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I shook my head vehemently. “You are not causing problems, Rena. Whatever he did freshman year is none of my business. It’s not like I’ve told him everything about my past boyfriends.”
Only I kind of had. Tony was the totality of my past boyfriends. I might play the part of the flirt, but I hadn’t dated anyone else long term. Tony was my first. And now, Cade.
Cade and I hadn’t had that conversation. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want it to be a big deal. I didn’t want Cade’s past to be a big deal either. Only now…I felt like it was.
After the boys played quarters, we settled at the bar as a foursome and I did my best to block out what I had gleaned out about Cade’s past.
“All right. Time to take you home.” Devlin, stone sober—though I had no idea how—wrapped a drunken Rena in his arms. Her eyes were at half-mast, her smile loose and cute and a little sloppy. Just like her long, dark ponytail.
“I can drive you home,” I told Cade. Then wrinkled my nose. “I think. Is Blue 2 hard to navigate?”
“She’s big,” Cade said. “But you can do it.”
I reached into my purse for money, but Rena shoved my hand back inside the bag, her voice slightly slurred when she commanded, “Don’t you dare leave a single dollar on this bar.”
“Yeah,” Devlin said, “Make Cade pay.”
Rena clucked her tongue, and Dev sent her a wink. I felt my belly go warm at how much they meant to each other.
“We don’t expect money from you either,” Rena told Cade.
We. I loved the way Rena took on Oak & Sage as if it was her restaurant as much as it was Devlin’s. Those two had gelled. Despite the lack of a wedding ring, or any other official future plans, Devlin and Rena were a unit. It challenged absolutely everything I thought I knew of tradition. What I thought I wanted. Who I thought I was.
Stability had always been important to me. Even while my parents went through their bitter divorce when I was in the ninth grade, I knew I wanted to get married someday.
When I had dated Tony, I thought we would end up together permanently. We fit. He was studying sports medicine; I was studying physical therapy. We’d planned to travel during our twenties and start a family in our thirties, and our forties seemed light-years away, so we didn’t even talk that far out.
I wondered again about Cade’s girlfriend. If they’d made plans.
Cade placed his palm firmly on my knee, and I snapped out of my thoughts.
“Ready?” he asked, his eyes steady.
I nodded.
“More therapy?” Devlin asked, coming out from behind the bar. “Interesting services you offer, Tash. Maybe you could teach Rena a few of your tricks.”
“Watch it.” Cade’s voice was low, a little dangerous, and sent a trail of goosebumps up my arms. I liked it when he sounded dangerous.
“I can’t get used to you like this.” Devlin spoke to Cade, arms folded over his chest. Then he glanced at me, his eyebrows lifting. “Both of you.”
“Thank you for the drinks,” I said. “I guess we’ll just…” I sought Cade’s eyes for an answer but didn’t see it there. “Get out of here.” Driving him home meant going to his place, unless he wanted me to take him to my apartment. Which was tempting and exciting.
“You’re welcome. Hey, little brother,” Devlin said, and Cade’s expression slipped into one of mild disdain. “Be good.”
Cade walked me to Blue 2 and put the keys in my hand. He pressed me against the passenger door, caging me with his arms. “What’s your bedroom like, Tasha?”
“How much have you had to drink?” I asked with a breathy giggle.
He shook his head. “Enough that I don’t want to have a run-in with Baron again, but not so much that I’m worried you’ll take advantage of me.
I grinned. So did he.
“Invite me over,” he said, lips hovering over mine.
I tilted my head, but he pulled away, not kissing me.
“Tasha,” he whispered.
