16. Sloane
Chapter sixteen
Sloane
It’s Thursday afternoon, and yes, I made it to my fitting. Mia was very pleased to hear it. She hasn’t asked me any questions about Cade or about the stalker, either, thankfully. She’s probably too busy with the wedding, which is one good thing. It means my drama isn’t causing as much of a distraction as I thought. That isn’t to say I haven’t been slacking on my duties, because I definitely have, but it just means that the things I am missing are still getting done without me there.
It sounds bad when I put it like that, but either way, it seems like Mia has let up on her frustrations with me despite how warranted they are. I know if the roles were reversed, I wouldn’t be happy with her flaking on me, either. But now I’ll really try to make an effort where I can. I know I keep saying it, but this time I mean it.
That isn’t the only thing that’s been weighing on me. What Mike said about Cade’s past lingers in my mind like a stain that refuses to go away. I know Cade has a hard time letting people in, but as his supposed partner, you would think he’d be willing to talk to me. But it still feels like whenever we get close, he continuously pulls away. I know it will take time—it isn’t lost on me that some people move slower than others—but I can’t help the feeling that I’m not getting the real him.
Sometimes, it feels like I’m getting the boy I knew growing up, while other times I’m getting the more sophisticated yet rugged and manly version of the boy I grew up with. Then there are the times I’m getting billionaire Cade, who is the complete opposite of either guy I once knew, and then getting a completely different man entirely, who may as well go by a different name.
Who is Cade Hart? I deserve to know who the man I’m falling for is.
Yes, it’s becoming more and more apparent. I’m falling for him despite not even really knowing who he truly is. It’s like he’s trying to be every version of himself that he thinks I want him to be in specific moments, but that isn’t the case. I just want him to be himself, true and authentically real. Is that so hard? And if so, why ?
I sit at the kitchen island, waiting for Mike to show up. He texted me earlier that the police may have gotten a tip about my stalker, which is great. Only, because the stalker clearly knows where I live, Mike thinks staying with Cade for the night is the best option. Mike wouldn’t go into details about what the exact plan is to catch said potential suspect. He just said that tonight, I’d be safer elsewhere. He also moved my parents to his house, so hopefully we will know more after tonight.
My phone chimes, and I look at it to see Mia’s name pop up on the screen. I wonder if Mike told her about what was happening tonight. I’m sure he didn’t tell her any more details than he told my parents and me, but I wonder if she even knows something is going on.
Wedding favors tonight? I could really use the help since we have over 100 guests. - Mia
A hundred people are coming to the wedding? Seriously? Do Mia and Killian even collectively know a hundred people?
It doesn’t matter, that’s not what is important. The favors… right, can I do them tonight? I’m guessing she doesn’t know anything about what the police plan to do about my stalker tonight. She can’t exactly be mad at me if I back out, right? I mean, Mike the police officer is being clear with his instructions here. He’s taking me to Cade’s because nothing is safer than a well-guarded estate.
I feel guilty for backing out on my responsibilities again, but this time it isn’t my fault or even Cade’s. I could have been available tonight, but I’m sure she wouldn’t risk my safety over her wedding favors, and I wouldn’t want to risk hers. The last thing we need is the stalker finding out I’m not home, figuring out I’m not at Cade’s, and then tracking me to my sister’s. The fewer family members I involve in this mess, the better I’ll feel.
I start typing back.
I can’t tonight. Safety concerns courtesy of our dear brother. - Sloane
I decide to keep it vague, not just for her sake, but for my own, too. If this stalker is learning all this information about me, who is to say that they don’t have access to my phone? What if they’re always listening to me? This is the part where the paranoia sets in and I turn beet-red. Does that mean the stalker could have heard or very well seen Cade and me the other day in my bedroom?
Well, if they did, I hope they enjoyed the show.
My phone pings again.
Ugh, fine. - Mia
It pings again as a second message comes in.
I’m not mad at you, by the way. I know your safety is important. I just hate this for you and the timing sucks. - Mia
I grimace. She’s right, but no time is good to have a stalker. Still, I feel her frustration, and I feel her stress. I wish I could be there for her, especially tonight. I made a promise to do better, but this time, through at no fault of my own, I can’t be there for her—again.
I know, but I can’t help feeling guilty for continuing to flake on you. I promised to make it up to you, but it feels like the world refuses to let me be there for you. - Sloane
I sigh and wait for her response. Three dots appear on the screen, alerting me that she’s typing back.
I get it. Just stay safe, okay? Rain check? How about this Saturday night, after we’re done with the glam test runs? I’d like to have them done asap. - Mia
I stare at the screen until a honk cuts me from my thoughts. Will this stalker thing officially be over by Saturday? I don’t know, but I can’t keep turning my back on my duties to Mia, so I reply that I will see her on Saturday night. One way or another, we will get those wedding favors done.
I grab my bag and head out the door, locking it behind me as I meet Mike in his police cruiser. I place my bag down, and he looks over at me. I meet his gaze.
“You got everything you need?” he asks.
“Just missing my sanity,” I reply, and he chuckles softly, shaking his head. “How are you, by the way? I mean, I revealed this huge bombshell to you, and we haven’t really spoken since,” I ask as he puts the car in drive.
He sits there silently, contemplating his answer, but the longer he stays silent, the more on edge I feel.
Finally, he sighs awkwardly. “Well, it’s not every day I hear my best friend is screwing my younger sister,” he says.
I roll my eyes at his horrible turn of phrase. He makes it sound like I’m some child. I’m twenty-eight years old—hardly underage—and Cade is thirty-eight. We’re adults, and our age gap isn’t really all that bad. It isn’t like it’s a new thing that people who date tend to have age gaps. It’s normal; it just varies in the length. A decade-long one isn’t unheard of, either.
“But if you two make each other happy, then I don’t mind,” Mike adds.
I smile at him and then look away, letting us fall into a comfortable silence. I’ll have to take what I can get from him.
I’m suddenly reminded of what he said before, about Laura, Liam, and Washington, D.C. These are clearly heavy topics for Cade, and I feel like there has to be a reason why he hasn’t revealed anything about either of them. I would have understood his having a son, but I wished he had told me about him instead of me meeting him on my own.
“You obviously know about Laura, Liam, and D.C.,” I say to Mike.
He stiffens, his grip on the steering wheel tightening at the mention of all three weighty topics.
“I won’t ask you to tell me about them. I already know he has a son, but he didn’t tell me about him. I met Liam on my own one day,” I explain, pausing for a moment to collect my thoughts. What is it I’m trying to get out of Mike here if not information? “I just want to know why Cade is so closed off. I didn’t even know Laura existed until you said something, so I just want to know why he never felt like he could bring her up with me? Or D.C?”
Mike keeps his eyes on the road. He sighs, running a free hand through his hair. “Since you know about Liam, I’ll just say that as a single parent, when you start dating again, the first thing you want to do is know if that person is worth introducing them to your child. I don’t think Cade deliberately hid Liam from you. I think he just didn’t want to introduce you right away or scare you off. That’s where your age gap becomes a hindrance.”
I frown at him. “How so?”
Mike laughs like it should be obvious. “Sloane, c’mon! You’re not even thirty yet, and you don’t have kids, and have never been married. You’ve never even experienced living with someone you love, as far as I know.”
I look at him curiously. “And Cade has been married?”
His eyes widen as he realizes what he just said. He clears his throat and sits up straighter. “I said too much,” he admits with a sigh.
Yes, clearly you did, Mike.
So Cade has been married before. Interesting.
It isn’t shocking that he has, but we’ve never talked about our past relationships, not even mine. We don’t even talk about Liam, either. To be honest, we’ve been so focused on ourselves and figuring out what this relationship even is that everything else took a backseat. No wonder we’ve never hit on the heavier shit. We’ve been too busy dwelling on the things that would just figure themselves out in time.
Mike pulls up to Cade’s gate, and the guard lets us in. Outside, Cade waits for us with his hands in his pockets. He looks handsome under the sunlight, his dark hair shining and the scruff on his face chiseling out his face. I take a moment to drink him in as Mike comes to a stop.
I open the door, and Cade walks over to help me with my bag. He carries it at his side, and then I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing a kiss to his inviting lips. I missed him. It’s been a few days since our argument and my confession. We’ve spoken every day, but we haven’t seen each other since that night, so I welcome his presence.
Cade looks up and sees Mike getting out of the car. He clears his throat as I take his hand. Mike grimaces at him. “Can you do that when I’m not around? It’s like looking at our parents,” he says, mocking us with an “ick” face.
I roll my eyes as Cade relaxes his posture.
“You can say that again, Uncle Mike.”
I turn around and see Liam standing by the door. Cade turns as well.
“Liam, I told you to wait for me in the theater,” he says sternly.
Liam pouts a very identical Cade pout, which melts my heart. “Yeah, but I got bored.” He steps out—no shoes, of course. “You didn’t say Sloane was coming.”
I look over at Cade, who rubs his neck awkwardly. “I told you a friend was coming,” Cade replies.
Liam shrugs. “You should have been specific,” he says, and I laugh, hiding my smile in Cade’s shoulder. “Are you two married?” he asks, causing my eyes to widen.
“Dating, son,” Cade replies as I pull back. “You got to date someone first before you marry them.”
“Well…” I say at the same time as Mike, but Cade snaps his fingers at the both of us, clearly not wanting to explain to a nine-year-old.
Liam looks between his dad and me, then looks back at me. “Are you going to paint my dragon while you’re here?”
“I thought you wanted a dinosaur with green laser beams shooting from his eyes?” I ask.
Did I get that wrong? Oh no, am I already screwing up with Cade’s kid?
Liam bursts into a grin, showing off some missing teeth. “I was testing you.” He stands up straighter, then looks at his dad. “She can stay.” He turns around, walking back inside to let us have some alone time with Mike.
“Seal of approval,” Cade says softly, kissing my cheek. I chuckle, and we turn back to Mike, who shakes his head.
“I’ll get used to it, I think,” Mike grumbles. “Anyway, I’ll notify you of any information we obtain tonight. Wait for me to give you a call before you head home, Sloane.”
I nod, watching as he gets inside his cruiser and drives off. I look over at Cade. He’s still uneasy, but not nearly as bad as before. He knew that I sent Mike the email that revealed our relationship, but this is the first time my brother has truly seen us together, as a couple. I can imagine why that would be very weird for him.
“I missed you,” I say softly, hoping Cade will get out of his head and just be present with me in this moment.
He looks over at me and smiles, pressing a kiss to my lips. “I missed you, too,” he replies.
I can tell he truly means that. I sigh happily and then wrap my arms lovingly around him.
“Tonight is game night,” he says. “Are you up for a little Mario Kart in the theater?”
I chuckle, and yet I’m excited about the simplicity of it. Getting to see Cade and Liam interact in their domain sounds like the perfect night to me.
I want to learn more about Cade, but maybe me pressing him on these issues is what’s holding him back. If I just allow myself to be present in the moment, see how he navigates his life with Liam, and learn to be happy with what we have, then the rest will follow suit. I have to believe it will, because that’s the only hope I have left.