Page 38 of Suddenly Yours

Cade and I stood at the railing with our elbows nearly touching as we watched the water below us and the horizon shifting as small islands passed us by.

“Remember that fishing trip in the Gulf?” he asked, leaning close enough that his shoulder brushed mine.

“How could I forget?” I laughed. “You and your dad insisted that we were going to catch something ‘legendary.’”

“Hey, that stingray was legendary.”

“It was furious,” I corrected. “And you jumped harder than I did.”

“Only because you screamed,” he shot back.

“I screamed because it chased me.”

“That thing moved two inches.”

“Toward me,” I insisted, jabbing his arm lightly.

We stood there, teasing each other, leaning over the railing as the sun dipped lower and painted the water gold. For a little while, my nerves quieted. My heart did too.

Because this, this friendship, this history, was real.

Solid.

And even if everything else was terrifyingly uncertain, being here with Cade felt like home.

When the ferry finally bumped lightly against the dock and the ropes were tossed and tied, I waited for one single blissful second before I let myself breathe in the comfort of home. Silver Cove’s familiar scent of salt and a hint of pine wrapped around me like a favorite sweater.

Then I noticed Cade’s gaze and turned to see what had caused such a strange look on him.

Levi stood at the end of the dock with his hands fisted at his sides, his eyes burning holes straight through Cade.

My stomach dropped so hard I nearly missed the ramp.

Oh no.

No, no, no.

I should have told him. I shouldn’t have avoided him before we left. I should have...

I felt the shift in Cade as he walked beside me. The way his spine straightened and his jaw tightened. He didn’t speak, he just walked beside me with his usual steady stride.

Levi started toward us like a storm breaking loose the heavens.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” he snarled as his voice carried over the water and the sound of boats coming and going. “A weekend getaway for the happy couple?”

Heat crawled up my neck. “Levi, stop. You’re making a scene.” I took a chance and looked around but realized that we were the only ones on the dock.

“Oh, I’m making a scene?” He laughed sharply. “Funny, because the whole town is talking about the two of you shacking up at the resort.” He turned to Cade. “You’re like a fucking vulture.”

Cade didn’t react. Hell, he didn’t even flinch. Surprisingly, he didn’t even return the insult like he normally did. The pair of them had had plenty of arguments while we’d been together. Usually, the verbal jabs would start the moment they locked eyes.

Now, Cade stood there in silence, a measured infuriatingly calm silence that had my heartbeat skipping.

For some reason, Cade’s silence only fueled Levi more.

“You can’t even deny it,” Levi spat, stepping closer. “You’re a fucking manipulator. A thief.”

“Levi,” I said firmly, placing myself between them. “Knock it off. Cade was working out at the resort and arranged for me to enjoy the amenities for a night. That’s it.” Why in the hell was I explaining myself to this man? “We had separate rooms,” I added for some reason. Why couldn’t I seem to stop talking?