by Vivian Wood
She laughed. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“What is this kickball? Football? Girls, they should not play the football.”
“No, it’s not football. Or soccer, if that’s what you actually mean,” she said with a smile. “It’s like a game kids play at recess. But now there are intramural leagues so you can play for fun as adults.”
Jean-Michel sniffed. “Americans, you never want to grow up. Okay, have fun with your ball kicking.”
“Thanks,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”
As Lily headed toward the parking lot, her phone vibrated with a text from Aiden.
You on your way? You better not bail like the last 100 times! Everyone’s waiting for you!
OMW, she replied and rolled her eyes.
For years Aiden had begged her to play in his tournament. And for years she’d come up with excuses. But now that Cade had joined, there was some motivation to actually go.
She pulled up to Riverfront Park and shielded her eyes to gaze up at the carousel as she jogged by. So many childhood summers had been spent at that carousel. One of her favorite pictures was of her and her mom and matching white horses with big brass poles that made it look like they were riding unicorns.
Lily could see the teams in the distances, half of them with bright pink strips of cloth tied around their arms. As she jogged up to the spectator area, she spotted Elijah, Aiden, and Cade huddled together.
Thank God, she thought. It seemed that Aiden and Cade had gotten over the tiff between them.
The one I caused, she reminded herself with guilt.
“Hey! Lily!”
Renee bounded up to the small circle with a thermos in hand. Renee’s long golden legs shot out of her bright neon running shorts. One of the neon pink strips hugged her bicep tight.
“Renee! Uh … what are you doing here?” Lily asked. She crouched down beside her brothers and stuck her phone into her backpack.
Renee shrugged. “Aiden invited me.”
“Aiden?”
She looked down at her brother, but he wouldn’t make eye contact with her. Awkwardly, she hugged Renee and offered up smiles to everyone else. The last thing she wanted to think about was whether her best friend and brother were hooking up.
When her eyes caught Cade’s, she blushed and looked down to hide the grin she couldn’t stop from spreading across her face.
Last night in bed, she’d told Cade that he might be a firefighter, but she’d surely kick his ass at a recess game.
“You sound really confident,” he’d laughed. “Especially for someone who considers baking their primary form of fitness.”
“Hey!” she’d protested. “I’d like to see you carry a five-tier cake without wobbling.”
“I stand corrected,” he said. “You’re super buff.”
“Seriously, I bet my team will win tomorrow.”
“Okay, okay!” he’d laughed. “I’m sure you will.”
“Yeah, but I said I’d bet you.”
“Oh, yeah?” he’d raised a brow as he turned toward her. “And what are you going to bet? Because if it’s cars, sorry, but no. I have way more to lose.”
“Don’t be mean to Mariah!”
“Mariah?”
“Yeah, that’s the name of my car.”
“My bad. I don’t want the diva mad at me. So then tell me. What are you going to bet?”
“If my team doesn’t win, I’m willing to put a week of blowjobs on the table.”
“And if you win?” he asked. “Go on, you have my attention now. Literally, see?” He’d taken her hand and brought it over the sheets to his hardness.
“Don’t get cocky already,” she’d said. “If I win, the same. A full week of going down on me.”
“You act like either of these bets have losers. Or that it wouldn’t happen anyway.”
“You might be right,” she said with a grin. “But this still makes it more fun.”
“Hey, so when is the field ours?” Renee asked. Her lilting voice broke into Lily’s reminiscing about last night.
“Um, they should have been done ten minutes ago,” Elijah said. “So I’m guessing any minute.”
Lily squatted down between Elijah and Renee. It took everything she had in her not to let her eyes linger on Cade. Aiden already knew—or at least he knew there was something between her and Cade.
But how much did he know? Maybe he thought it was just a fling.
When Cade stood up and headed toward the restroom building, she watched him out of the corner of her eye.
“I, uh, should go fill up my water bottle before we start—”
“Me too, I’ll go with you,” Renee stood up to join her, but she shooed her back down.
“It’s okay, I’ll fill yours, too,” she said.
Renee gave her an odd look. “Well, okay. Since you’re so insistent on it. I won’t say no to being indulged.”
Lily trotted toward the small brick building. As soon as she turned the corner, she found Cade leaned up against the building. He pounced on her the second he saw her. Lily let out a squeal and dropped both bottles.
Cade pinned her against the wall and kissed her deeply. She felt the roughness of the brick tug at her clothes. He moved from her lips to her jawline and started to bite gently at her neck. Lily let out a moan and felt the familiar heat spread between her thighs.
“What, you can’t even make it through one game?” Cade pulled away from her and they both turned to see Aiden. His face was bright red. The anger made his jaw twitch.
“Aiden—” she started, but he held up a hand.
“Are you two so stupid that you’d do this in public? Where anyone could catch you—like Elijah?”
“Hey—” Cade began, but Aiden just shook his head.
“We’re about to start. You know, if you two would like to join us.”
As Aiden stormed off, Lily looked up at Cade. She saw her thoughts reflected in his eyes even before she spoke.
“We’re going to eventually have to tell Elijah,” she said. “It’s not fair, Aiden keeping this to himself.”
Cade let out a short laugh. “I don’t think he’s having any trouble letting out some steam. You know, considering the beating he gave me.”
“Actually, I think you’re kind of lucky,” she said. “Aiden’s one thing, but Elijah … I mean, he’s been your best friend forever. And they’re both protective over me, but Elijah is definitely the worse of the two.”
“Yeah,” Cade said quietly. “You’re right, I know.”
“I mean, what if it was Elijah that caught us just now?”
Cade chewed at his lip. “I can’t even imagine.”
“Let’s just … we need to figure out a plan. A plan to tell Elijah so we can stop all this sneaking around.”
“Yeah, but I have to admit, I’m kind of going to miss that.”
“Miss what?”
“The sneaking around part,” he said. Cade slapped her butt lightly. “You have to admit, it’s kind of a turn-on.”
“Well, I certainly hope that’s not the only thing that turns you on,” she said. “You still have a bet to lose.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“You go on first,” she said, and gestured toward the field. “I actually do have to fill up these bottles if our flimsy excuse to get away is going to be even halfway believable.”
She watched Cade jog up toward the field as she held Renee’s bottle below the fountain. With each step he made away from her, she could almost feel the happy little bubble they’d built around themselves start to burst.
Lily followed a few minutes later. Up the hill, she could see her team with bright pink armbands start to warm up as the earlier group dispersed.
The last thing I want to do right now is play a stupid game of kickball.
She joined her team and watched as Aiden offered a shoulder to Renee so she could balance during a stretch. He raised a brow at her and dared her silently to say something. Li
ly tossed the bottle toward Renee.
“Took you long enough!” Renee said. “Were you sourcing the water directly from Mt. Hood or something?”
“Nature called,” Lily said, and heard Aiden let out a bark of a laugh.
“Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t laugh. After all, who am I to say whether or not you should be able to manage your animal urges?”
Renee gave him a strange look as she released his shoulder and swan-dived down to touch her toes. Aiden didn’t even try to pretend not to overtly check her out.
Lily’s cheeks burned, but she knew better than to say anything.
27
Cade
“Alright, let’s call it a day,” Cade called out to the newest recruits.
They shot him grateful looks as they started to clear out the gear from the practice field. In the distance, he watched Aiden watch him. It had been like that all day.
No matter where Cade was around the firehouse, it seemed like Aiden was never far away. Cade waited until the recruits had everything packed up and were out of sight before he made his way over to Aiden.
With every step closer to one of his closest friends, he felt his heart rate increase.
Keep calm, he told himself. Remember what the doctor told you.
“We need to talk,” Cade said.
Aiden spit onto the grass. “You think?”
Cade looked to either side, but the captain was nowhere in sight.
“Kitchen,” he said as he nodded toward the back entrance. “Now.”
The kitchen was spotless as usual. Bags of groceries for that night’s dinner were neatly lined up on the countertop. Aiden leaned casually against the industrial refrigerator and surveyed Cade.
“Well? Go ahead.”
“I just want you to know my feelings for Lily are real,” Cade said. The words came out in a rapid stream. Aiden raised his brows, but he didn’t walk away. “I… I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
Aiden let out a small laugh. “Honestly? That’s not really saying much. I mean, I watched you fuck around with any piece of strange that would have you, for what? Ten years?”
“It’s not like that,” Cade said, but he dropped his eyes. Aiden was right. Why should he believe me? “That… those days are over,” Cade said.
“Right,” Aiden said with an eye roll. “You know, I used to envy you? I mean when we were kids. When I was a freshman and you and Elijah were seniors… I thought it was awesome, how you pretty much got any girl you wanted. I just… well, I never thought you’d go after Lily. That’s another kind of low. And I’m not even Elijah.”
“I know,” Cade said. “I know how it looks.”
A recruit wandered into the kitchen, saw the tension between them, and backed out.
“You gotta get to the point soon if you have one,” Aiden said. “Unless you want all kinds of gossip running around the station.”
Cade sighed.
“This is the point. I’m trying to tell you—I love her, man. It’s not some kind of infatuation or drawn-out manwhore phase. And trust me when I say we weren’t looking for this. It’s not like I’ve been trying to get her for years or something.”
His face burned slightly at those words.
I may not have been trying, but what happened years ago… it probably got the kindling going.
“You’re being serious?” Aiden said. “Because I know I don’t have to tell you this, if Elijah finds out—when Elijah finds out—who knows how he’s going to react. And if he accepts it, then you go on to break her heart… I just wouldn’t want to be you.”
“I know,” Cade said. “I know I’m risking pretty much everything. My best friend, you, the closest thing to a family I’ve ever known. My job—”
“Hey,” Aiden said. He leaned over and clapped Cade’s arm. “You really think you’d get fired over it? I mean, Elijah has some serious pull here, sure, but I don’t think he’d do that to you.”
“Yeah? Not even if I broke Lily’s heart?”
Aiden cocked his head. “Well… yeah, maybe. You’re probably right.”
“Then you know what I’m putting on the table,” Cade said.
“I, uh… I never really considered all that.”
“It’s the truth. I’m risking everything to be with her.”
Aiden eyed him carefully.
“You’re being honest, aren’t you?” he asked in disbelief.
“You think I’d be in here basically begging you if it was a fling?”
A smile crept across Aiden’s face.
“Is that what you’re doing? Begging?” he asked. Cade saw the smile that twitched at his jaw.
“Don’t push your luck,” Cade said with a small laugh. “But, yeah. I guess it’s something like that.”
“Well, in that case. If the Morningside Manwhore has really mended his ways, and he wants to be with my baby sister, I guess I might be able to get on board.”
“Thanks, man,” Cade said.
His voice choked up, and he forced out a cough, though he knew neither of them would buy it.
“I can’t speak for Elijah, though,” Aiden said. “You know he’s always been the overprotective type.”
“I know,” Cade said. “Will you give me some time, though? To tell him?”
Aiden let out a whistle. “I don’t know… if he finds out that I knew and didn’t say anything, we’ll both be in a world of hurt.”
Cade sucked at his cheek.
“I know,” he said quietly. “I didn’t want to put you in this position.”
“Just tell me this, then. Do you really love her? I mean, all the way through. For real.”
Aiden searched his eyes, and for once during the conversation Cade didn’t need to will himself to maintain eye contact.
“I do,” he said. “I really love her.”
They were the easiest words he’d ever said.
Then why haven’t you said it to her?
“Well damn, Cade. Why didn’t you just tell me that from the start?”
Cade laughed. “It was kind of hard to get the words out when you were pummeling me in the parking lot.”
“Yeah, sorry about that, man,” Aiden said. “I guess I have some anger issues or something.”
“You know, I know a doctor who might be able to help you with that.”
Aiden wrinkled his nose. “No thanks, man. And no offense. But once you get into the headshrinking game, it’s tough to get out.”
“It’s not so bad,” Cade said with a shrug. “He actually taught me some good tricks for it. Anger issues, I mean.”
“Well, that’s good. Maybe you can tell me a few over a beer sometime.”
“Is that a peace offering?” Cade asked.
He realized he’d never intentionally hung out with Aiden before, just the two of them. For most of their lives, Aiden had always been Elijah’s little brother. A nuisance when they were really little, then an afterthought as they grew up.
How much do I even know him? The second almost-brother that’s been right in front of me?
“Call it what you want,” Aiden said. “You’ll be the one paying.”
Cade laughed. “I see how it is. But yeah, that sounds good. After … you know, after I tell Elijah and everything.”
“Good luck with that,” Aiden said. “My advice? Wait until the day before he goes back on shift. The end of his weekend. He’ll never forgive you if you screw up his Friday.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Cade said.
“Hey, where’ve you two been? The captain’s been looking for you.” Elijah appeared in the doorway, a greasy towel slapped over his shoulder.
“Nothing,” Cade and Aiden said in tandem.
Elijah looked at them curiously.
“Doesn’t look that way to me. Anyway, I need one of you to help me with diagnostics on one of the trucks,” he said with a shake of his head. “Whole place is going to hell, I swear.”
Aiden nudged Cade in the ribs. “Aren
’t… doesn’t your shift not start until tomorrow?” Aiden asked.
“Yeah, well, technically. But these recruits don’t know a fuel cap from their own ass.”
Aiden looked at Cade pointedly.
“Uh, Elijah,” Cade started. “Can I talk to you a minute?”
“What the hell you think we’re doing now? Are you going to help or not?” Elijah asked, exasperated.
God, this really isn’t the right time, Cade thought. Just get it over with. Fast and painless. And in public.
“It’ll just take a minute,” Cade said hurriedly. “I’ve been meaning to tell you this, I just couldn’t figure out how. So, Lily—”
“What the hell you doing in here?” The captain appeared in the doorway. “Baking pies? Elijah, get going, we need that truck in perfect condition yesterday.”
“Yes, Captain,” Elijah said.
He gave Cade an inquisitive look as he turned on his heel. Cade could hear Elijah as he yelled down the hall looking for someone else to help him.
“Sorry, Captain,” Aiden said. He tipped his baseball cap at the old man and hurried toward the locker rooms.
“What you waiting on, Betty Crocker?” the captain asked Cade. “Someone to read the recipe to you?”
“Uh, sorry, Captain,” Cade said.
He saw a small smile pull at the captain’s face as he inched by him.
Cade rushed to the parking lot and slid into the seat. His heart hammered a mile a minute, but he had to admit he was somewhat grateful for the interruption.
Elijah was obviously distracted, but there would be endless excuses at the ready for why it was never a good time.
“You’ll have to tell him eventually,” he said under his breath as he started the car.
He flipped on the radio to the nineties station. Elijah emerged from the garage doors with one of the new recruits in tow.
Cade hunkered down in the car and watched as Elijah tried, with veiled patience, to show the recruit how to run diagnostics. The way his best friend nudged the kid in the right direction reminded Cade of how Elijah had been with Lily for all those years.
Still is, I’m sure, he thought.
You’ve gotten yourself in a serious situation, he thought to himself.