There were a few things that happened to make this night unbelievable. One: I rode a motorcycle. Two: I didn’t just ride a motorcycle, I rode one with Cade Kelling. Three: I finally broke down and confronted him about my sister’s death, not something I’d planned to do tonight, and gotten the answers I needed. Four: Cade Kelling still had feelings for me. Five: I had the second most perfect kiss of my life.
I gripped his torso, feeling the smooth lines of his abs under his shirt. I longed to explore his body. I’d never been ready when we were younger, so we didn’t know each other in that aspect. Not that now was the time, but being so closely pressed to him made my mind wander. He skillfully weaved the bike in and out of the traffic, gaining on our destination. I had a feeling we were going to the same diner we went the day we skipped school all those years ago. He was set to relive all of our important moments. An incredibly romantic and unusual gesture on his part, but it made my heart flutter for him even more.
The wind whipped the hair falling down my back into tangled and knots I would regret in the morning. I cursed myself for not putting all underneath. I couldn’t think straight with Cade being so…real with me. It wasn’t enough for him to wear the sexiest outfit in the world, but he also had to open up the door on all his feelings. An unexpected move. My heart beat intensely, my mind still reeled from his confession.
I’d blamed him for Josie’s death for years. Years, and for what? No reason other than the rumors I heard. I mentally kicked myself for believing the lies. I was grieving, lost, and scared. Cade could have helped me. I could have helped him. Maybe…no, I couldn’t think of what if’s and other similar scenarios. We were in the here and now. It was time to live. I breathed in his woodsy scent as the bike slowed. We stopped in front of the diner much sooner than I anticipated. I was so lost in my thoughts of Cade I didn’t realize how quickly he’d be driving us.
He eased the bike into a spot, glancing back to give me the cutest grin. Cade could make my heart do things I didn’t know possible. I returned his expression, clicking the helmet snap off. I smoothed my hair, doing my best to detangle the ends. I cringed when my finger got stuck, pulling the roots hard against my scalp.
“You look beautiful, you don’t have to do that,” he said, reaching out and guiding my hand away.
I shrugged him off, working on a twisted section. “It’ll be a nest before morning. I have, ow, to do it now,” I explained, wincing with each knot.
He swatted my hand away, gently caressing and feeling my hair between his thumb and forefinger. Detangling wasn’t pleasant, but something about him doing it made it an immensely sexy process. His eyes never left mine. When he finished, he squeezed my chin and helped me off. “Do you remember what you ordered that morning?”
I snorted, “Of course, but do you?”
“I remember what we both ordered,” he stated proudly.
“Why?” I laughed beside him.
He moved forward a few steps, opening the diner door for me. “I remember everything about you,” he said like it wasn’t a big deal.
I stopped, unsure of what to say or do. “You….you…do?” I stuttered.
“Yep. Are you coming in?” he asked with an amused grin.
I hurried forward, feeling his warmth on the small of my back. He squeezed my upper arm and leaned in to talk to the hostess. Cade oozed sexuality and charm. The girl blushed and giggled at his nearness, then gave me a once over. She nodded quickly, grabbing two menus and leading us to the booth we sat at once before.
“Milady,” he said in his best British accent, sweeping his arm out like he was on a game show.
I smiled widely, giggling, and slid in the same side I had all those years ago. “Thank you, sir.”
“I’m glad you’re smiling around me again,” his voice all of a sudden rang out.
“This week has been…different for me.”
“How so?
“Well, I found out I blamed you when I shouldn’t, the bench we met at is being destroyed, and I was arrested,” I told him nonchalantly.
He held up his hand to stop me, “Wait,” his expression was serious, hard. “Did you say the bench is being destroyed?”
I chuckled,” Really, Cade? I tell you I was arrested and the bench is more important.” I shook my head, bending to read over the menu.
“That was next question,” he shrugged, sipping his coke.
I grinned at his easy going nature. Nothing really ever fazed him. I wished I knew how to be like that. “Yeah, the bench is being destroyed,” I sadly admitted. “I saw the papers come through our office this morning.”
“Hmm….one second,” he said, pulling out his phone. He quickly typed out a text, then placed it back in his pocket and gave me his full attention. “Ok, next question. Arrested?” he drawled out, raising his brows.
I pursed my lips, nodding slowly. “I, uh, got in a fight. In the grocery store,” I said, clasping my hands together. “The one on Jackson.”
“You, Francesca Taymon, got in a fight? I don’t believe it.” His hands went palms up in the air, his face in disbelief. “What was it with? What was it over? An apple?”
“No, not an apple, Cade. It was…” I paused, why had I mentioned this? “Jadesmithson,” I mumbled, shoving the straw to my water in my mouth.
“Who?” he questioned, leaning forward.
Sighing loudly, I slammed the glass back on the table. “Jade Smithson,” I stated, rolling my eyes.
His mouth fell open and he stared. For a long time. When it began to get uncomfortable, he erupted in loud laughter. The surrounding tables gave us dirty looks, which I smiled apologetically to, while the staff whispered as if they didn’t know whether to kick us out or tell us to quiet down.
“Cade,” I hissed, “Shh.” I held my finger up to my lips, feeling like I was in grade school again.
“You got in a fight with Jade? Really? Who won?” he choked out.
“Me,” I said proudly, smirking at the revelation.
“What was it over?” he asked, a knowing look adorning his face. He knew he was making me nervous and he was enjoying it.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, waving his questions off. Luckily, the waiter came at that moment to take our orders.
We placed the same exact order as we had that November morning. We both smiled at the memories we were simultaneously having. We chatted, catching up on each other’s lives. Five years was a long time, and there was no way we would learn everything over one meal. We laughed, stared, and studied one another, reveling in being in company again. I didn’t think the night could get any more amazing.
The ride back to our town was short, but sweet. He kept squeezing my hand with his. I laid my head on his back, feeling tight muscles when he would move a certain way. I expected him to take me home, for the evening to be over, but we ended up at the bus stop. An abandoned truck was parked on the curb, a large Ford with a big enough bed to hold three of his motorcycles. I watched him curiously as he got off, reaching behind the back wheel to grab a key. He apparently knew the owner of this vehicle…or I was about to go to jail again. Maybe prison this time. “Uhh..Cade? What are you doing?” I questioned, pointing to the key.
“We, what are we doing,” he said as he pointed between the two of us. “Get off, please, I gotta load it in the back.”
“Why?” I inquired.
“Because, we can’t take the bench with us on the motorcycle,” he hissed in my ear.
“What? The bench?” I yelled out, staring at him like he’d grew two heads.
“Francesca, doll face, you gotta quiet down before the cops show up. You can’t go shouting out things like that. They’re destroying it anyways. We’re just saving them some time,” he shrugged, like stealing a bench was nothing.
I slid off the seat, watching him heft the heavy bike in the back like it was a sack of potatoes. I didn’t know what to do, where we were
going to put it or anything at this point. All I did know was that here I was, following Cade’s lead, and I couldn’t be more excited.
Mangled Hearts Page 19