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“So,you’re both coming to the exhibition, right? I promised Imogen I would firm up how many tickets I need by the end of this week. They’re going quickly, and we only have two weeks left.” Lenny, Amelia, and I are sitting outside a local bistro, enjoying the last rays of warmth from the setting July sun. We just left the bridal salon where Lenny was fitted for her gown. We’re supposed to be planning her wedding.
She and Sebastian finally set a date and are getting married at Dad’s house in a few weeks.
Amelia sips her iced tea with a knowing smile on her face. “So, things between you and Cade are good?” Her lips quirk up in a sarcastic smile.
She already knows the answer.
My cheeks grow hot at the thought of us having been caught making out like teenagers last week, when the family got together at Kingdom to celebrate the acquisition of the Revolution being finalized. The deal is done, and Max and I both moved into our new positions a few days ago.
It’s weird not having him in the building.
Definitely going to take some getting used to.
One more thing that seems to have fallen into place like it was always meant to be.
“Things are good between us. Too good, if I’m honest. Life almost doesn’t seem real lately. Like it can’t actually be this good, can it? I feel like a commercial for having it all, only I find myself constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Frustrated, I stuff a French fry in my mouth and sigh at the exquisite taste of grease and salt.
Both foods I’ve been trying to avoid while I watch my blood pressure.
But this place has the best fries in the city.
I swear I’ve never wanted greasy, salty foods as much as I do now that I’m pregnant and can’t have them.
Lenny reaches across the round cast iron table and steals a fry. “You know how I feel about this, Scarlet. You control when that other shoe drops. Or if it drops. I know there are things Amelia and I don’t know. I know you’re not ready to talk about them. But I think you need to talk to Cade about whatever they are. It’s going to continue to eat at you until you do.”
“Scarlet,” Amelia sits back in her chair, pinning me with her eyes. “Whatever it is, he’s going to understand. You’ll make him understand. But it’s going to become harder the longer you wait to do it.”
I wish I could believe that. “How can you be so sure?”
“That’s easy.” Lenny swipes another fry. “It’s the way he looks at you. Like you’re the only person in the room.”
“Like you’re the only person in the world,” Amelia corrects.
The waiter comes by and places a chocolate lava cake with a side of vanilla ice cream and three spoons in the center of the table, then disappears. I take a bite of the cake and debate my next move. “Cade’s been so busy making sure everything is ready for next weekend, he and I have barely seen each other this week. But I think I need to talk to him soon. This can’t wait forever. It’s not fair to him.” None of this is fair. But life rarely is.
“You’ll know when it’s the right time, Scarlet. But like I said, it’s going to become harder the longer you put it off.” Amelia never picks up her spoon, staring at the dessert as if it personally offended her because it didn’t come from her bakery.
More for me.
I scoop up another spoonful of chocolate and ice cream and savor every last decadent drop. “Okay. Enough about Cade and me. Now that we’ve got your dress decided, Len, what do you want us to wear for the wedding?” I glance over at Amelia, then back to Lenny. “And keep in mind, if you put us in pink, we might boycott.”
When I get in bed later that night, the urge to call Cade and come clean is strong.
So strong.
But not strong enough to follow through.
He deserves to know the truth. But I don’t know if I can bear to look into his eyes and see the disappointment I know will be staring back at me. I don’t know if we can get past that. I don’t know if he’ll even want to try or if he’s going to think I lied to him like Daria did.
I should have known this is where we’d end up.
Falling in love with him as a teenager was the easiest thing I’d ever done. And the consequences of it shattered me. They shaped me into who I am today. The stakes weren’t nearly as high then as they are now. And that scares me.
Almost as much as the realization that I never stopped loving him.
My stomach churns when my phone rings, but after a quick glance at the screen, it calms down. I settle back against my pillows. “Maximus.”
“You owe me one. You know that, right? I took one for the team with these goddamn assholes. Remind me why we thought buying a hockey team was a good idea? These people are so fucking frustrating.” He starts grumbling, so I can’t make out exactly what he’s saying. At least, not until I hear, “Swear to God, Scarlet. I’ve never met anyone more infuriating.”
