Page 84 of Love in Overdrive

Cade tugged it behind her ear. “Do you want to come stay with me?”

“No.”

Grief overwhelmed him at the implications of that one word, but this was about Laney and not him. “Do you want to call Addison?”

She shook her head. “I’m not letting that scum sucker run me out of my home. I want to stay here.”

“Good for you. Let me help you clean up, and then, if you want, I’ll get out of your hair.” He let her go and picked up the lamp.

“Cade.”

He turned to her.

“Play my message.”

He set the pieces down on the pile that used to be the coffee table and pulled out his phone. He watched her carefully as he put the message on speaker.

“Hi. It’s me. We need to talk… Please.” There was a long pause in the audio before she cleared her throat. “I didn’t want to go to the dinner tonight, but let my mom coerce me into it. I knew she would push some guy at me, and I was prepared to stand my ground. But then it was you. My heart jumped for joy, but my head was screaming ‘setup.’ I’m so sorry I took my frustration out on you… I…” The message cut off.

“I love you.” Laney said from across the room. “That’s what I was about to say, but it cut off.”

Cade dropped his phone, and in two steps, was kissing her. He couldn’t get her close enough. If he could absorb her into his body, he would. She loved him.

She broke the kiss. “You forgive me?”

“There is nothing to forgive.” He hugged her close.

“Stay tonight.”

He brushed a stray tear from her cheek. Cade would stay as long as she’d have him, because from the moment he’d met Laney, his heart knew he was home.