18. Cade
It’s almost check-out time when we finally peel ourselves out of bed and start packing our bags. We still have several hours to kill before I have to head to the airport. Paige will be meeting up with her dad to head to his place for a quick visit after we part ways. There’s a sadness in the air that wasn’t there yesterday. We both know the goodbyes are coming, but we’re not ready to face it. Once our bags are packed, I take her hand and lead her to the lobby where they’ve agreed to hang onto our luggage until it’s time to go.
Paige wraps a scarf around her neck as we step out onto the sidewalk, heading towards to the beach. Finding an unoccupied bench, I tug her down beside me so I can finally say the words that have been on the tip of my tongue for days.
“Paige...” I open my mouth to continue speaking, but I’m taken aback by the tears glistening in her eyes. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to put a damper on things, but I’m so sad this is all over,” she replies.
“It’s not over, Sunshine. This is only the beginning for us.” A small smile spreads across her face and I know I’ve said the right thing. “I know we didn’t really talk things through before we dove headfirst into the deep end. First, I want you to know that you can take all the time you need to think about what I’m about to say. I won’t rush you.” I take a deep breath and compose myself, preparing to finally set things in motion. “I would really love it if you would consider moving to Oak Ridge.” Her entire face lights up like I’ve handed her a kitten.
“Really? You want to live with me? Or... shit, that’s not… I can get my own place, obviously.” She’s adorably flustered again and I hate that she’s second guessing herself, but the shy smile makes my heart skip a beat and her excitement is a balm to my frayed nerves.
“Yeah, Sunshine, I want us to live together. I want to plan a future with you.”
Her arms wrap around my neck in a crushing embrace and I inhale her vanilla scent. I need to find out what shampoo she uses so I can bring her scent home with me. In the meantime, I snag the scrunchie from her hair and place it on my wrist as a souvenir. She gives me a playful scowl, swatting me on the chest.
“Hey! That’s my favorite scrunchie.”
I smooth the furrow between her brows before placing a chaste kiss on her temple. “You’re my favorite.”
I lift her off the bench and guide her along the icy beach as we savor our final hours together. I have to fly home soon and we haven’t figured out when we’ll be able to get together again. Work is waiting for me back home, and she has a very uncomfortable conversation to have with both of her parents. Although I wish I could be there, she assured me that she’s just a call or text away and will reach out if she needs me. If I could whisk her away to Oak Ridge with me, I would… in a heartbeat.
“Are you sure about this? About us?” she asks, fear and apprehension lacing her words.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything.”
“I want this, Cade. So much. But I’m terrified that I’ll mess up and hurt you, or lose you; lose our friendship.”
“We’re bound to make mistakes. We may even hurt each other, but we’ll always find a way to make it right. And you could never lose me — not really. You’re too important to me. I may not have all the answers for what lies ahead, but I do know that I want to face it all with you. No matter what.”