Chapter Twenty-Five – Lilibeth #2
She drew me into her arms and held me. The tears I’d been trying to keep at bay finally fell.
Stepping back, Vivianne looked at me and smiled. She reached up and wiped my tears away. “Lilibeth, I can tell you without a doubt, every heartbeat from that boy belongs to you.”
I let out a breath and closed my eyes as I tried to get my emotions in check. “My gosh, these hormones!”
Vivianne chuckled. “Come on, let’s splash your face with some water.”
When we finally made our way back to the theater, the table had been removed and replaced by a blanket with pillows. Ensley was putting a large bowl of popcorn on the blanket.
“Drinks are right here,” she said. “Popcorn here, and your favorite movie snacks. I had to call your mom and ask her what they were.”
I looked down to see a box of Sno-Caps and a box of Good & Plenty. The urge to grab the Sno-Caps was strong, but I resisted.
“I love Sno-Caps so much!”
“Word of advice, don’t try to eat the Good & Plenty. I’ve seen Caden do terrible things to Gatlin for taking his Good & Plentys.”
My brows shot up. “Noted.”
Caden walked over with a smile. As he got closer, the smile slowly faded. He stopped in front of me, cupping my face with his hands. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’ve been crying.”
I stole a quick look in Ensley’s direction. The expression she wore should have made me laugh. She looked both surprised and intrigued.
“They were happy tears, I promise.”
He searched my face. “My mother didn’t make you upset?”
“No! Oh my gosh, no. Not at all. I swear.”
“It’s the hormones, I’m sure,” Ensley said. “I’ve heard they’re a beast.”
Something in Ensley’s expression caused me to look at her a bit harder. Was that sadness in her blue eyes? “They’re crazy, that’s for sure,” I agreed.
Clearing her throat, Ensley said, “Okay, well, we’re going to head to the kitchen and clean up. You guys are on your own from here on out.” Turning to her brother, she asked, “Do you need anything else?”
It took Caden a moment to pull his worried gaze from me, but he finally smiled at his sister. “Thank you so much, Ensley. I owe all of you guys for this.”
She slapped him on the chest. “You bet your ass you do.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you again. I love you.”
It was her turn for tears to swim in her eyes. She reached up and hugged him. “I love you, too, Caden.” Stepping back, she wiped a tear away and laughed. “More happy tears!”
Then she turned quickly and rushed away, Caden and I both staring after her.
He let out a soft sigh, then focused back on me. He wore a look of sadness but quickly replaced it with a smile.
“Is Ensley okay?”
Taking my hand in his, he motioned for me to sit on the blanket. “I think so.”
“I know it’s none of my business, but has Ensley been in a serious relationship before? Since I’ve been here, I don’t think I’ve seen her date anyone.”
Caden rubbed at the back of his neck as he sat next to me. He glanced in the direction where his sister had walked off, then looked straight ahead. “She has. Do you remember when Emeline told you about Grady Owens?”
Frowning, I shook my head. “I can’t say that I do.”
He blew out a breath. “Grady and Ensley were really good friends in high school. He was a year younger than Ensley, and I’m not sure exactly how they met, but they were thick as thieves.
Grady had a brother, Colt. He’s my age, but I never really hung out with him.
I’m not sure why, maybe because he mostly hung out with the jocks.
Colt was the guy in school who was great at everything.
Quarterback of the football team, pitcher on the baseball team.
He rode bulls, and could ride a horse in his sleep.
Whereas Grady wasn’t into any of that. He liked to party, was the class clown, and had big dreams of traveling the world. He never took life seriously.
“Anyway, Colt asked Ensley out, and they began dating. Grady hadn’t seemed bothered by it at all. They dated for a few years. Well, Grady committed suicide and Colt left town the day after Grady’s celebration of life. Never even said goodbye to Ensley or contacted her again.”
I put a hand to my heart. “That is so terrible, for everyone. Poor Ensley. That poor boy’s family. I’m sorry, too, for your loss.”
He smiled softly. “Well, enough of that. Shall we get the movie started?”
I felt like a kid in a candy store. “Yes! I can’t wait to see what we’re watching.”
Caden snuggled down next to me, grabbed his phone and sent off a text, and seconds later, our movie started. It took me only a few moments to realize what was playing.
Turning to look at him, I laughed. “How in the world did you remember I said Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie?”
He grinned. “I told you, I pay attention.”
I slowly shook my head. “You, Caden Wilde, are unlike any man I’ve ever met before.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
Reaching up, I brushed my lips across his. “That’s a very good thing.”
“Here you go,” he said, handing me my Sno-Caps.
We both settled in with our snacks and soon got lost in the movie. I knew this night would be at the foremost part of my memories for the rest of my life.