Chapter 6 Cade
CADE
I wake up to golden light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, everything feels perfect. Josie's curled against my side. Her dark hair spills across my chest, and her silky skin is warm to the touch. With the twinkle lights above us, everything looks like a goddamn Christmas card.
Then my phone buzzes with notifications on the nightstand, and reality intrudes.
I glance at my phone to find seven missed calls from Creed. For a man who claims I always call at the wrong times, it seems he's all too eager to return the favor. I ease out of bed, careful not to wake Josie. Then I step into the cold of the cabin's living room to call him back.
"Jesus, Cade, where the hell are you?" Creed's voice crackles through the speaker. "The boys have been asking for Uncle Cade nonstop since yesterday. You've got them all fired up about your arrival, and frankly, it's not what I want to hear at six in the morning."
"I know, man, I planned on making it. My car's in a ditch about a few miles out of town. I can’t get the door open at this point.” I poke at the still glowing embers left from last night’s fire.
“Car? You didn’t bring your truck. What are you thinking? Where are you?”
“You remember Josie and Katie’s family cabin from high school? I’m out that way. The roads were completely blocked last night. Josie was here and let me crash.”
"You are so goddamned lucky she was there. I told you the snow was coming. Ricky's had his plow out since dawn. The roads are much clearer now. You can probably get through. I don’t understand that damned sports car." My brother's voice carries that familiar mix of exasperation and concern.
“Whatever, man, it worked out. I’ll see if—”
"Of course it did. God, you are such a jackass. Just get here before Christmas Eve tomorrow." The line goes dead.
I chuckle as I hang up. Creed hasn’t changed.
If Josie thinks I’m a Grinch, she should hang out more often with Creed.
I don’t hold it against him. Life hasn’t been easy on the dude.
He did more than his fair share raising me after Dad left.
Now he's doing the best he can to parent two boys on his own.
I wish I could be more involved. That’s one of the hardest parts about living across the country. The least I can do is show up when I say I will and bring gifts that will make their jaws drop.
As I hang up, I find Josie is up. The sight of her moving around in the morning light makes my chest tight. She’s heading toward the kitchen and is fully dressed. I’m sorry I missed the show. I follow her to the coffee pot, but my being in the room doesn’t seem to break her stride.
"Morning," I say, testing the waters.
"Good morning." She doesn't look up from measuring coffee grounds. "And good news, the roads are clear. Katie texted me. She says Ricky's been plowing since dawn."
"So I heard." I step behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
She relaxes into me for just a moment before stepping away. "Sounds like Creed was worried when you didn't show up last night. Your nephews are probably bouncing off the walls waiting for Uncle Cade."
There's something guarded in her voice that makes my stomach drop. After what was undoubtedly the best night of my life, this distance between us feels wrong.
“Yeah, I talked to him just now. I’ll head over there in a little bit. What about you? Are you staying put? It's only a few days until Christmas. You can’t stay holed up here alone." I squeeze her hand and she doesn’t pull it away, but I don’t miss the hesitation in her voice.
“I'm having myself a merry, little Christmas. That's always been the plan. I’ll be working on the bikes and determining where Katie needs help." The tightness in her tone makes it impossible to believe her. "You’ve got to go see your family. They need you, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of Creed’s angst the next time I see him.
I need that man to keep my truck running. " Josie smiles, and it feels forced.
I lean back into the kitchen chair, and the old wood strains under my weight. "I’m not in a rush. Even if I get Ricky to give me a ride over to Creed’s place, all the gifts are locked in my trunk. There's no way I can get them out."
"Cade." She turns to face me with one eyebrow raised. "They don't care about presents. They want to see their uncle. You get that, right?"
I take her hands in mine, desperate to keep our connection alive. "Maybe, maybe not. But either way, I can't leave until I know what you want for Christmas."
She tilts her head like the question is foreign to her. "Just this. You. Here with me last night and this morning. It was beautiful, and that's enough."
The simplicity of her answer throws me completely.
"Come on, Josie. You can have anything. Name it. A trip to Paris, jewelry, whatever you want. What about one of those handbags with a name I can't pronounce, or a car you don’t have to depend on my brother’s shop to keep running? You're with me now."
The moment the words leave my mouth, I know I've stepped in it. Her face closes off completely, like shutters slamming shut.
She pulls her hands free. "Let me be very clear, Cade. I don't want your money. It's the least attractive thing about you." Her voice is quiet but steel-edged. "I chose this life. This cabin retreat, this town, this simple morning. It's exactly what I want."
"Yes, I get it. But it could be so much more, is all I’m—"
She sets down her coffee mug with a sharp clink that might as well be a gunshot.
"You think I need rescuing. That my choices aren't good enough unless they come with a price tag.
" She's bustling around the kitchen with sharp movements that scream barely controlled anger.
"You should head over to your brother's. I need to get back to my real life."
“I don’t think any of that. I just don’t want to walk away from you right now, not ever. Connection like this never happens. You’re incredible, and I want every moment with you while I’m here—” Before I can finish, she turns to face me.
There are tears in her eyes that she's fighting hard not to let fall.
"Last night, you made me feel chosen. Beautiful. I loved every minute of it. Having all of that charisma trained on me like I was the only woman in the world was irresistible. But I'm not delusional, Cade. I know that this is what you do. It’s who you are. You can have anyone and anything and I get it. But please don’t humor me.
I'm not the only one who's fallen for you. Let’s leave last night, the incredible moment it was.”
“No, you’re wrong.” I fold my arms over my chest.
“Cade, you've always needed more than this town could give you. You need someone who'll fall all over themselves for your money and status. That's never going to be me. So let it be done. Have a beautiful Christmas with Creed and the boys.”
The accusation hits like a punch to the gut because there's truth in it. "How am I fucking this up so much? I just want to give you everything you want.”
"I don't need nice things." Her voice breaks on the words.
"I need someone who thinks what I already have is worth something.
" She grabs her coat from the hook by the door.
“I’m heading out to organize bike deliveries to kids who'll be thrilled with them.
Not because they're expensive, but because someone cared enough to show up.
" She pauses at the door, her hand on the knob. “Maybe I’ll see you next time you pass through town.”
And then she's gone. Josie leaves me standing in the cabin’s tiny kitchen. I’m surrounded by the scent of gingerbread candles, coffee, and the echo of my own stupidity. My chest hollows out, and for a moment, I think I might be sick.
I wait half an hour before I call Creed for a ride. The truth settles over me in the silence. I’ve spent years surrounded by people who only cared about what I could give them. Now I’ve found the one woman who sees me for who I am, and somehow I've just pushed her away.
As Creed’s truck pulls up the drive, two truths emerge. First, my nephews don’t care about the presents. Second, there’s no way in hell I’m letting Josie walk away.