Chapter 16 #3
“I wouldn’t be here right now without him lighting that fire under my ass. I owe him. The least I can do is be there when he feels at his lowest.”
Blake laughed. “Maybe he will open up to you since it’s obvious you’re going through something too. You both have that in common.”
“Yeah.”
Liam was now picking invisible lint off his shirt with a scowl that told everyone he didn’t want to be here. But if he didn’t, why didn’t he leave? He had every reason not to linger here with us.
I looked around the table. It seemed everyone was finished eating. I wiped my mouth with my napkin before yawning loudly. “Man. I’m exhausted. I’m sorry, guys, but I might be ready to head out. I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“But…” Blake asked before my gaze cut to hers. I sent her telepathic signals to play along. Her eyes widened, realizing my plan. “Ooooh. Yeah. Me too.” She fake yawned, a bit less convincing than mine, but she got an ‘A’ for effort. “So tired. I’m with you, Cay.”
Jamie’s gaze flicked between us, one eyebrow raised with a smirk. “You two good?” The amusement was evident on his face, but I glared at him for not playing along when we were so clearly faking it.
“Just tired. How about you? You got pretty hammered last night too, right?” I was pulling at straws here. I couldn’t remember how much I’d drank, much less how much he drank.
“Not…” Jamie groaned as Blake elbowed him in the side under the table. He coughed, then said, “Oh yeah, so drunk. I’m basically a zombie right now.”
Blake looked back at me and grinned. Mission accomplished.
“Me too, I’m gonna head out.” Liam stood and threw a few bills down on the table.
I followed suit and approached him. I didn’t reach for him initially, waiting to see if he still held a grudge toward me.
When he sighed and hugged me, whatever I’d done to provoke him was thrown under the bridge.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear.
“We all have those moments. Do you want to talk?”
“No.”
“If you change your mind, you know I’m here.”
He pulled back, leaving his hands on my shoulders and looking at me
“Same to you. Anytime. Come to California if you need to. Open door policy.”
“Hey, I might take you up on that offer.” I laughed.
“I’d welcome the company. It gets lonely on top of my pedestal.”
I pushed him playfully as we turned back to our friends. I was planning on returning home tomorrow, and I wouldn’t see them before leaving.
Erik hugged me next. “Don’t be a stranger. We miss you.”
“I’ll come home more. Promise.”
“Next time you visit, let’s make sure to get you drunk again,” Wes said as he pulled me against him.
I laughed. “I’d rather not.”
“But drunk Cadence is more fun.”
“Maybe, but she regrets it all when she has to get up for lunch dates.”
We filed back outside, and once the sun hit my chilled skin, I shivered from the warmth.
“Safe travels tomorrow, Cadence,” Liam said.
“You too.”
“And I liked him. He was really cool. He passes.”
I whipped my head toward Liam, but he’d already started walking away. “What?” I called out.
But he raised his hand over his head as he continued toward his rental.
“What did he say?” Blake asked, coming up next to me.
“He said, ‘he passed’.”
“Aw. Big brother Liam approves.”
I bumped against Blake with a scoff as Jamie stood on the other side of me, putting his arm around my shoulder. “Seriously, Cadence. If I need to come down to Charleston and beat some ass, just let me know. Don’t let Elijah disrespect you. You deserve better than that.”
“I know. I won’t. And you’re not the only person to offer, either.”
“You don’t want me to unleash my fiancée on his ass, either.” Jamie said.
“He’s not wrong. I’d light him up.”
I reached around both of them, pulling them into a hug. “I love you, guys.”
Somehow, I’d forgotten how much support I had in Fayetteville. In Charleston, I only had Jade. Here, I had the love of my mom and all my friends.
Deep down, I knew that no matter what happened with Elijah, I’d always have a place to call home.
The cemetery was oddly quiet.
I shivered in the cool breeze as it caressed my exposed skin. A sure sign winter was right around the corner.
Pulling my light jacket tighter around me, I tried like hell not to break down as I looked at the fresh dirt atop Noah’s grave.
How was it possible that I would never get to hear his laugh again? Or his voice as he tried to reason with us to stay out of trouble. Or when he’d eventually say “screw it” and join us despite the risk.
Since I was an only child, I’d found siblings in my friends and Noah had always been like a brother. He was dependable, but never afraid to let loose and have some fun. Kindhearted and sweet, he never took life too seriously and did everything with a smile.
But it was his sense of justice that made Noah truly special. He always did the right thing, no matter the cost.
We hadn’t talked for a while, but that didn’t mean our friendship had suffered. It only meant that our friendship was one of the good ones. When we’d run into each other, it was like no time had passed.
Heaven had gained a true angel.
I sank to my knees in the dry grass, tears streaming down my face as anguish consumed me.
A searing pain shot through my chest as my breath came in short gasps.
I didn’t get to say goodbye to one of my best friends, to someone I’d known for so long, and I’d never have the chance again.
I let Elijah take that from me.