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“No, Ni Ni, I’m tired of you talking trash about Yusuf, and being constantly on my case about everything. Maybe Yusuf is right and we’ve outgrown each other.”
“No, Hannah, listen … How about I come over?”
“Hannah? Hannah?”
I was guessing that however they’d been communicating, probably Facetime or Oovoo, Hannah had hung up on Alani.
Before I could knock and ask Alani if she wanted to talk, and hopefully find out what was really going on, Cade rounded the corner and lifted his chin.
“What are you up to?” he asked, his eyes swinging from me to Alani’s closed door.
Deciding to try an evasive tactic, I rolled my eyes and asked, “Oh, are you done busting a gut over our sexcapades?”
I knew it worked when Cade chuckled and moved toward me with his hands out.
“Darlin’…” he began, but I held up my hands and shook my head.
“Nope, you’re not getting off that easy.”
“Oh yeah?” Cade asked with an arch of his brow. “What do I need to do to make it up to you?”
“I need cupcakes. A lot of ‘em.”
“Now?”
“Yup, but I’m going to go get them, not you.”
“O-kay,” he said, his tone suspicious.
“I just need to break away for a bit by myself. Okay?” I asked, softening my tone to make it more pleading, less abrasive. “The kids good to stay here?”
“Yeah, everyone’s getting set up outside for s’mores.”
“Great,” I said, stepping to him so that I could tip-toe up for a kiss. “And, thanks. I won’t be too long.”
Cade dipped his head low and brushed his lips against mine once, then twice, then gently touched my shoulders and said, “When you get back we’ll fix up your back with some aloe. It’ll be aired out enough by then, so we’ll bandage it before bed.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I replied. “Should I take the 4Runner?”
“Either that or Alani’s Nissan.”
“I don’t want to bother her; I’ll just grab the 4Runner keys.”
“You know the way?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I said, figuring I had my GPS on my phone if I got lost.
I found my way to the bakery easily enough. Since I wasn’t afraid for my life this time around, I realized it was actually pretty close to the house.
I parked at the back of the lot and sat in the car for a few minutes while I surveyed the area. It was almost dark, but the parking lot and strip mall were well lit, so it wasn’t hard to take it all in.
Since this was the last, and only, place I’d seen Yusuf, I’d decided to do a little snooping on my own. I knew I needed to tell Cade what was going on, and that my gut was telling me it was bad, but I wanted to have more information to get him. More facts, less gut reaction.
Even though I knew just how well my gut had worked for me in the past, I knew Cade would have tons of questions, and I wanted to be able to supply some of the answers.
Plus, I’d been on vacation a while now, and I was really jonesing for some action.
With one last look around, I eased out of the car and crossed the parking lot to round the building and see what was up those stairs that Alani and Yusuf had been standing on the other day.
