Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A nnie
Briar: Come to Black Jack’s tonight. Drinks are half off for the ladies and appetizers are half off for everyone.
Me: Sounds good. Did you tell Ruby and Charlie?
Briar: Yes, they’re bringing Finn, Mack, and some friends.
Me: I liked it better when no one had boyfriends.
Briar: Bring your fake boyfriend.
Me: It’ll be weird. You guys all know we’re fake dating.
Briar: Are you sure it’s fake? My friend Suzy from the team was at Cup of Java yesterday. By the sounds of it, you two can’t keep your hands off each other. wink emoji
Me: It was for show
Briar: Then you all are very good actors.
I’ve been meeting Cade every day for the past week at Cup of Java. We’ve been putting on a show each time. It’s good to hear that word is getting out about us. Problem is, I wasn’t completely putting on a show. Yesterday, I sat on his lap and we were kissing and his hand snuck up the back of my sweater. He was only touching my back but the feel of him skin to skin caused a little moan to escape me. I got freaked out and took off faster than a race car.
Me: I’ll see what he’s up to. Isn’t there supposed to be a snowstorm tonight?
Briar: Yes, that’s why the owner of Black Jack’s is offering discounts to bring people in
Right. That makes sense.
I decide to text Cade. Going to Black Jack’s together would be a good move. Ford has texted me multiple times this week to update me on my family’s case. I obviously answered him, but I don’t want him getting the wrong idea about us.
Me: A bunch of our friends are going to Black Jacks tonight. Are you interested?
I stare at the phone. I probably shouldn’t have asked him. Things have been off ever since we came back to school. Aside from our daily coffee run, where we surprisingly talk about important things in our lives like what I plan on doing next year and which team he hopes to land on, we haven’t communicated much.
I tuck my phone away and head to class. Since this course is a seminar style course it lasts two hours.
When I check my phone after class, I see Cade answered me.
Cade: Snowstorm tonight but looks like everyone wants half-price chicken wings. Should I pick you up at 7?
Me: Thanks that would be great. Briar is working tonight so she can’t get me.
Cade: See you at 7
The rest of the day goes by in a blur. I can’t help but think what will happen if Daddy loses the farm. All our animals, equipment, my grandfather’s life’s work will go down the drain. My heart twists. I don’t know what I’ll do with my life if that happens. I don’t exactly want to work on someone else’s farm. The appeal isn’t there for me. I’ve always thought of veterinary school as a backup plan. Maybe I should apply just in case.
When I get home at the end of the day, my roommates are around. It’s the time of day when Sadie and Elle make dinner. We live in a small bungalow close to campus. We are all amicable but I wouldn’t say we’re friends.
I drop my bag by the door and hang my jacket in the front closet. The kitchen is perpendicular to the front door. I head there for a glass of water.
My roommate Sadie is cooking.
“You’ve been talk of the town,” she tells me.
“I have?” I ask as I take a glass out of the cabinet.
“Don’t play coy. You know you’ve been locking lips with one of the hottest hockey players on campus.”
Oh, that’s what she means.
The conversation is uncomfortable because we don’t talk about boys.
“We’re dating.” I shrug. Then I chug my water.
“Can you take Elle and me to meet his friends?” she asks.
“Sadie, we aren’t friends. Don’t you think that would be awkward?” I ask.
I don’t mean to be a bitch. I tried becoming friends with Sadie and Elle when I moved in here, but they were closed off and not open to friendship. Now that I have something they want they think they can be nice to me, but it isn’t going to work.
My phone buzzes.
Cade: Would you mind if I picked you up in twenty? I have a commitment I have to attend. Worried I won’t make it back in time to pick you up and get to Black Jack’s with the weather getting bad
I’d rather go to my room and chill for a bit before going out, but the thought of paying for an Uber or walking to Black Jack’s in a storm seem like bad options.
Me: Thanks. Text me when you’re here
I quickly change out of the clothes I was wearing all day. I fix my hair with a curling wand quickly and then stand in front of my closet in a T-shirt and bra.
What should I wear?
I choose a charcoal-gray sweater. It has a deep V in front, but I love its soft texture and warmth. It feels cozy and snuggly.
I am wearing a purple bra, so I change it to a cream lace bra since it’s the only light color I have that’s clean. I pair it with a short, pleated skirt in a red, green, and blue plaid that I bought before break and I haven’t had a chance to wear yet. I slip on a pair of thick blue tights, which I may be cold in, but I’m really liking the style of this outfit. It probably needs a knee-high sexy boot, but I opt for my well-worn Ugg boots. I give my hair a shake and the curls I made become voluminous and then I apply some pink lip gloss.
I’m trying to look good, which I don’t usually do. I think I know why that is. Cade is slowly sliding under my skin. But me wanting to impress him is a little much. What the hell am I doing? I look myself in the mirror.
Annie, keep your wits about you. He’s gorgeous and has a big dick. He’s super nice, but get yourself under control, you horny bitch.
I blow out a breath. The doorbell rings and I jump. No one ever uses the doorbell here. I told Cade to text me. I speed walk to the door, but Sadie beats me to it.
“Cade Price, in the flesh,” she says, smiling and batting her lashes.
I grab my puffer jacket.
“Sadie, Cade. Cade, Sadie. She’s my roommate,” I say quickly. “Come, let’s go.”
Cade shakes Sadie’s hand quickly as I walk past him out the door and Sadie closes it.
I head down my front steps, which have a light smattering of snow over them, but I don’t feel Cade following me from behind so I turn around.
He’s watching me. “You look. . .”
I wait for what he’s trying to say, raising my brows.
“Hot,” he finally says.
I give him a megawatt smile.
“Thanks. What is this errand you need to run?” I ask.
“I need to coach an underprivileged peewee hockey team for the next hour. I hope you won’t be cold in that skirt,” he says, his eyes glued to my legs.
He finally blinks.
“You can sit in the bleachers and use my jacket to cover your legs if you need to,” he offers.
“Thanks.” We get into the car and Cade drives off. The snow is only starting so it isn’t heavy yet.
“Do you coach often?” I ask him.
“Once a week,” he explains. “They didn’t have anyone to coach their team so I stepped up.”
We make our way over to an arena across town. It’s a small town called Goesby. It’s an underprivileged area. These kids didn’t have money to buy equipment or pay to be a part of a league. Cade got his dad to sponsor them and he’s the coach.
“That is really sweet of your dad,” I tell him. “And you for coaching.”
“My dad is always looking for philanthropic opportunities. He’s a broadcaster for one of the main NHL channels. It gives him side things to discuss,” Cade explains. “Nothing my dad does is from the goodness of his heart.”
We arrive to the arena and Cade parks his car. He comes around to open my car door, even though I do it myself. He walks around to his trunk and takes out a duffel bag.
“The community center is old and a little run down,” he warns. He isn’t wrong. It looks like this place was built in the 80s and it hasn’t been updated.
“You can sit up there on the bleachers.” he points when we enter the arena as he passes me his jacket.
“Oh, that’s okay. I don’t want you to be cold,” I tell him.
“I’m not going to wear it. I wear my Riverside jersey, the kids get a kick out of it,” he explains. “So please, take it. I can see you shivering already.”
I take his jacket and find a place to sit on one of the metal bleachers, but because it’s so cold in here the metal is frozen and I feel it through my skirt. So I stand and place Cade’s jacket on the bench then I sit and wrap my legs in his jacket. Now that I am cocooned, I feel warm and cozy.
The kids begin to arrive. Some of them come with fathers and some with their mothers. Cade leaves what I am guessing is a locker room with his jersey on and his skates on his feet. He also has a whistle around his neck.
Slowly the kids leave the locker room in their gear. They are a group of very excited boys.
I watch as Cade high-fives each of them.
One kid comes up to him and says he couldn’t find his hockey stick and Cade heads into the locker room and tells him he can use his old one. The kid isn’t wearing a helmet and his brown eyes light up like Christmas lights.
The parents begin to move toward the bleachers as Cade takes the kids on the ice.
“Are you a new hockey mom?” one of the mothers asks me.
“She’s too young,” a guy sitting one row down from her says.
“I’m a friend of Cade’s,” I explain.
“He’s the best. My David didn’t want to play. He was lacking the confidence and Cade had the patience to help him get on the ice,” she says.
“We’ve been lucky with Coach,” another dad chimes.
As I stare out to the ice, I see Cade in a different light. The kids really look up to him and he’s so patient. He divides the kids into groups and gets them to work on different techniques. One corner of the ice is dedicated to a group who needs to stickhandle the puck around the back of the net and then shoot to the net. It makes me wonder what Cade is like when he is playing one of the games for the university.
A kid wipes out and falls.
“Shit, that was my kid. This is going to be embarrassing,” the dad complains. I feel like it’s a shitty statement coming from someone’s dad. I know my own dad always encouraged me to get up and continue when I failed.
Cade is at the kid’s side and helps him remove his helmet.
“He cries every game,” a mother whispers.
I feel sorry for the kid. The dad is a real ass as he hisses at his kid’s response to falling. But it’s when Cade gets down on one knee, so he is eye level with the kid and gives him a quiet pep talk, that my heart stutters. I don’t know what he is saying because he is too far away for me to hear. The kid bobs his head and Cade hugs him.
“Coach is one of a kind. He’s easy on the eyes too,” a mother says to a lady sitting beside her. They both laugh.
“Are you his girlfriend?” one of the dads asks.
It takes me a moment to answer. I don’t want to lie to these people. I also don’t like that they are looking at Cade like he is a piece of meat.
“Yes,” I say. I’ll need to tell Cade I told the parents we’re dating.
“Sorry.” The mom who said he was easy on the eyes winces.
For some reason I feel protective of Cade. He’s a good guy. He’s taken the time out of his busy schedule to coach these kids. It’s admirable. These women shouldn’t be gawking at him.
After the hug, Cade places the helmet back on the kid’s head. He gives it a little pat and tells him to get back to his training.
When the whistle blows at the halfway mark, Cade divides the team into two and they start a friendly game. It’s amazing how all the kids look up to him and listen.
After about half an hour, Cade is blowing the whistle and the teams line up and shake each other’s hands. The parents get up and head down to the rink. Some of them tell me it was nice to meet me.
I wait for the parents to clear out and make my way down to Cade.
“I hope you weren’t bored out of your mind.” He winces.
“It was my first hockey game. I enjoyed it very much,” I say. “I actually told the parents I was your girlfriend.” Now it’s my turn to wince. I hold his jacket in front of me.
“Yeah, one of them told me my girlfriend is really pretty and nice.” He grins mischievously.
I feel my eyes bulge. “Oh no, what did you say?”
“I agreed with her. She isn’t wrong.” He shrugs.
A flush crawls up my cheeks.
A group of teenagers come in. They look like they may be juniors or seniors in high school.
One of the guys recognizes Cade. “Holy shit. Cade Price, it’s an honor.” He shakes Cade’s hand.
Cade shakes his hand and smiles to the kid. “Are you playing now?” the kid asks, looking confused.
“I was just coaching peewee hockey,” Cade explains.
“Damn, lucky kids,” the guy says. “Our coach is running late. Can you run some drills with us. Give us some pointers?”
Cade looks my way. “I need to be somewhere with my girlfriend,” he tells the guy.
“Oh, sorry,” the kid apologizes to me. I check my phone for the time.
“We have about fifteen minutes to kill if you want to help out,” I say to Cade.
He bites on his lower lip. “I should get going,” Cade says.
“Yeah, okay. I hope to see you around some time.” He fist bumps Cade and then he walks over to his buddies with stars in his eyes. We hear him talking about how amazing Cade is.
“Why didn’t you want to help them out?” I ask.
“Because the older guys are different than peewee hockey. At the peewee level there’s no contact. At the high school level, you need to be more strict. Those kids could get recruited. I remember how my own dad drove me to succeed,” he says with a far-off look.
Something tells me his memories aren’t good ones.
The coach arrives and he walks straight over to us.
“Cade Price, I’m Wallace Pierce. I coach these guys. I’ve been following your NCAA career for some time. The rumor mill says you have some offers from top-tier teams,” he says waiting expectantly.
“I’m not at liberty to answer. But I appreciate your interest in my career,” Cade answers politely.
“I get it, no worries,” Wallace replies. He kind of looks like he’s blushing. “Hey, I know I’m pushing it here. I was just about to divide the guys into two teams. Would you mind joining one of the teams and showing them how the big boys play?”
Cade looks uneasy as he watches me. It feels like he’s looking for guidance.
“I don’t mind, Cade. I can go back up and watch from the bleachers,” I offer.
“Thanks,” Wallace says.
“Okay, just a quick game,” Cade concedes because Wallace looks so hopeful.
Wallace fist bumps the air. “Yes. The guys are going to be so happy.” He walks away and we watch as Wallace tells the guys Cade agreed to play with them. They all cheer and get ready.
“What did I get myself into?” Cade asks me, blowing out a breath.
“Why are you so nervous about this?” I ask him.
He just shrugs. “I’ve been on autopilot for so long, doing what my dad expects of me. I don’t think I have anything to teach or show those guys.” His words cause an ache in my chest because Cade seems so lost.
“They look up to you. Just be yourself,” I tell him.
“What if I don’t know who that is anymore?” he asks. Before I can answer, he turns away and heads onto the ice. All the guys begin to clap hard at his presence. Cade quiets them down. The coach passes Cade a helmet and a stick and he puts it on, since he wasn’t wearing one with the peewee team.
The coach puts two guys in the middle of the ice. They are facing each other and it looks like he is about to drop the puck. I really need to learn the rules of hockey before I go to one of Cade’s games.
The guy on Cade’s team shoots the puck across the ice and all the guys begin to skate. But it’s Cade who dominates the ice. He has guys tailing him but he’s faster than everyone. He gets hold of the puck just as two skaters close in on him. One of the players fights him for the puck, but he just passes it off to a player across the ice and then he’s skating behind the net, where he secures the puck again, and scores a goal. The guys are all in awe.
“I was hoping you’d show us some of your fighting moves,” Wallace says to him.
“These are high schoolers. They aren’t allowed contact,” Cade answers and he takes off the helmet.
“They’re seniors. Some of them have been recruited to the best colleges. If they are going to get a permanent spot on a team, they need to make it past freshman year,” Wallace states.
By the look on Cade’s face, I can tell he isn’t impressed. I told him I would go sit on the bleachers, but I decided to stay close by and watch from the plexiglass.
“It’s been fun, guys, but me and the girlfriend have a plan to meet up with some friends,” he says. He shakes Coach Wallace’s hand and passes him the helmet and stick. Some of the guys come up to him to fist bump him.
Cade smiles to the guys and they thank him too. Then he glides right off the ice. “I’ll change out of these fast.”
“No worries,” I say, even though my legs are frozen.
He heads into the locker room and comes out a few minutes later in his Ugg boots and the black sweater he was wearing before and the duffel bag.
I pass him his jacket and his gaze drops to my legs. They are shaking a bit because I’m cold.
“Geez, you’re cold. Why didn’t you say anything?” he asks. “Let’s get you into the car. I’ll blast the heat.”
When we get to the exit of the community center there are large glass sliding doors. The snow is coming down much harder now and the ground has thick coverage.
“Wait here, I’ll bring the car to the door.”
I wait inside by the entrance where there is a strong heater blowing heat and it feels really nice. Cade is a good guy, but it looks like he’s been conceding what he wants all his life. To his father, to Scarlett.
He pulls up to the curb. I run into his car, and he has the heat blasting.
“Are you still up for Black Jack’s? I just called Mack. Everyone is already there.” he asks.
“Yeah.”
He pulls out of the parking lot. We head on to the road, but the driving is slow.
“That coach was way off base. I don’t understand much about hockey, but did he want you to beat up those guys?” I ask.
Cade blows out a breath. “Hockey is a rough sport. Coaches expect the guys to be tough so they can handle other players on the ice. Some guys like to play dirty. That’s what my dad always taught me to do.”
“But that isn’t who you are,” I say when we reach a red light.
Cade turns his head and looks at me. I can’t read the expression on his face, but his amber eyes are ultra-focused on me. It feels like he is really seeing me. I know I’m really seeing him. He was so good and caring with those kids. The way he dealt with the kid who had some challenges was touching. Cade Price is all heart. His father has been trying to make him into the asshole he is, and that’s just not Cade. The light turns green. Cade accelerates slowly. He hasn’t responded to my statement though.
My stomach is swimming with all kinds of emotions. I don’t know what to do.
He finally pulls into the parking lot at Black Jack’s. He luckily finds a spot close to the door. He comes around to open the door for me and holds my hand as we walk quickly toward the entrance, snow blowing in our eyes.
“It’s a crazy night to go out,” I say loudly.
Inside the music is loud. We find our friends at a booth. Ruby waves us over. We get settled sitting beside each other. I’m at the edge of the booth, Cade is next to me and Macklin is next to him.
Briar comes by our table. We order wings and I get a cosmo. I tell her to make it a double.
Briar watches me wide-eyed. “I’m cold, Briar. I need warming up.”
“Cade is a big cuddly guy. He can warm you up,” Aaron offers.
Cade laughs and shakes his head at Aaron. Our food arrives and we all dig in. Even Charlie and Finn came, which is something because those two spend a lot of time in the bedroom when they have free time.
“Macklin updated Finn on your situation.” She winks.
Oh dear. Everyone at the table knows we’re fake dating.
Cade puts an arm around me and pulls me to his side. “I can’t have you cold, baby.”
“Aw, come on,” Macklin says. Then he whispers, “You don’t have to put that act on around us.”
“What if it isn’t an act?” Ruby asks.
“You guys are all being ridiculous,” I say to the bunch.
All of the girls are downing drink after drink since it’s so cheap, and we all end up tipsy as hell. I get up and almost lose my balance. Black Jack’s is packed tonight, despite the weather, which means their little plan worked.
“I’ve got to pee,” I announce.
“I’m coming too,” Ruby says, standing up. I think she is tipsier than me.
We slowly make our way to the restroom because every inch of the bar is packed. There are no tables and people are hanging out in what should be a walkway.
We finally make it to the ladies’ room and there’s a line. It seems everyone is drinking like a fish tonight. When I check myself out in the mirror, I see my cheeks are flushed.
When it’s finally my turn, I head to the bathroom and take the longest pee of my life. I’m feeling good. I’m horny as hell. I want to jump Cade’s bones. He is so fine. I like him. Like, I really like him. When I leave the bathroom to wash my hands, I don’t see Ruby and when I call out to her, she doesn’t answer so I assume she went back to the table without me. I leave the restroom and walk along the bar because it’s a little less crowded. I bump into Ford again.
“Lookie here,” he says, swaying. He’s the last person I want to see drunk.
“Hi,” I say curtly. I continue walking but Ford grabs on to my elbow.
“Come on, Annie. Listen to the song that’s playing, this is fate.”
He’s clearly delusional, even if it is our song blasting through the speakers. People are dancing all over the place. They’ve just made their own little dance areas. Ford pulls me into him and I push at his shoulders.
“Ford, let me go. I don’t want to dance with you.”
He’s too strong for me. He doesn’t budge.
“You don’t mean that, beautiful. Look at you in this mini skirt. You know I used to like you in those, back in the day. You loved to wear them,” he continues. Despite the alcohol in my veins, my blood turns cold as he holds me next to him and begins to move.
“Ford, I don’t. . .” I’m pulling away from him.
“Let her go now or I’m going to wipe you on the floor of the bar.” Cade’s voice is stone-cold and serious. He even has me on alert.
“Bro, I didn’t mean anything,” Ford concedes, letting me go.
Cade pulls his hand back and he punches Ford in the face. Ford goes down like a ton of bricks falling to pieces.
Everyone around is screaming. I see it’s because Ford is bleeding. Macklin and Aaron run up to us and look at the floor then at Cade’s fist, which is slightly split.
“Shit, Cade,” Aaron chides.
“Don’t shit me. He got a hold of Annie and wouldn’t let her go,” Cade seethes.
Briar comes up to us. “Guys, my boss wants to call the cops. Maybe get out of here,” she whispers.
I take Cade’s hand quickly and head back to the booth. Cade drops a hundred-dollar bill on the table and we take off. Charlie is asking me what’s going on and so is Ruby, but there is no time to explain. We run out to Cade’s car. Neither of us is thinking straight. All I know is I’m acting on impulse. This guy has stood up for me more than once.
We get in the car. Cade pulls out fast. His tires skid in the snow as we take off.
“Take me home, Cade,” I say to him, rubbing my arms. My pulse is erratic with everything that just went down.
He nods. “Are you okay? I saw you trying to get away from him. I watched him holding you and not letting you go. I kept my eye on you as you were leaving the bathroom. I saw Ford at the bar when we walked in.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?” I ask.
“I didn’t think he had the balls to confront you again,” he says. “I read him wrong.”
“I hope you aren’t going to get in trouble because of me. If the police ask questions, I’ll say Ford grabbed me and wouldn’t let go,” I assure.
“I’m not worried,” Cade says, but he’s gripping the steering wheel tight and he seems so tense. I don’t know if it’s because the roads are bad or because of him punching Ford.
He pulls into my driveway before I can warn him not to. Our landlord is responsible for clearing the snow, but he does a lousy job of doing it. The girls don’t have a car and neither do I so we try not to complain.
“Shit,” he hisses when his car gets stuck.
“Sorry, I should have told you to drop me by the road. Not that the roads are any better.” I giggle from nerves.
“I wouldn’t let you walk through that mess.”
He gets out of the car and checks the wheels. Then he gets back in and tries to reverse but the wheels have no traction.
“You can go in, Annie. I’ll be fine,” he says.
“I’m not leaving you out here,” I say to him.
“Do you have a shovel?” he asks.
I wince. “No, the landlord usually brings one with him when he comes to clean the snow.”
He hisses.
“I feel terrible.”
“None of this is your fault.”
“That’s not true. It’s my fault you punched Ford,” I retort.
He looks at me, his hazel eyes swirling like hot lava in a volcano. “I was jealous, Annie. I saw him take you and dance with you. I thought it was what you wanted until I got closer and realized you were struggling to get away from him.” He’s looking me dead in the eyes. I’m speechless, but it doesn’t take long for me to snap out of the daze and allow his words to process.
“You were jealous?” I ask, even though he just confessed.
“It doesn’t make sense.”
“It might actually make perfect sense,” I counter. “At the rink these mothers were checking you out and saying all these things about your looks. I felt protective of you. I told them I was your girlfriend because I wanted to somehow claim you. My head was all confused, but I think it boils down to me being jealous of those women wanting you. I think it’s why I sat on your lap that first day in Cup of Java because all those girls were ogling you.”
A small smirk tugs his lips. He doesn’t smile often, but damn, is it a sexy smile. It falters into an almost frown. “Earlier you said that playing dirty isn’t who I am, but I don’t know who I am anymore, Annie.” He dips his head.
My heart fractures from his words.
“You’re kind and caring,” I assure him.
“You can’t possibly know that. We haven’t known each other that long,” he huffs.
“I know you came to my rescue when I was having a panic attack at the restaurant when we had breakfast with your parents, and you defended me multiple times to my mother, you stepped up when my father pretended to hurt his back Christmas Day. I watched you with those kids tonight on the ice. I saw that little boy want to give up but you showed him love and kindness and he continued to play because of you.”
He’s looking at me now. “I’m also the guy who intentionally tries to take out players on the ice. I play dirty and that’s what I’m known for. Why don’t you come watch a game and see me in action. Then tell me what you really think of me,” he snaps. He’s radiating so much tension, but the look in his eyes is filled with so much heat and desire. I am being drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I should stop myself, but I lean over and climb on top of him.
“Annie. . .” His voice is filled with protest, but his hands take hold of my hips as I straddle him in the front seat. He shifts his seat back to make room for me. “I want to tell you this is a bad idea, but I want you.”
I claim his lips. His arms wrap around me, holding me in place. With my skirt it’s easy to maneuver, but it also makes it easy for me to feel his hard length, and Cade is so hard. His cock presses between my thighs, driving me wild. I’m not thinking; I’m just acting as we kiss hungrily. He moans as I grind into him and he kisses my neck. Everything is moving so fast.
“Annie, stop,” he calls out.
We pause what we’re doing. His lips are swollen and we’re out of breath.
“I want you, but I don’t want you to regret me,” he says again, twisting my heart into knots.
“Cade, we’ve been wanting each other since the farm. We’re fake dating so, I mean, shouldn’t we at least enjoy the benefits?” I ask.
“You’re okay with no strings attached?” he asks.
“I’m okay if you are, but I don’t want you sleeping with other girls.” He groans, his cock pressing into me.
“Annie, baby, you’re the only one I want,” he declares.
That’s all it takes for us to go back at it. Only there is minimal room in the car.
“Cade, you need to come inside. We aren’t moving your car tonight,” I insist.
“Is it okay with your roommates?” he asks because he’s thoughtful.
“Yes, I have my own room with a double bed,” I say.
“You do realize how big I am,” he warns.
“I heard you’re a cuddly guy so you can keep me warm.” I climb back into the passenger seat and leave the car. We run up to my front door since the snow is blowing hard. We get inside and the house is dark. We leave our boots by the front door and I show Cade to my room.
This. Is. Happening.