34. Little Secrets #3
I scoffed. “You’re one to talk.” Cade had grown up fighting, drawing blood just for the hell of it, and honestly wrestling around with him was probably the reason I was still alive.
Cade was nearly as thick as Theo, but he had an inch of height on all of us, including me, making him lean enough to be fast and bulky enough to be dangerous.
I’d seen him in the ring, and whatever was driving him was way more than adrenaline and disciplined training—he had something to prove, no doubt a result of his hard upbringing.
Cade hid it well though, all behind that lazy grin of his.
Cade chuckled and took a sip of his amber drink. “How long you in town for?”
“Tonight’s my last night.” I said. “Had to make it out for the birthday redo.” Since I was the one who had ruined Sara’s birthday in the first place. I still felt terrible about that.
Liam chimed in over the music to Cade. “We got a cake for later. If you’ve got time, you should stick around.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Cade said, giving Sara a long look that made me grit my teeth.
Ohhh fuck no. When had that started?
I curled and uncurled my fist, trying to look unbothered as Liam leaned in.
“By the way, I know your time is limited when you’re in town, and I know it really means a lot to her that you showed up.
” Liam clapped me on the back, looking genuinely appreciative.
“You’re a great friend. To both of us. This has been a hard year, and I’ve been dealing with a lot of bullshit lately.
It’s just—it’s nice to know I can always count on you. ” He added, “Especially with her.”
I finally looked at Liam, and my hands went instantly clammy.
“Of course.” I swallowed hard, doing a piss-poor job of pretending like I hadn’t just fucked his sister sideways with her own dildo, less than twelve hours ago.
“I had to make up for ruining her birthday in the spring.” I shrugged, panic rising in my chest.
Right on cue, the girls started sliding out of the booth one by one, with temptation itself headed straight my way.
“It’s all good.” Liam nodded, looking relieved. “She just needed a little time, I think. She seems like she’s finally bouncing back. Actually, she’s been really happy all day.”
I bet she has.
“Yeah, she looks good.” I agreed casually, wondering how the hell I was going to keep what I’d done from Liam.
“Healthier.” I quickly added, tamping down a dangerous smirk.
I felt guilty, I really did. I hated lying to my best friend and betraying his trust, but selfishly, keeping it a secret…
made it that much hotter. Fuck. I was definitely going to hell.
I wasn’t an idiot though. There were so many ways I could get screwed over.
If Sara decided she didn’t want this, I knew exactly who Liam would side with.
And even if she decided she did want me, Liam might never accept it.
I could end up with everything I’d ever dreamed, or absolutely nothing at all. The realization was sobering.
Over the years, Liam had always been incredibly protective of her, and he’d been very clear about the rules—nobody touched his sister unless they wanted to lose their teeth.
And seeing the way Cade was currently looking at Sara—I was fucking glad for the rules.
Rules were great. Cade especially should remember those rules.
We all should. Except for me, of course.
Jules nudged Liam’s arm, checking in. “Hey, how’s everything with Gina?” Liam grimaced and shook his head.
Meanwhile, I tried to act casual and uninterested, but I could literally smell Sara hovering nearby, and when I finally stole a glance, my vision went red.
Fucking Cade. Now he had his arm slung around Sara’s shoulders!
I clenched my fist, knowing I couldn’t say a damn thing with Liam standing right there.
“I thought your birthday was in June?” A strand of Cade’s jet black hair fell over his face as he leaned down and rumbled into Sara’s ear. “If I would have known we were celebrating you tonight, I would have gotten you a gift, gorgeous.”
Sara rolled her eyes. “My birthday is in June.” She adjusted her short, shimmery green dress.
Fuck, she looked good tonight. “I wasn’t feeling so hot on my actual birthday, and if I don’t let them pretend that this is my party tonight.
They’ll just keep doing this, planning more fake parties, until I cooperate. ”
“Maybe you’re just worth celebrating twice.” Cade crooned, and I wondered if I was going to be sick.
Tonight, Sara had her hair up in a high ponytail with curly strands hanging out around her face, and I couldn’t help wondering if I’d get to wrap it around my fist later tonight. “I’m going to get a drink.” I extended my hand to Sara, more than ready to steal her away. “You want one?”
Before Sara could answer. “I just topped her off.” Cade said, not moving his eyes from her face, keeping her locked snugly into his side.
“ Great. ” I bit out tightly, wanting to peel the skin off Cade’s hand as it gripped the bare shoulder I’d had in my mouth last night.
Jules was still talking to Liam when Ariana and Riley came up. “You want to come to the bar and get a drink with us? ”
“Duh,” Jules chimed, and they linked arms and headed into the packed crowd.
“Coming, Carter?” Ariana asked over her shoulder.
“I’m going to say hey to Sloane first.” I forced a smile, knowing I had to keep my fucking eyes on Cade.
Sloane just looked at me sweetly as I slid into the booth. “Hey Carter.”
“Sloane,” I said tightly before taking a sip of a random drink at the table. I stared Cade down as he leaned in and whispered something into Sara’s ear, and she laughed, actually laughed. What the hell was he saying to make her laugh like that? Goddamn it.
“They look good together.” Sloane said, snatching what was apparently her drink back. “They’d have the most gorgeous dark-haired babies. Don’t you think?” Sloane threw her head back and laughed, clearly enjoying my misery.
Actually, we’d have the most gorgeous dark-haired babies is what I wanted to snap, but I didn’t. “No, I don’t.” I bit out, stealing Sloane’s drink again, knocking it down in one go.
“Hey,” she complained. “Don’t take your girl problems out on me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
” I bit out as Cade proceeded to rub a strand of Sara’s hair between his fingers.
Now he was touching her fucking hair!? Why the fuck wasn’t Liam saying something!
? Fuck! Liam was on his goddamn phone, didn’t even see Cade coming on to Sara!
I whipped my gaze between Liam and Cade, just waiting for Liam to notice, but he didn’t.
Come on, Liam. Look up! Any second now would be really fucking great.
Knock his teeth out, it’s what we all wanna see.
“That’s not what Sara tells me.” Sloane chimed.
My gaze snapped to Sloane. “What’d she say?”
Sloane just shrugged and zipped her lips before throwing away the imaginary key. “Girl code.”
“Right.” I muttered, slamming my glass down too hard on the table to get Liam’s attention, but the music was too loud and it didn’t make a world of difference.
“We’re burning daylight. Why isn’t everyone dancing?” Ariana asked cheerfully, returning with a drink in hand.
“ I’m ready to dance.” Sara chimed, and Cade immediately extended his hand to her.
My mouth dropped open with hope as Sara shot me a look, but before I could scramble out of the booth, Cade headed out to the dance floor, pulling Sara along behind him—she threw me a little grin over her shoulder right before she disappeared between the packed bodies.
Fucking bastard!
Touching what wasn’t his to touch, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
My brain was short-circuiting as I hauled myself out of the booth and stormed across the dance floor.
She was mine.