Chapter 10
CHLOE
I look back at Kade as Rachel pulls me away.
My heels wobble slightly, but I couldn’t say if that was from the champagne or nerves.
I’m certain there’s a pleading look in my gaze, begging him to rescue me from whatever is about to happen.
Rachel and I get along, but her taking me away from Kade feels like I’m being dragged into the middle of a battlefield without any armor.
When Kade follows, I offer him a grateful smile.
We reach the exit, and Rachel pushes through, her shoulders relaxing as she ushers me into a small room. It looks like a study, and for a moment, I wonder if we should even be in here.
Releasing her hold on me, Rachel collapses into a chair with a heavy sigh, swinging her legs over the arm. “Oh my God, today has been full on. I’m sorry I haven’t had time to speak to you until now.”
I walk around the room’s perimeter, shrugging as I study the books lining the walls. “It’s okay, you’ve kinda had your hands full.”
“Tell me about it. Mom has been incessant, and then Dad has been questioning Ollie about his investments, as if this is just a normal day and talking business is acceptable.”
I glance through the partially open door, my attention snagging on Kade as he leans against the wall, observing. Some of the tension eases out of my body, just knowing that he’s nearby.
“So, you’re dating a cowboy, huh?” Rachel asks, her gaze inquisitive when mine slices toward her.
Does she know the truth?
Surely not. She’s been in town nearly as long as I have. There’s not much chance—given the wedding planning and leash Mom would have had her on—that she’d have seen Kade before today.
“Yup,” I rush, shifting my focus to the window and the string lights leading a path in the dark to the cabins.
The less I tell her, the less I have to lie.
Or at least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Being honest with myself, I’d love to tell Rachel the truth, but the likelihood of it getting back to our parents is too high. And it’s only really for today, anyway.
“Are you not going to give me any details?”
I lift a shoulder, mumbling, “There’s not much to tell.”
We’ve never been the type of sisters to gossip about our love lives, so I don’t know why she thinks I’d start now.
“Now that I don’t believe. But we should all go to dinner while we’re in town. I’d love to get to know him, Chloe.”
I’m about to agree when the door is pushed open with force, the wood knocking against a chair behind it. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I know exactly who it is before she speaks.
“Ah, there you are, Rachel. Your husband has been looking for you,” my mom admonishes, as if it’s somehow a crime that Ollie couldn’t find her.
“I’m just catching up with Chloe and resting my feet.”
I turn just in time to catch the sneer on my mom’s face before she corrects herself. “I told you not to wear those shoes, but you had to have it your way.”
When Mom takes a sip of her drink, Rachel and I share a look. We’ve been on the receiving end of Mom’s snark one too many times, but we know good and well that she doesn’t need us to respond.
I step in the direction of the door, ready to go back to Kade. I’m too tipsy to hold my tongue, and I won’t take the chance of ruining Rachel’s big day.
“And you.” Mom points at me, her eyes narrowed and tone scathing. “You do a stupid degree in photography despite mine and your father’s objections, and then you couldn’t even be bothered to volunteer to take pictures at Rachel’s wedding. Your only sister’s wedding.”
She’s had a few drinks, that much is clear from her slurred speech and pink cheeks.
I press my lips together to keep from snapping back. Heat fills my chest, working its way up my neck and into my cheeks. This is exactly why I’ve stayed away for so long. Apparently, my mom was never taught that if you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.
“Mom,” Rachel exclaims, moving to stand between us.
She’s ignored. Mom’s eyes are locked on me, and there’s no getting away from whatever tangent she’s about to go on. Sidestepping Rachel, her lip curls as she looks me up and down. “You show up here, acting like you belong. We never should have invited you. You’re a disgrace to this family.”
My head rears back. This isn’t the first time my mom has said cruel things to me.
It’s usually when she’s been drinking, and I always end up in her line of fire.
She wouldn’t dare speak to Rachel like this, and although I put up with it for years before I cut them out of my life, it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“Chloe?” Kade steps through the open door, his brows pulled low and concern filling his gaze.
When he sees me, he crosses the room, uncaring of who else is in here. He comes to a stop in front of me, blocking my body from my mom’s view, and runs a hand down each of my arms. It’s ridiculous how something as small as his touch can wipe away the chaos swirling inside me.
For the first time since coming in here, I finally feel like I can breathe. There he goes again, being my knight in shining armor. I look up at Kade, and he nods, answering the question I haven’t voiced. A muscle ticks in his jaw, and if I wasn’t standing so close to him, I’d have missed it.
He turns toward my mom and Rachel, tucking me into his side. Rachel’s eyes are wide, and there’s a slight smile on my lips as Kade bites out, like it’s not what he wants to say, “Thank you for inviting us. It’s been a long day, so we’re going to get out of here.”
“Congratulations on a beautiful day,” I say to Rachel.
She mouths, “I’m sorry. I’ll text you,” as we walk out, her glow slightly dimmed.
With his arm wrapped around my waist and my head resting on his chest, I allow Kade to guide me away from the toxicity of my mom. I think I might be in big trouble with this man but right now, I couldn’t care less.