.”

As they all carry on, it’s like I’m not even here. I want to get up and go to my room, but I can’t because then I’ll look pathetic. So, instead, I sit here. I sit here and try not to cry.

When it comes to Cade, I truly feel like an infatuated girl who has her first crush. That crush you can’t have for whatever reason, yet you can’t get them off your mind. The frustration bubbles inside of me, and I wish he’d just look my way. Just throw me one single measly bone.

God, I’m pathetic.

“I’m leaving early for the stadium,” Watson says, pulling his sneakers on. “Gotta go see Ryann first.”

“Same.” Hunter nods in agreement. “Well, I don’t need to go see Ryann, but I have to go somewhere else.”

“I’ll meet you guys over there. Just need to grab something from my room, and then I’m headed out too,” Cade says before jogging up the stairs.

“Later, Hales.” Watson waves.

“See ya.” Hunter tips his chin up before they both disappear out the door.

I get up and head to the sink to rinse my bowl. Now that everyone is gone, maybe Cade will acknowledge last night when he comes back down. But that hope quickly dies when he returns to the kitchen, walks past me to grab a Gatorade from the refrigerator, and heads toward the door.

I take a few steps after him, mustering up every ounce of confidence I have inside of me to address him. “Cade?”

“Yeah?” Slowly, he turns. “What’s up?”

Part of me doesn’t want to give him the satisfaction of bringing up last night. I mean, it’s clear he doesn’t want to acknowledge it, so I shouldn’t either. But then the other part of me—the angrier side—wants to know why the hell he’s acting this way.

“Are we going to talk about last night at all?” I ask, leaning my hip against the countertop. “Or … just skate around it and pretend it didn’t happen?”

He gets a weird look on his face and squints his eyes the slightest bit. “Last night?” He tilts his head. “What, uh, are you talking about?” He widens his eyes. “Did I say something? Fuck, sorry if I was inappropriate. I was really drunk.”

I don’t know whether to be heartbroken, relieved, or offended. But the pain shooting through my chest chooses for me.

“You really don’t remember?” I fold my arms over my chest. “At all?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I was pretty fucked up. The last thing I remember is getting in Watson’s truck. Did I say something? Did I …dosomething?”

Looking at his face for any sign he’s bluffing and finding none, I sigh. “No, you were fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Turning quickly, I go to my room before the tears behind my eyes start pouring out. But as soon as I close my door, that’s exactly what they do. And I collapse on my bed, sobbing like the loser that I am.

The loser Cade Huff has made me.

Cade

Before practice, I drive toward the familiar place just outside of town. I met Van a few months back. He’s as good as any drug dealer can be, I suppose. We are far from friends, but he hooks me up with what I need and doesn’t ask questions.

The image of Haley’s face assaults my mind, and I feel a throbbing pain radiate through my chest, crippling my entire body. She was already quiet and acting differently after I pretended I didn’t remember our night together. But when I said I was going to dinner with Poppy, her entire body sank. And then I had to relive that same look after I acted like I had no idea what she was talking about when she brought up last night. What a joke that was.I remember everything.

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