26
BROOKE
Fun Fact #54: According to an internet search, about 40% of millennials have at least one tattoo.
Cade and I saw each other twice more during the summer—once for game night with Bryan and Nic—and each time I felt like I had to drag myself away from him. Stolen nights and brief weekends were never enough.
We’d made it to late July. His summer training program was ending soon, and he’d be leaving Boston and returning to San Diego. I got reservations for us at a steakhouse on the pier for his birthday, inviting Whitney, Bryan, Nic, and Owen to join us.
When Cade’s familiar car pulled up in front of the duplex that Sunday, I barely let him get out of the door before I jumped into his arms. God, I’d missed him, and I took a deep inhale of his scent. He was wearing dark jeans, nice sneakers, and a solid tee, and I swear he looked good enough to eat. He still hadn’t let me touch him the way he’d touched me, and it was driving me mad with desire. I wasn’t sure my hormones had ever reacted this way for a man—actually, I was sure they hadn’t.
Whit came to the doorway with Ivy in her arms.
“Okay, you lovebirds,” she called to us. “Let’s get this party started. I’m starving, and I can’t keep this one out too late.”
Echo and Maple greeted each other in a flurry of tail wags. I think they’d missed each other’s company, too.
Cade knew Owen would be meeting us at the restaurant, but I’d invited Bryan and Nic as a surprise. I knew Cade had updated Bryan on our new status as a couple. They had decided to ride in with Owen, so when we arrived at the restaurant, Owen, Bryan, and Nic were already there. Beaming a self-congratulatory smile, I noted Cade’s shock at seeing Bryan and Nic waiting for us. We all exchanged hugs, and my heart suddenly felt full at seeing everyone together. Together we made the perfect little friend-family.
Cade had told me he didn’t want a gift, but after we ordered our food, I placed a small gift bag in front of him.
“Happy birthday,” I said with a soft smile. The group around us echoed the sentiment.
Cade reached into the bag and pulled out a simple silver photo frame. I’d printed a picture of us from the aquarium, a selfie where we were grinning like loons in front of the seals.
He kissed my temple. “It’s perfect,” he said in my ear.
Nic squealed from her seat, swatting Bryan’s arm. “I told you foryearsthey’d be perfect for each other. Iknewit!” she announced to the group.
“You did,” he agreed, smiling fondly at her.
Nic continued. “I was faking when I told that Brock guy that I liked his and Brooke’s names together. Blegh,” she stage whispered. I could barely hold back my grin.
A couple hours ticked by with food and laughter. Cade’s hand found my knee under the table, tracing leisurely circles that drove me wild.
He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “It’s torture being this close to you,” he confided. “All I want to do is touch you.”
My body felt warm all over. I wanted him touching me, too.
When dinner was over, Cade stood first, then reached out a hand to help me up from my chair.
A prickle of defensiveness hit me in the chest.
“I can do it, you know,” I said quietly, only for his ears.
His hand on my chair, he leaned down until his breath brushed my ear. “I know you can—you’re impossibly strong. But you’ve been sitting for a while. Let me help. It’s easy for me, and it helps your joints. Why wouldn’t I want that? Plus, it’s good for my White Knight syndrome.”
He winked and I shook my head as I held back a grin, but I took his offered hand and let him help me from my chair.
Is this what it was like to be taken care of? Without the guilt of feeling like a burden?
We gave goodbyes and hugs to Bryan, Nic, and Owen, and headed back to the duplex. When we crossed through the living room, Whit gave me a conspiratorial wink.
“Goodnight, you two. Happy birthday, Cade.” She and Ivy slipped into Whit’s room and shut the door.
We let the pups out, got them settled, then took turns brushing teeth. It felt utterly domestic and completely right. While I was brushing my teeth, he had changed into his sweats—those damn gray ones again. As I watched him, standing at my sink with his perfect sweatpant-clad butt, I felt a pang of sadness that he’d be leaving the next day. I could see this little routine becoming a daily thing for us—ifwe lived in the same place.
Still, I was determined not to let tomorrow’s worries dampen tonight’s mood.
