Quit Me If You Can

43. Cade

43

CADE

A fter the conversation with Kennedy’s father, I can’t help but feel some kind of closure. It’s reassuring to have addressed those lingering issues. I understand that his intentions were always to safeguard Kennedy’s best interests, and I can’t fault him for that. His actions, while extreme at times, stemmed from a place of paternal concern. In his shoes, I might have done the same.

Yet, despite this resolution, I feel a deep unrest. I can’t shake the feeling that Kennedy and I could have achieved our own sense of closure, if I’d ever been able to connect with her. But there’s still no word from her. It looks like she’s made her decision.

Even with the judge laying out his side of the story, I have a strong sense that the probable outcome hasn’t changed.

I think I may have lost her, irreparably.

It’s a shitty reality I find myself in.

But no matter the “likelihoods,” there’s a persistent, stubborn, and hopeful thought that gnaws at me:

We’re not finished. I can’t give up. I’ll never be able to let her go.

The four weeks I promised to wait have been pure hell. No calls, no texts, no carrier pigeon with a message strapped to its leg. But I won’t accept that this is the end. And even if it is, Kennedy has made one thing clear for me: Without closure, neither of us can move forward with our lives.

Despite the inner turmoil, I manage to maintain my professional facade and push through my daily workload. I find solace in the familiarity of my responsibilities. Mary Larkin’s case, in particular, is progressing towards a resolution that I’d love to share with Kennedy. If she were still a part of my world.

Soren Dahlberg isn’t shy about offering his congratulations. Neither of us had high hopes at the start, and the unexpected turn in Mary’s case left us both scratching our heads. But Soren isn’t the type to dwell on misjudgments. He’s a man to give credit where it’s due, even dares to suggest that maybe, just maybe, he was wrong to consider pet owners as entirely nutty as he once dismissed them to be. If he only knew about the unintended, let’s say, commotion his name stirred up between Kennedy and me (specifically, when she left her panties on “his” desk), he’d have a whole new appreciation for what “nutty” truly means. Every time I pass his office or catch sight of his desk, a smirk tugs at my lips.

I’m currently managing several cases, necessitating numerous late nights at the office and a full seven-day workweek. While the workload is considerable, it effectively occupies my mind enough to divert my thoughts away from her.

The paralegal who filled Kennedy’s position lacks the seasoned expertise and intuition that Kennedy brought to the table.

Her absence reverberates through every aspect of work at the office— not just my personal life.

She’s left behind a noticeable gap.

Two nights ago, everyone else headed out for drinks after work to celebrate, but I opted out despite it being Friday, and went home alone. I just wasn’t in the mood. Every day, I quietly hope for a response to the card I sent to her parents’ house, attached to the white rose. But I don’t expect anything.

Saturday comes and goes, and still no response.

Sunday arrives, and I’m feeling ready to give up.

I order a pizza and settle in to watch a game. It isn’t much, but it’s celebration enough. It would be a whole lot better if Kennedy were here for me to toast to.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

There’s the pizza I ordered. I get my wallet and open the door.

My heart nearly stops.

Forest green eyes.

Her angelic face.

That’s all I see.

Everything else dissolve into shadows.

She’s so excruciatingly beautiful, it’s almost unreal. I can barely breathe, barely think. I feel like I’m in a dream I never want to wake up from. Her beauty isn’t just skin-deep, it’s part of every move she makes… every word she says… every breath she takes.

It’s impossible to look away.

I just stand there, staring at her, as if she were a figment of my imagination… half expecting her to vanish into thin air.

“You came,” I finally manage to rumble, utterly captivated, my voice hoarse with disbelief.

“I did,” she says softly.

Her lips curve into a faint smile. The way her eyes light up when she whispers, the gentle arc of that smile. She’s already cast her spell, and now she’s effortlessly reinforcing it, drawing me in deeper.

“Great observational skills, counselor,” she adds.

A smile creeps across my face.

“I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner,” she says. “Are you going to invite me in or what?”

“Yes, of course.” I snap to, showing her in. “I’m sorry. It’s just taking me a minute to wrap my head around the fact that you’re actually here.”

She nods and takes off her jacket. I search her gaze as I reach out to take her hands.

“You applied for the LSAT, your father said?” I ask.

“Leave it to you! You’re finally seeing me, and yet the first thing you want to talk about is me and law school,” she teases, her lips tilted up.

“It’s good to see you smile again, baby.”

Our gazes lock, and the initial surprise begins to dissipate. The woman who has always owned my heart stands before me. She knows about every triumph, and every failing, and every in-between that has marked my life.

Maybe, just fucking maybe, this time we can create something lasting. Something built on honesty and trust.

“I would’ve been here sooner, but I needed the extra days to sort my head out. And, well, once I made my decision, I had to have the marathon talk with my folks. On the bright side, Dad let me borrow his cherished truck… a surprisingly sweet move. And yes, I had to make the obligatory stop at Harper’s. Let’s not even get into the traffic and parking nightmares. I was on the brink of losing it.”

“Someone needs to file a lawsuit.”

“Sue who? The city council? The parking fairy? The universe, maybe?”

“All of the above,” I say. “Let’s hire the best lawyer in the city to take the case.”

She raises a brow. “Cade Gladwell?”

“No. Kennedy Hayes.” I can’t resist anymore, and I draw her into my embrace. I hold her close, making sure she won’t slip away. I won’t let her slip away. “And I understand,” I say, my face nuzzled against her neck, her hair, inhaling her beautiful scent. “You were fact-checking with your father, nothing wrong with that.” I move back a second to have another look at her face, and then pull her close again. “It’s standard procedure for a competent legal professional. But now, I’m never going to let you go again,” I grumble against her cheek.

“I forgive Dad for everything.” She draws away and stares into my eyes. “I do.”

“I’m relieved to hear that,” I say. I grab her hand and guide her to the couch. “If there’s accountability to be taken, it starts with me.”

She takes a seat. “What about your brother?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. I sit down next to her. “I anticipated you’d have further questions about what went down. Joey was the only one brave enough to stand up to Rafael Herron and his cronies. He faced them head-on without fear. In a way, I admire his courage. But I should have seen the signs. I could have intervened. Maybe confronted Herron, alerted someone who could help, or encouraged Joey to avoid him altogether. But I didn’t, and it escalated into something no one ever wanted to see.”

“I’m sorry, Cade. I really am. Whatever happened to Herron?”

“He’s rotting in prison.”

“How was he convicted?”

“The cops found his car, eventually. There was forensic evidence linking Herron’s vehicle to the crash with my parents’ car, and that’s what secured his conviction. Soren really nailed it down in court.”

“Soren? Our Soren? Dahlberg?”

“Yeah. He did a solid job.”

“Oh, you guys go way back. I’d wondered what made him so special to you, being your right hand and all.”

“I trust him,” I reply, keeping it simple.

“What about your brother? Does Joey know what you did for him? Covering for him and all?”

“He knows I’ve got his back, and I know that he has mine. He was burdened by guilt—more than anyone could know—when he discovered that the hit-and-run that took our parents wasn’t just an accident. When he realized… he was the reason they were killed.”

“Wait… are you saying Herron thought Joey was in your parents’ car?”

“Yeah, that’s always been my suspicion. Our dad had a similar build and he wore baseball caps like Joey did. From a distance, Dad might have looked just like him. Herron may have assumed he was going after Joey.” I pause, then add, “Joey’s view is a little darker, though. He thinks Herron was twisted enough to kill our parents just to watch us suffer. I can’t really argue with that either.”

“And in court? How did Soren spin it?”

“He argued that Herron’s actions were even more calculated than he’d ever admitted. More cold-blooded. It only adds to the horror of what happened.”

She takes a slow breath, processing. “So the court saw him as something worse than reckless. They saw intention.”

“Exactly. Soren didn’t just focus on the accident.His argument highlighted the emotional and psychological toll of the crime, and it painted Herron not as a reckless driver, but a person who planned the crime and intentionally killed our parents. A real threat to society. It swayed both the judge and jury. It shaped their perception of Herron.”

“And what was the outcome?”

“Herron got life without parole. The jury didn’t hesitate and neither did the judge. Soren’s argument—that Herron knew exactly what he was doing—made sure of it. With Herron’s record and his lawyer backed into a corner, they didn’t stand a chance.”

She nods slowly, her gaze softening. “He’ll never walk free again.”

“Yes. He’ll spend every day of his life paying for what he did.”

After a quiet beat, she asks softly, “And what about Joey? Is that why he enlisted… because of everything that happened with your parents?”

I shake my head, pushing the faint bitterness away. “No. People assumed that, but it wasn’t just losing our parents. It was what happened that night—the night we climbed into that black Chevy. That was what really pushed him. He realized that Herron would never back off, never stop. Joey was looking for redemption, a chance to better himself and to rise above his past mistakes. We found ourselves at a pivotal moment, at a crossroads. For Joey, the military was his best chance to turn his life around and find purpose. He was confident that I’d be okay on my own.”

“And you were,” she acknowledges. Her voice carries a hint of admiration.

“I don’t regret my decision, Kennedy. You already know that. But I regret that you were caught in the crossfire, and that I couldn’t see a path forward for us. That’s what gets to me the most. That I wasn’t quick enough to grasp it all, and I didn’t trust there was a way for us. I regret not talking to you and not confiding in you. I wish I’d known then what I know today, and I wish I’d had the maturity to be able to make better sense of things. Most of all, I regret causing you pain.”

Her hand rests gently on my chest, and she answers me with tenderness in her voice, but also resolve. “And I want to forgive you. I want to trust that you won’t keep anything of significance from me ever again. Especially anything that can affect the two of us so intensely. And I want to be able to trust that you truly love me.”

“Kennedy, I’ve always loved you. I never stopped loving you. You’re the best goddamn thing that has ever happened to me. You light up my soul, my heart, my entire world. You’re the light that makes every day worth living. Without you, I’m just existing. Without you, everything feels off . Nothing feels complete, nothing feels real. Nothing is right. It’s as if I’m walking through life in the dark.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and she quickly wipes it away. “I always thought you moved on,” she says, her voice breaking.

“No.” I shake my head. “No. I couldn’t. Damn, baby, don’t you get it? I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every girl I’ve met since you only pales in comparison. None of them came close. It’s like comparing a shadow to the sun. None of them could ever hold a candle to you, to what we had. You’ve been the one all along. Always.”

I chuckle softly when her eyes fill with more tears, and I bring her closer to me. “You’re why I can’t fall asleep, and you’re why I’m up and out of bed at dawn. You’re my purpose, my life, and the reason I believe in anything at all.” She’s trying to hold it together, but I can see the cracks forming. My fingers gently trace her cheek. “I thought you deserved a man who could make you truly happy. One who could give you the world, who could provide you with everything you’re worthy of. Someone untainted by the burdens of his past. Someone better than me. Someone who deserves your love.”

Her whisper cuts through the air. “But… I want you . Nobody deserves my love more than you. I love you, Cade.”

A surge of warmth floods my chest.

“Kennedy, baby.” Emotion overwhelms me, and I can’t resist the urgent need to press my lips to hers. She responds eagerly, her fingers gripping my biceps as she deepens the kiss.

As we mutually pull back, a bittersweet smile lingers on my lips. I reach out to brush away a stray tear. “Don’t cry, baby.”

“Cade, I’m grateful that you told me everything,” she says, her voice choked with emotion, tears glistening in her eyes. “I believe we deserve another chance.”

“Yes. We’ll create our own kind of beautiful. I am going to dedicate myself to becoming the man you deserve, for as long as it takes,” I vow earnestly. “And I think I’ve got a pretty good shot at pulling it off.”

She chuckles through her tears, swatting my arm playfully. “Well, I suppose that means I’m stuck with you then. Guess I’ll have to keep you around, huh?”

“God, I missed you,” I murmur, lost in the moment. I hold her close.

The pizza I ordered is here.

“What do you want to drink?” I ask as I get up.

“Coke, please.”

I return with the pizza and the drinks, then settle back into the cushions beside her. We dig in. Between slices, when we aren’t talking about ourselves and our history and our hopes for the future, we’re making out. I’m talking kisses that could knock the wind out of anyone.

“I have good news in the Mary Larkin case,” I say after a particularly torrid kiss, and watch for her reaction. I need to get this out before my thoughts abandon me completely.

Her eyes light up with curiosity. “Really? Oh, is it good news? Tell me everything . Wait, let me guess. Mary’s former employer opted to settle through arbitration?”

I nod. “They did, no surprise there. The decision was likely made to safeguard their corporate image and avoid the uncertainties of litigation.”

She takes a sip of her Coke. “What about Mary? Did she get the three hundred grand?”

“She secured a favorable settlement,” I say. “One higher than she’d sought.”

“Oh my gosh. How much?” She leans closer.

“Three million dollars.”

Kennedy’s jaw drops open, and next thing I know she puts her Coke down, takes mine out of my hand and puts it down too, and then jumps into my arms, all the while squealing in joy. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Mary must be over the moon! How did you do it?”

“I like to call it laying down the law.”

“Haha! Cade, be serious!”

“I’m deadly serious.”

“That must have been one hell of a negotiation.”

“Piece of cake, really. The first rule of law is: Always negotiate. It’s all about finding common ground and reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.” I wink at her.

She grins. “Right.”

“Wait, baby, it gets better. All affected witnesses and former employees received equitable settlements. Additionally, as part of the settlement agreement, the investment firm committed to undergo a year-long sensitivity training program.” The longer I talk, the tighter she hugs me. “This comprehensive training will address issues of discrimination and wrongful termination, with mandatory participation for all employees. In addition to monetary compensation, we negotiated for an official apology from the investment firm, acknowledging their wrongdoing.” Kennedy looks at me with so much love and admiration, there’s no way I can stop talking. “We also secured agreements to implement new policies and procedures aimed at preventing similar problems in the future. And finally, the investment firm agreed to provide Mary with positive references for future employment opportunities.”

She grabs my tie and pulls me up close to her face. “Justice is served.”

“Justice is served,” I rumble against her lips.

Soft lips meet mine for another kiss. This one fierce and admiring, charged with fiery longing, and I swear, I could take on the world—every courtroom, every opponent. Every. Last. One.

“Cade, that settlement is a significant victory for Mary.”

“I know.”

She kisses me again. Damn, I will never get enough of her. Matter-of-factly, she continues, “It’s so important to hold corporations accountable for their actions.”

I smirk, still dizzy from all her kisses. “I know, baby.”

Another kiss. This is getting out of hand, and I’m here for it . “It was such a shitty move to attempt to suppress and intimidate potential witnesses. They got their just desserts!”

“They’re about to.” For just a brief moment, I break away from her deliciously addictive kisses to grab my cell phone and pull up today’s article. “News of the firm’s attempts leaked to the press, and there’s going to be a notable change of personnel at the highest levels of management.”

She looks at me, eyes huge as saucers. Next, she grabs her Coke can and clinks it against mine. “Looks like we’re in for a juicy exposé.”

“Truly, the spotlight can have quite an illuminating effect.”

Her lips tilt up. “No kidding.”

“When the scales of justice tip, it’s up to us to set them straight.”

“Well, that’ll ruin their morning coffee.” She tilts her head, glancing back at me.

“Life’s full of surprising twists, isn’t it?”

We each take another sip, grinning at each other, and then she’s back in my arms kissing me. Wildly, fiercely, as if her life depends on it. I devour her lips with all I have in me, leaving no room for her to misunderstand just what she means to me. There are no doubts, no questions, and never a second thought, just the certainty that I will not let her go. Ever.

She’s mine. Undeniably, irrevocably mine.

“Tell me you love me,” she whispers.