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“No way, really? Is it like a big deal or something?” I ask with mocking shock and amazement.
Paul just gives me a tight expression before he steps away and takes his place watching from the side.
The next few hours go about the same. Cade pouting and the men chatting.
I walk up beside Cade after his final shitty hole and let my amusement show. “Good thing your skills on the gridiron are much better than on the green.”
“Not all of us are pampered princesses who hung out at a country club growing up.”
“Obviously.” We step inside the clubhouse and head for the restaurant, and the blast of cool air is such a welcomed relief. I hadn’t even realized how smoldering it was out in the sun because I was so preoccupied with Cade’s misery. And it’s not over yet, Dad and the other men sit at one of the tables across the room. Cade walks up to the bar and asks the bartender for a water as I slide onto a barstool. “Water and a Jack and Coke.”
Ashton gives me a don’t-get-me-fired look and I nod over to Cade. “Don’t worry. He won’t tell. He could probably use a drink too.”
Cade stares at me before he turns back to Ashton. “I could use a drink and some holy water if you have some?”
Ashton smirks, and places two glasses of ice water on the bar then starts fixing the drink I really want. But I still take a few sips of the water as I peek over my shoulder at the men who don’t seem worried about their prized performer not joining them. They’re probably happy to be away from his sourpuss attitude. I myself am enjoying it.
“So, NAU, huh?” I ask, to which Cade attempts to ignore me, though I see the tightness in his jawline as Ashton slides the two tumblers in front of us. I take a few swallows before I dig the knife deeper. “You know my dad has a stake in the school. So don’t think he’s doing this for you. It’s never been for you.”
Cade lifts his drink to his mouth, downs the contents, drops the tumbler back onto the bar with a thud, and walks away. I down half my drink then follow behind the grump as he goes into the restroom. Shoving the door open, I step inside, prop against the wall, and watch as he stands at the urinal, his back to me. He goes about pissing like I’m not here, but he knows I am.
He moves to the sink and washes his hands before bending over to splash water on his face. When he stands upright, his eyes lock with mine as he grabs a towel out of the basket on the counter and rubs it across his face. I move behind him and keep my gaze on his reflection as I lightly scrape my nails up his forearm.
“Back the fuck off, Morgan.” He turns to face me. “You win. I’m done.”
His muscles constrict under my palm as I rub up his bicep. “Are you really that hurt that I didn’t want to snuggle with you?”
“You know damn well why I’m done with this shit. You knew I didn’t want my dad here.”
“Eh. He’s not all that bad. Maybe if you’d remove the stick from your ass, you’d see not everyone is out to get you.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Even when we dated years ago, Cade made a point to stay away from his dad, saying all the man did was drink and gamble and act like a complete dick. But Cade would always shut down before the conversation went into detail. “What’s so bad about Daddy? At least he came back, unlike Mommy.”
I’m caught off guard by his rapid movement. His hand grabs my arm and shoves me back against the wall while his other hand grips my hair. “I said back the fuck off.”
A thrill flows through me as his fingers tighten in my hair when I smile up at him. “I will. But answer one question first—who do you hate more, Mommy or Daddy?”
His hand jerks my head back as he commands, “Open your fucking mouth.”
I do, partly following his directive and partly as a reflex from him snatching my head back. His eyes are on my mouth as he leans into me and spits into my mouth then looks back to me. “You.”
With that, he releases me and storms out of the bathroom. I know he meant to degrade me, but it had the opposite effect—I’m turned the fuck on. By him, his reaction, and how freaking easy it is to get under his skin. And I don’t feel a fucking morsel of guilt. He created this situation. I’m just the bitch bringing it full circle.
21
CADE
This day is going to be hell. It can’t be good. There’s no way. Not when it’s starting out bright and early with a meeting in Coach’s office. I’m assuming it’s about the visit to the country club yesterday. After the bathroom break with Morgan, I’d had enough, so I’d just left. Dealing with the consequences of that today was better than sitting at a table for hours with some of the people I hate most in this world.
And when I round the corner and step into the doorway of Coach’s office, I spot the worst of them all. Morgan. She’s seated in the chair across from her dad’s desk, her leg crossed over the other. And it pisses me off that my eyes are immediately drawn to the soft skin of her thigh leading up under her short skirt. I swear she has them shortened because there’s no way the uniform is issued standard like that.
“I’ll come back.”
“Cade,” she calls out, and I stop to look at her because there’s something in her voice. Regret? No way. This is Morgan King. She’ll strike faster than a king cobra if given the chance.
She stands from her chair and walks to me; her hand entwines with mine as I stupidly allow her to lead me back in her dad’s office. “It was me that asked you to come in.”
