Chapter 24 #2
“Do you need a minute to review the menu?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” Cadence said.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Cadence glanced up at me. “It’s a Mexican restaurant. You can’t not get a margarita.”
“I don’t like to drink before a show. You know, just in case. After is a different story, though.”
“Oh yeah, how did I forget you had a show tonight? Do you mind if I tag along as a groupie?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You could even put me to work if you needed an extra hand.”
“Thanks, but don’t worry. We have everything we need.”
“It’s here in LA, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe I should ask Liam if he wants to go with me.”
I thought of her sitting alone at the bar, being hit on ruthlessly by other men, and it made me want to release my inner caveman. “Yeah, that’s a great idea. You should invite him.”
Cadence pulled her phone out. “Let me do it before I forget. I tend to lose track of time around you.”
Our waitress came back with our drinks and took our order.
“Ugh. I know you don’t eat much sugar, but we should have ordered dessert first.”
I lifted an eyebrow, “Oh?”
“They have lava cake!”
As if that explained it. Unlike me, she had a sweet tooth, but I still didn’t follow. “So, order it after you eat.”
She shook her head, furrowing her brow. “I’ll be too full. I can’t eat that much.”
I pressed my mouth into a thin line, trying—but failing—to contain my laughter. Her conviction was absolutely adorable.
Cadence crossed her arms, a pout forming on her lips. “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Dessert is the best part about going out to eat.”
“I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing with you. There’s a difference.”
“That only applies if I’m laughing. Which I’m not.”
“Fine. No more laughing.” I took a drink of my water. “Instead tell me what your plans are now that you’ve moved back to North Carolina.”
Cadence sighed, putting her arms on the table. “I’m not sure yet. It’s weird. Ever since I started college, I’ve been on this path away from what I really enjoyed in life. But now, I almost feel like I’m back at the start. It’s terrifying and exhilarating.”
“What did you study in college?”
“Music and business. I wanted to produce music. Write top hits and own this big fancy record label.”
“Didn’t you say you have a degree in finance? How did that happen.”
She averted her eyes as her shoulders tensed. I had a feeling I knew what she was about to say.
“I let Elijah convince me that a finance degree would be better suited for owning a business that produced music.”
I fucking knew it. That bastard pretended to share her dreams, only to steer her away from them. I balled my fists under the table, fighting to control the anger that seeped in and diffuse it completely. It had no place here, with us.
“There’s still time to make that a reality.”
She shook her head. “I’m not so sure about that. I hate to say time isn’t exactly on my side.”
“All you need is one song to go viral on all these social media platforms. You could take off that way.”
“You make it sound so easy. Why haven’t you done that yet?”
I leaned across the table. “Because I don’t look as cute as you do. The world would prefer to stare at you than me.”
Cadence rolled her eyes as she took a drink of her margarita. “That’s ridiculous. Have you looked in the mirror recently?”
“I told you, already. I’m too busy looking at you.
“Whatever.” I could see the faint blush that kissed her cheeks.
“Try it and see. Post a video of you singing.”
She fidgeted in her seat. “I’d rather just do the songwriting.”
“The lyrics you sang last night, is the song finished?”
She nodded her head.
“Do you have a recording of it?”
“I have a rough one on my computer.”
“Can you send it to me? I’d like to hear the whole song.”
“I…”
“Pretty please? With cherries and whipped cream on top?”
“You’re such a child.”
“I know.”
She let out a huff. “Fine. When I get home.”
“I can’t wait.”
“Who writes your songs?”
“We do. All of us. They are working pieces. One of us comes up with an idea, and we mold it into what we want as a band.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Or infuriating. Can you imagine how long it takes to get five guys to agree on how the melody of a song should go?”
“No, I really can’t.”
“And you don’t want to.”
“Here you go.” The waitress set down her chicken chimichanga and my steak fajitas. “Anything else you two need right now?”
We both shook our heads.
“This looks and smells amazing. I’m starving,” Cadence said.
I was starving, too, and let my eyes feast on the woman before me, watching as she picked up her fork and knife, and dug in. She had no idea what a gem she truly was.
“I’m stuffed.” Cadence rubbed her belly dramatically as we left the restaurant.
“Too bad about that lava cake, though.”
She growled at me. “Way to rub it in.”
I leaned into her ear. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
A red hue crept across her cheeks, but the yearning in her eyes mirrored my own.
We strolled along the pier and the weight of her hand in mine was becoming instinctual.
Flicking my wrist, I checked the time on my watch. I still had about two hours before I had to get back.
I let Cadence pull me into different souvenir shops, placating her when she wanted me to put on ‘Santa Monica Pier’ sunglasses and other touristy items.
Not like it was difficult. I’d do almost anything to make her smile, even at the expense of myself.
“So…” she said as we left another shop. “How about some ice cream?”
“Got enough room in there now?
“Yup!” She nodded as she popped her ‘p’.
We moved to the ice cream cart and grabbed our cones before sitting down on a nearby bench.
Cadence leaned over as she licked her dessert. “Look how straight that guy’s posture is. I bet he’s like a chiropractor or something.”
“What?”
“Do you see how that guy walks? It’s like someone glued a metal rod to his back.”
“Are you trying to guess his profession?”
“Yeah.” She cocked her head. “You don’t do stuff like that?”
“No, I do.” People watching was one of my favorite past times. I was just surprised that someone else, specifically Cadence, did it too. I thought I was the only one.
“I think it’s fun to imagine why someone else is in this exact spot, at the same time I am.
” She pressed her shoulder against mine and pointed to an older man with a receding hairline who wore a pair of cargo pants that had seen better days.
“That guy right there, I bet he is the clown that walks around on the pier making balloons for the kids.”
“Why do you think that?”
“His smile. I’ve never seen another smile so genuine and full of happiness in my life.”
I had to give it to her, she was right. The man walked with a pep in his step unlike any other. He smiled joyfully at everyone who passed him. It was clear he was living his dream.
“I agree. But why the clown?”
She shrugged. “The balloons hanging out of his pocket were a pretty good clue.”
I couldn’t stop the laughter that burst out of me. My entire body shook alongside hers as we watched the man continue down the pier.
“How do you feel about a Ferris wheel ride?” Cadence asked, taking the last bite of her ice cream cone.
“Not exactly my first choice in how I spend my time, but I could be convinced.”
“I wouldn’t want you to do something if you didn’t want to.”
“I’m going to assume you do, so let’s go.”
I stood and held my hand out to hers. Craving that connection with her body again.
“You don’t have to.”
But it was too late, I’d already made up my mind.
I purchased our tickets, and we got right on. It was the middle of the day, and the pier wasn’t too busy. I could only imagine how packed it was during the evening rush with all those young couples trying to see the sunset over the ocean.
Was Cadence into that kind of thing?
I didn’t have time for something like that today, but maybe…
What was I thinking? This was not a relationship. We weren’t starting anything new. There was no way she was ready for that. And I…
But as I climbed into the gondola, those thoughts went away. Excitement radiated from Cadence, her eyes wide as she looked out over the water.
“Wow. It’s so picturesque,” she whispered.
I was not too fond of heights. They gave me the willies, but I didn’t hate it at this moment.
Actually, it was pretty damn perfect.
The early afternoon sun shone off her hair, making her dark strands look burgundy in spots, and the light glistened on her cheeks, causing her amber eyes to shine brightly. She had a glow about her, appearing ethereal against the deep blue backdrop of the ocean behind her.
I would never get over how beautiful she was.
I realized everyone had a type, and not everyone thought the same things were pretty. But she was a work of art. There was no comparison.
I slid next to her, making sure I didn’t rock the gondola too much, before I grabbed her by the back of the neck, and captured her lips with mine. I wound my hands into her hair, trying to devour every piece of her, giving in to my need to taste her once again.
Her tiny gasp, then moan of approval, sent signals right to my dick, and I was ready to dive into her again.
I’d always been attracted to Cadence, since the very moment our eyes had met across the bar all those months ago.
But actually spending time with her—learning her quirks, hearing her laugh, seeing that smile light up her face, finding out the things that brought her joy—was stirring things up for me on a whole other level.
I was watching her come out of her shell, a beautiful butterfly emerging from her cocoon.
As someone who doesn’t develop feelings or attachments to anyone, I was quickly acquiring both.