Chapter 17 Grae
GRAE
Eddie pulled his truck to a stop in front of my house and glanced over at me. “Want me to come in? We can order pizza and watch rom-coms…”
I chuckled. “Thanks, but I think I’m going to shower and hit the hay. It’s been a long day.”
Eddie nodded slowly. “Need a ride tomorrow?”
“I’ll just walk.”
He opened his mouth as if he might argue but snapped it closed when he saw my face. “You’ve always been there for me when I needed you. I just want to give you the same.”
I wrapped my arms around Eddie in a tight hug. “I know. Thank you.”
The guys had been great today, but the tiptoeing was driving me a little nuts.
Jordan had been practically on top of me all morning on our kayak trip, asking if I was okay every five minutes.
Noel brought me lunch and then stared at me until I ate every bite.
Eddie just watched me as if he expected me to break.
I released him, grabbed my bag, and hopped out of the truck. With a wave, I headed to the steps of my cottage, coming up short when I saw a large figure sitting on them.
Caden looked wrecked. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his hair was disheveled.
“Hey,” I said softly.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “Didn’t like the idea of you being alone tonight.”
Crud. I didn’t need that. The current acrobatics of my heart in my rib cage was proof enough. “You don’t have to stay.”
“I want to.”
Another chest flip.
“Okay.” I was a dumb girl. I should’ve insisted he leave. That I was fine on my own. The last time he was here had felt like a slow-motion car wreck. Instead, I reached out a hand and pulled Caden to his feet. “How do you feel about breakfast for dinner?”
He grinned, and the action sent a zap straight to my middle. “I feel great about it.”
We headed inside, and I dumped my bag in the entryway. “I need to shower real quick. Make yourself at home.”
Caden nodded a little awkwardly as if unsure what to do with himself now that he was here. Dang, it was adorable.
I hurried down the hall and away from the pull that was Caden. I grabbed sweats from my bedroom and took the fastest shower known to man, with the water set to frigid, hoping it would somehow pull me out of my stupid-girl state. When I made it back to the kitchen, I felt a little more in control.
Caden was perched on one of the stools at the counter. “Can I help?”
I shook my head. The last thing I needed was Caden trapped in my tiny kitchen with me, bumping into me, brushing up against me. “I’m good. How do you feel about veggie and cheese omelets?”
“I feel great about any food I don’t have to make.”
I chuckled and set to work chopping tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. I sauteed them all in a pan and then set them aside next to some freshly grated cheese. I felt Caden’s eyes on me the entire time. Each brush of his gaze made my skin burn hotter.
I didn’t dare look at him, or I might spontaneously combust. Instead, I poured the egg mixture into two different pans. After a few moments, I spread the cheese and veggies in the center of both. I folded over the sides and flipped one and then the other.
“How’d you learn to do that?” Caden asked, his roughened tone skating over my skin and leaving a pleasant shiver.
My mouth curved. “My dad. He’s the omelet master in our house.”
“I forgot about that. Breakfasts were either omelets by your dad or waffles by your mom.”
I slid the egg creations onto two plates and put them on the counter. Then, grabbing two sodas and silverware, I took the stool next to Caden. “I still can’t do waffles as good as hers.”
Caden bit into his omelet and moaned. “Well, you’ve got this down.”
His words made warmth take root in my chest. There was something about taking care of someone that I loved. Maybe because so many people tried to take care of me because of my disease. “I’m glad you like it.”
Caden devoured his meal in a dozen bites and then leaned back on his stool, watching me.
I took a sip of Diet Coke. “What?”
“I’m trying to figure out if you’re really okay. You’ve gotten better at hiding your emotions.”
My fingers tightened around my fork. I’d had lots of practice perfecting my mask of everything’s okay. It was necessary when people constantly worried about you.
I looked up at Caden and found that some part of me wanted to tell him everything. Maybe it was because he’d been that person for me for so long. Maybe it was because I’d just been holding everything in for years.
“I freaking loved that car.”
Caden stared at me for a moment and then burst out laughing. “The car? That’s what got you the most upset?”
“It was a damn good SUV.” It was one of those old-school Range Rovers that looked as if it belonged on safari. I’d spent way too much money having the engine completely rebuilt and the upholstery refurbished. Now, it was a total loss.
Caden reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers slid down to my neck, squeezing gently. “We can get you a new SUV.” Emotion blazed in his eyes, making the gold in them spark to life. “But I couldn’t take it if something happened to you.”
Caden pulled to a stop in front of the Vacation Adventures cottage. He looked rough, and guilt pricked at me. Sleeping on my couch wasn’t conducive to good rest.
“Can you do dinner with my family tonight?” he asked.
I straightened, a trickle of unease sliding through me at the prospect of being around Gabe. “Sure. What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at six. My dad’s on my case about showing my more respectable side around the resort.”
I hated the flicker of hurt that flared to life in my chest. Loathed the part of me that yearned for Caden to simply want me there. With him. “What’s the attire?”
Caden tapped the wheel. “Cocktail.”
I nodded, grabbing my bag. “I’ll be ready.”
“Thanks.”
I slid out of the vehicle without another word. I didn’t want to give Caden a chance to see the hurt I knew lived in my eyes. Apparently, I was fully living the dumb-girl life right now.
I hurried into the office. Noel and Eddie were both sipping coffee, staring at me.
“I thought you were walking to work,” Noel said.
I glanced at Eddie. “Reporting in on my whereabouts now?”
He held up a hand. “He wanted to make sure you had a ride if you needed one.”
My shoulders slumped. “Sorry. I’m grumpy.”
The corner of Eddie’s mouth kicked up. “Trouble in paradise already?”
I stuck my tongue out at him. “No. I’m grumpy because my car is basically ash, and I don’t want to deal with insurance or getting a new one.”
“We can take you where you need to go until then,” Noel offered.
“Thanks,” I said, sliding into my chair.
The hinges on the screen door squeaked as it opened. When I looked up, I cringed. Rance strode inside and then handed me a bakery bag. “Thought you might need a pick-me-up.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?”
I wanted to scream. Using the word friends meant I had no reason not to accept the gift when it was the last thing I wanted to do. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Rance’s expression grew earnest. “How are you holding up? I can hook up your SUV at my cousin’s shop.”
“Thanks, but I’m pretty sure it’s totaled.”
“I can go car shopping with you, then. I know that’s a pain.”
The bag crinkled as I gripped it tighter. “I’m good.”
Annoyance flickered in Rance’s eyes. “I’m just trying to help.”
“And she said she’s good,” Noel said, an edge to his voice.
Rance’s gaze snapped to him. “I’m her friend.”
Eddie leaned back in his chair, making an exaggerated show of being relaxed. “If that’s really the case, then you should listen to her. Stop bringing flowers. Stop bringing gifts. And fucking listen to her when she says no.”
Rance flushed. “This isn’t any of your business.”
“You make it our business when you do it in front of all of us,” Noel clipped. “It’s getting old.”
Rance’s jaw went hard, and he jerked his gaze to me. “I was just trying to help.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “And I appreciate it. But I’m good. I think what would help the most right now would be some space.”
Anger flashed in Rance’s dark eyes. “Message received.” He stormed out.
Why did I feel like this wasn’t over?