Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
C ade
“Hey, how are you holding up?” Aaron asks as I drink a coffee and stare into space the next morning, while sitting at the kitchen table. The guys are making plans and getting ready for break.
“Okay, I guess.”
“You cared for her. You wanted to see the best in her. You can’t be faulted for that,” he says.
“I appreciate you saying that, but I stayed with her longer than I should have.” I shake my head.
“Don’t be hard on yourself.” Aaron gives my shoulder a squeeze.
“I’m going to hit the gym. You want to join me?” he asks.
“I’m really not in the mood,” I tell him.
He sighs. “Don’t get into a funk. She isn’t worth it.”
“I know, but it’s easier said than done.”
Aaron nods like he understands.
“How about the hot redhead from last night?” he asks, grinning wide.
“You mean, Annie?” I ask, surprised.
He nods with a mischievous grin. That was a pity kiss and everyone knows it.
“She was helping me out,” I say.
“So, continue to help each other out.” He winks.
“Can I tell you something? But you have to promise not to tell a soul,” I say to him.
I probably shouldn’t mention my arrangement with Annie. I need to know if he thinks it’s a good idea because I’m clearly not thinking straight.
“You have my word,” he assures, looking concerned.
“It has to do with Annie. She thinks we should pretend to date. Her asshole ex is transferring here in the winter. He wants her back and she wants to keep him at a distance. I don’t think Scarlett is going to back off, even after I caught her in the act. I agreed to Annie’s little arrangement last night, but I’m having second thoughts,” I confess.
“Bro, it’s brilliant,” Aaron says enthusiastically. “Scarlett isn’t going to back away from you. Knowing her, she is going to try to worm her way out of the shithole she dug herself.”
“Yeah, I’m a bit of a mess right now. It does make sense to keep her away. Especially when my head is so messed up,” I admit. I stayed with Scarlett for way too long. I had my reasons though.
“Sorry you’re hurting, but you need to stay strong. Scarlett doesn’t deserve you.” My friend is right, I am hurting, but not for the reasons he thinks.
“I had a feeling you guys didn’t like her,” I say, but I didn’t realize how much.
“It’s not like that. If we all thought she was faithful to you, then we would have accepted her more. But we saw her for what she was. You should finally accept it too. As much as it hurts, it’s better off it happened now. Imagine you married her and had kids, meanwhile, she was sleeping around.”
I wince and a cold shiver runs down my spine. I move my hair off my face.
“Sorry, bro, I don’t want to be harsh. I also don’t want you to think of taking her back,” Aaron says.
He’s a good friend, he cares. Scarlett and I were complicated. She did me a favor by cheating, but I don’t share that with my friend. Aaron is right though, this arrangement with Annie is a smart move.
“Thanks, bro. Keep the thing with Annie on the low. I don’t want the guys talking,” I urge him.
“I got you,” he assures clapping my shoulder. “When are you headed to Mexico?”
“Not until the 24th,” I reply.
“Your parents booked you out on Christmas Eve?” he asks.
“I’m going home and flying out with them,” I explain.
“Good, you’ll have some relaxing time,” Aaron says.
“You can head out. I’m fine,” I assure my friend, since I think he is still hanging around because he is worried about me.
“’Kay, see you later.”
He leaves and I head up to shower. When I get out, I am feeling a little better. I get dressed and head to the kitchen, where I find Macklin cooking.
“Whoa, what is going on here?” I ask because the dude never cooks.
“Fuck off,” he cusses, side-eyeing me with a smirk filled with mirth.
I hop onto the island since Finn and Charlie are at the table eye-fucking each other while eating their ramen noodles.
Luc walks into the kitchen and Macklin warns him, “If you say one fucking thing, you won’t be eating.”
“Chill, bro,” Luc defends. He takes a seat at the table next to Finn and Charlie. “You guys coming up for air?”
“Yes,” Finn answers.
“We needed food,” Charlie adds.
Ruby and Hayden walk into the kitchen.
“Why is everyone hanging out here?” Hayden asks.
“Because Mack is cooking. We’re all curious,” I retort.
“Mack is a good cook. We’ll leave it at that,” Ruby announces to everyone. She would know because she grew up with him.
Ruby takes a seat at the table and talks with Charlie.
“If we had avocado, I could’ve made guacamole,” Macklin adds being a showoff.
“It’s good, bro. At least I know we won’t go hungry next year with Finn gone,” Aaron laughs.
“True that.” I fist bump him.
“Cade can cook,” Macklin reminds.
That is true. I used to like to spend time with Mom. As an NHL player, Dad was on the road a lot. It had been Mom and me against the world growing up.
“I’m going to Florida tomorrow,” Hayden announces. “Tampa Bay invited me to spend the weekend with the team and watch their game tomorrow night.”
We all congratulate Hayden. This means he’s getting an early contract.
“If you have your own hotel room, then maybe we can come along,” I suggest.
“Bro, I’ll be busy,” Hayden replies.
“But we don’t need to be with you, we can just crash in your room,” I say to him because I need to get out of Riverside right now. I keep thinking about Scarlett making out with that guy, and how she tried to tell me it was a dare. She must think I’m an idiot. She also sent me about ten text messages between last night and this morning. I should block her.
“Who wants to come?” Hayden asks, looking around the table.
“I can’t,” Finn says.
“Neither can I,” Aaron adds.
“I can,” Luc chimes.
“So just the two of you?” Hayden says to himself. “I guess it should be okay, if you guys don’t pull any nonsense. This is my future,” he says to Luc and me. He clearly feels bad for me after what happened last night. I appreciate him being a good friend.
“We can just chill by the pool,” I tell him.
“Okay, yeah, that’s cool,” Hayden replies.
Luc gives me a fist bump. The rest of the day goes by at a turtle’s pace. I keep thinking about my arrangement with Annie. It seems a little out there. When I agreed to it last night my head was spinning, and it wasn’t only because of what happened with Scarlett. That kiss I shared with Annie was hot as fuck. The way she melted into me, her taste, the sweet scent of her. The kiss came out of nowhere, but the way it made me feel practically knocked me on my ass. I can’t erase it from my mind.
I pack a small carry-on. The next morning Ruby uses my car to drive us to the airport.
On the way, I get another text message from Scarlett. She’s apologizing again.
Luc looks my way. “Is that her?”
I nod.
“Fuck,” he hisses.
“You need to move on, Cade. You’re getting laid in Florida. You need to forget about her,” he insists.
“What about Annie?” Hayden asks. “You guys had some serious chemistry last night.”
Don’t I know it.
“I’m a mess right now. I don’t think she’s interested in me in that way,” I answer.
“I think you’re wrong, bro,” Hayden says.
“Nah, she isn’t looking for anything and neither am I.” After being with Scarlett since sophomore year, the thought of a relationship feels like a jail sentence. Only I fucked up by saying that because, at some point, Annie and I are going to start pretending we are dating, and I need everyone on board, thinking it’s real, if we are going to convince our exes we are the real deal.