Chapter Twelve
Sky
I look at Cade, then at the ice cream parlor, and then back at Cade. The polarity is comical. He’s malefactor, a deviant, menacingly clad in black, while the ice cream shop has pink topped cones on the windows and sherbet umbrellas out front. I don’t know where I expected him to take me, but this isn’t it.
“We’re getting ice cream?” I ask suspiciously, and he rolls his eyes, stomping past me to pull open the door.
“Low blood sugar, remember?” He grabs my arm and pulls me through.
It’s too early in the morning for the place to have any patrons, but I immediately look down at my clothes and shrink in on myself. I still have blood on my shirt, and the peroxide is starting to bleach my skirt.
Cade looks over the glass that encloses the ice cream flavors, presumably looking for an employee because the place is empty, but then he turns to find me still hovering by the door.
As if suddenly realizing I’m a mess, his eyes roam up and down my body. I know he’s taking in my attire, but there’s something else in his perusal, and I can’t help but shiver. I don’t know if I’m afraid that he might like what he sees, that he’ll claim me as a target and I’ll never get rid of him, or if I’m desperate for him to do just that.
When his eyes flick back up to mine, I can’t look away, and something dark forms in the pit of my stomach as his brows draw together in vexation. His ravenous irises are a stark contrast to the way his jaw flexes, and I think I should be afraid. He’s not a guy that likes what he sees. He’s a wolf that hasn’t eaten and will stalk me to the ends of the earth for the meal he’s set his sights on.
Without looking away, he suddenly yanks his hood down and begins stripping off his jacket. Something hot heats my skin, and not in a good way. My heart picks up, and I irrationally lift my heel, getting ready to run. Painful panic grips my chest, and I pull my eyes from his to look for help. Not that it would do me any good. There were quite a few people in the movie theater that day, and none were even aware what was happening just a few rows back. Still, I wish there was someone here. How was it just seconds ago that this was a friendly establishment, and now it’s a desolate trap I’ve been lured into?
Stupid.
He steps forward, and I back into the door, freezing up at his proximity. There’s nowhere to go. There’s nowhere to go, and why does it seem like it’s getting darker? I nearly gag on the scent of butter. No, no, no. I shrink in on myself.
“Put this on.”
The words startle me. On and not off? I blink and look down, where I find sun shining in, and black fabric being held out to me. There’s no popcorn on the floor or spilled drinks.
Because this is not a movie theater, and this is not Chase.
It’s Cade. Cade who hasn’t even done anything to me. Cade who stitched me up and brought me for ice cream. The ridiculousness of my reaction hits me, and I suddenly feel stupid.
“Thank you,” I force out, hating the way my hand shakes as I accept his hoodie.
I slip my arms into it eagerly, suddenly cold from the comedown of panic. I can feel Cade’s eyes on me, suspicious and confused, but I avoid looking up. I’m not only embarrassed by how I recoiled, but now from how intimate it feels to be wearing his jacket. I busy myself with zipping it up—partly to hide the blood, but mostly as an excuse to avoid his gaze. But the little metal doesn’t budge. I struggle for a second, trying to align the teeth, when Cade suddenly clasps a hand over mine. His skin is scorching, and I hold my breath as I force myself to look up at him. He’s leaning over me, his dark hair in his eyes.
“Sometimes it gets stuck,” he says, his voice husky.
“Oh,” I manage, my cheeks heating.
He pinches my fingers between his, wiggles the zipper, and then together we drag it up. I have to tilt my chin up, and once again I’m frozen. But this time not in fear. My heart beats erratically, my lips tingle, my stomach whooshes, and all I can think is do it.
He pulls his bottom lip in between his teeth, and for a second I think he’s going to lean down. But the bite turns rough, angry, and then he looks away.
I’m left with my own lips throbbing, wishing I could have been the one to feel that bite, as he walks behind the counter. I’ve never been left so wanting in my life. I would die to taste his malice, his darkness, his—Wait, what is he doing behind the counter?
“Cade!” I hiss.
“What flavor do you want?” He ignores my warning and reaches for a scooper.
“You can’t be back there!”
“You seem like a waffle cone girl. Not dipped though. Vanilla, am I right?” He pulls open the slider that encases the flavors.
I should have known this was a bad idea. I shouldn’t even be off campus, and once the police get a hold of us, I’ll be considered an accomplice. My father will make the trouble go away, not allowing a stain on our name, but then his punishment will be worse than any slap on the wrist.
I shake my head, feeling a sweat break out on the back of my neck. I need to leave. I can walk back. Free ice cream isn’t worth the wrath I’ll face and—
An elderly woman steps out of the back room and halts when she sees Cade. Great, we’re caught. She has curly white hair, glasses that might as well be magnifiers, and is barely tall enough to crest Cade’s waist. My first thought is that he better not hurt this old woman, but it’s quickly washed away when she raises her chin in indignation and pokes him in the back with her index finger.
“You are in trouble, mister!” she says.
“Ow!” Cade spins around at her touch. “I think you nicked a kidney.”
“Serves you right.” She jabs at him again, but it’s more in his torso than his chest, given her height, and I give her props for taking him on.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
“Getting ice cream.” Cade waves around the scooper, and I grimace.
“Um,” I start and step forward, hoping to do some recon. I don’t know how to get out of this, but I have to try. “Ma’am, I’m so sorry. He’s really impatient and we have to get back to class. We were going to pay and…”
Cade quirks a brow at me, and I give him my best scowl, whipping my eyes to my side in a silent order to get him to come from behind the counter.
“And who’s this?” The lady puts her hands on her hips.
I open my mouth, not sure what I’m going to say, but Cade speaks over me.
“Apparently, my cohort.” There’s a light smile at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with amusement, and I want to slap him for labeling me his accomplice. This is exactly what I didn’t want.
“So you’re both playing hooky and simultaneously trying to get my labor license revoked?” She folds her arms across her chest and levels a stare at Cade.
Oh great, I hope she doesn’t call the school. I don’t know what she’s talking about with the labor license, but I’m guessing it’s not good.
“I’m not on the clock, Rita. Don’t worry.”
I blink. What?
“You’re lucky I like you,” she says.
Double what?!
“You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend,” she says, her features suddenly softening.
“That’s because I don’t.” Cade avoids my eyes.
“Mhm.” She winks at me.