Chapter Ten
MEREDITH
"This weekend is just what the doctor ordered," Everly exclaimed.
"I know. This place is amazing." We'd planned this girls' weekend away ages ago.
We were in the Stone House Manor in the White Mountains, and the scenery was gorgeous this time of the year.
On the B&B's website, all the pictures had been taken in spring and summer because everything was green, but now the town was a million shades of red, brown, and yellow.
In my opinion, it looked even better. Then again, this cozy-month-loving girl wasn't exactly objective.
As soon as we checked in and put our things away, we got ready to go to the indoor pool. They also had an outdoor one, but it was only open in the warmer months. I could already feel the Christmas spirit in the air now that we were midway through November.
When we stepped inside the pool area, the warmth engulfed us. My sister was already kicking off her shoes and dropping her cover-up on a chaise lounge.
"Let's get in," Everly said as my phone beeped.
I immediately checked it, wondering if it was my mom. It was from Cade.
Cade: How are you doing today, gorgeous? I can't stop imagining what would've happened last night if we weren't interrupted.
I was on fire in seconds. It had to be a record.
"You go. I'll come in just a second," I said to Everly. I hoped the pool wasn't too warm because I already needed a cold shower—or in this case, a cold pool.
I typed back as I sat on the lounge chair next to my sister's, sending him a picture of the fall colors through the enormous window.
Meredith: I'm on my getaway, remember?
He replied instantly.
Cade: I wish I were there with you.
I drew in a deep breath. Oh God, he really means that? I thought last night might have been… an impulsive moment. Following the other impulsive moment in his office.
Meredith: I don't think it's your style. It's small.
Cade: Meredith, you're my style. I don't care where we would be.
I swallowed hard, my thumbs hovering above the screen. My chest heaved up and down as my stomach somersaulted. Cade, Cade, Cade.
Cade: Are you sharing a room with your sister?
I stared at the screen. That was an odd thing to ask.
Meredith: No, I'm alone.
I’d wanted to share a room, but my sister said she snored so loudly since her belly expanded that I wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink. We’d asked for adjacent rooms, but there weren’t any available.
Cade: Okay, good.
Oh come on. He can't leave me hanging like this. Can he?
Meredith: Good what?
Cade: That means I can call you later and we can talk without anyone around.
Why was I swooning for him already? Was it perhaps because I was still feeling the lingering sensations of his kiss? I seriously needed a good swim not only to cool off, but also to burn off some sexual tension.
Meredith: I was thinking about watching a movie and eating a crap ton of junk food in the evening, but they don't have anything good here. Not even beef jerky or popcorn. Boo-hoo.
Cade: I can think of a better way to entertain you.
Meredith: Game on.
I was letting my inner siren come out to play. I hadn't done that in a while, but Cade simply demanded it.
I took off my cover-up and sandals, then lowered myself into the pool. Everly swam to me. There were three other guests in the water, but the pool was big, and there was plenty of room.
"You look like you were flirting, sitting there with your phone," she said with a smile.
"How could you tell that?"
"Am I right? I saw it."
"Yes, you are. I wasn't even sure I was flirting until you pointed it out."
She wiggled her eyebrows sexily. "Who was it?"
"I'm only telling you if you promise not to tell anyone."
"Who would I tell?”
“Mom?"
"Oh yeah, that’s true." Everly then added, "Okay. I’ll keep my mouth shut."
"It's Cade."
Her brows shot up her forehead. "Whitley? Mom will have a field day."
"Uh-uh-uh, now what did I say? Not to tell her."
"Well, that was before I knew this was about Cade. It's not fair," she pouted.
"You wanted to know. Now, come on—race me a couple laps."
“Why? You need to work off all that sexual energy?”
I winked at her. "You know it."
“You’re playing a dangerous game, sister.”
Everly always saw right through me, and I couldn't pretend to be anyone other than who I was with her.
She was right. Maybe this was a dangerous game I was playing.
I’d had a crush on Cade for years in high school.
I still remembered the sting of rejection.
Although, it had never been an outright rejection.
More like a lack of acknowledging me as a girl.
I was just the nerdy, oversized friend. And that had hurt.
But things were different now, and I never liked to dwell on the past. What good would it do?
I was a different person now and so was Cade.
He definitely knew how to flirt and kiss. And I wanted more of those things.
Everly and I stayed in the pool until our teeth started chattering. She said she felt so buoyant that she could almost forget she was pregnant.
Once I was in my room, I showered and dried my hair before wrapping the bathrobe tight around myself. For dinner, we were going to a nearby steak house, and I couldn’t wait. I loved my steaks rare and was looking forward to a good one.
I was shocked when I noticed a package on my bed.
It must have been there when I walked in, but I didn’t notice it.
I opened it and gasped. Ladies and gentlemen, I was the proud owner of three bags of beef jerky and two bags of microwave popcorn.
There was a note too: Miss Meredith, compliments of Cade Whitley.
Holy shit! The man had called the concierge and asked them to buy this for me.
I grinned instantly, snapping a picture and sending it to him.
I glanced at the picture and deleted it.
No, I wanted something to make a statement.
I sat next to the bounty, stretching my arm up to take a selfie.
Yeah, now he could see my silly grin. I snapped the picture and sent it to him before I could change my mind.
Meredith: Thank you for saving my evening. What would I have done without you? See, it's actually better that you're not here. This way, I can go ahead with my plan to treat myself to beef jerky and popcorn.
My phone vibrated a few seconds later.
Cade: Yeah. But if I were there, you could have beef jerky, popcorn, and me.
Oh yeah. The game was definitely on, and he was beating me at it.
CADE
"Dude, are you throwing the game on purpose?" my half brother Maddox asked. On Sunday afternoon, I met him along with my other two half brothers, Nick and Leo, for a tennis match. We played every week at one of the fitness clubs Nick owned in Jamaica Plain.
"No. I’m having trouble focusing," I admitted, which sounded strange even to my own ears. I lived for tennis. I started playing when I was in college, and now it was my favorite pastime sport.
"You sure? Because you’re really bad. You must be doing this on purpose," Nick replied.
"Why don't we call it a game? I'm not in my best shape today. Don't want to ruin our reputation."
"Yeah, I agree," Maddox said.
"Not so fast," Leo replied. "We have a fair chance of beating you today, don't we?"
"It wouldn't be fair and square," I pointed out, "if I can’t focus."
"That sounds like a Cade problem, not a tennis problem." Leo gave me a shit-eating grin.
Nick frowned. "Dude, is something wrong with Gran that we should know about?"
"No, that's not it at all." All these years later, I wasn’t used to them calling her Gran. To us, she was Grandmother. My mother always insisted we call her that.
Nick looked at Leo. "You know, I wouldn't feel good about a victory today with this one having his head up his ass."
Leo waved his hand. "Fine. We'll continue next Sunday. Let's get something to drink."
The sports club was more of a hangout place for most members.
I only used it to play tennis on Sundays with my half brothers.
Sometimes it was still strange to hang out with them.
After discovering my father’s infidelity, I'd felt guilty for wanting to meet them.
Colton and Jake had been far too furious even to entertain the thought.
But even though I was pissed at my father, I still wanted to meet my three other brothers.
None of this was their fault, after all.
It was months after Mom passed that my grandparents invited them to their house. It had been a very awkward day. They felt like strangers. Gabe immediately befriended them. Even today, they were closest to him.
We were better at navigating our relationship now.
We rarely spoke of our childhood. Sometimes we mentioned Dad by accident.
Nick was especially prone to bringing up that he took them fishing, and all those resentments came right back, slamming into me.
He’d never done that with us. He was gone almost every weekend with “work” projects.
We tried to limit family talk to one subject: our grandparents. That way we didn’t slip into dangerous territory. My brothers and half brothers were all focused on their well-being. As far as I knew, they weren’t in contact with Dad.
As we sat down at the bar, the waiter brought us four menus.
"Coffee for me," I said.
"Yeah, for me too," Maddox said. Nick and Leo both went with a Coke. Everyone around us seemed to be drinking some sort of green juice, probably one of those health concoctions. I’d never understood the fad.
"Hey, look at that group," Leo said. "How about asking them if they want to play with us today?" He glanced at Maddox. "Since these two bozos are sitting out?"
Maddox turned to look at the ladies Leo was referencing. "I wouldn't mind if we went out with them instead of playing tennis."
Nick grinned. "You two, turn that down. Don't pick up women at the club. It’s tacky, and that’s not what Whitleys do."
"Why not?" Leo asked. "That's why most people come here."
"Running into them again here will be awkward," I pointed out. “It’s just not a good look.”