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1
Shelby
LAX airport sucked year-round as visitors from all over the world came to sunny California to vacation. It was chaotic and packed, something most people expected, but when your travel partner couldn’t do a darn thing to help you made it suck even more.
I gritted my teeth as I approached Jake seated at our gate. He looked nervous and out of sorts. Judging by his sour face, he probably wouldn’t want the coffee I’d waited in line for thirty-two minutes to get.
My gaze lowered to my iced matcha tea latte, then shifted to his house brew with cream, no sugar. If nothing else, I’d enjoy my drink.
He looks so pathetic. Handsome in his high-end designer clothes and expensive salon haircut. A total California hottie with blond hair and a golden tan. Jake gave off an air of wealth and power with his arms crossed over his chest and his square jaw tight. He was often mistaken for Brad Pitt and was likely his doppelganger. To have women fawning over him regularly, stroked his already sizable ego, but at this very second, he looked pitiful.
I frowned and went over to him. It irritated me how silly he was being because he didn’t want to meet my family. He shouldbe fetching me a drink and reassuringmethat everything would be fine, not the other way around.
While I couldn’t wait to celebrate my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, and see my brother and sister, I’d heard my ex-boyfriend had moved back to my hometown. I had zero desire to see Cade Norris. But our families were close. Closer than some blood relatives. The chances of seeing him were infuriatingly high.
I really,reallydidn’t want to be anywhere near Cade Norris.
If it wasn’t for the anniversary, my dad’s recent Parkinson’s diagnosis, and my mother pestering me about bringing my rich, successful boyfriend, whom my family hadn’t met, I wouldn’t dare step foot into Burntwood, South Dakota.
There I was internally freaking out, but someone needed to hold it together and it sure as hell wasn’t going to be Jake.
For starters, Jake was the first guy I’d gotten serious with after many years had passed post-break up with Cade.
Secondly, my exwouldshow up at some point just to piss me off. I felt it in the marrow of my bones. The visit would turn into a battle of wills between Jake and Cade… Even worse, Cade would likely make sure Jake knew he’d been my first love and first everything.
Thirdly, Jake dreaded meeting my family. He’d told me,Shelby, I’ve never met the parents of any girl I dated. Can’t you go alone?
Alone? Hell no! We weren’t only dating, we lived together!
I hadn’t seen my family in almost two years and had missed all my favorite holidays and Burntwood’s end of summer festival. So, I’d laid down the law and told Jake he was going whether or not he wanted to. Before Jake, and after Cade had moved out of town, I’d gone home several times a year. I loved my family and missed them terribly. No chance in hellI’d let either man keep me from celebrating my parents’ special anniversary, especially with my dad’s diagnosis.
Cade had better be on his best behavior. Then again, I had no idea who he was anymore. He’d joined a biker club, rode a Harley, and had gotten tattoos on his arms. Clearly, he’d gone off the rails after we broke up.
But how could he do the one thing I’d begged him to do for me? How could he move out of Burntwood?
Granted, Cade hadn’t gone far and stayed in South Dakota. Still, he’d moved after telling me he couldn’t go to California with me. When my sister Liv had told me the news years ago, I went off the rails cursing his name and vowing to never forgive him for breaking my heart.
I bit down on my back molars and focused on my handsome boyfriend.Cade means nothing to you.Right, I was over him. Way over him.
My stomach twisted into a knot…But Cade is in Burntwood. I’d be forced to introduce Jake to my cocky, hardheaded ex. This could very well be the worst visit ever.
Jake didn’t know much about Cade and I, only that we’d dated when we were young. We’d been so much more than young love. We were soul mates and had planned our future together, then I’d gotten accepted into my top college in Southern California and Cade wouldn’t budge about moving with me.
I tugged on my shirt collar, suddenly feeling hot and panicky.
Everything with Jake might have moved at lightning speed but I was living the life I’d dreamed of having… only with a different man.
Stop it, Shelby! You’re already letting Cade mess with your head.
I inhaled a deep breath and soldiered on toward Jake. Cade wouldn’t ruin this weekend. He meant nothing to me anymore.
“Here you go, babe.” I handed Jake his boring house blend coffee. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”
“I’ll be fine. Meeting the parents is a huge deal for me. I’m nervous.” Irritation rolled off him in epic salty waves crashing in my face. Admittedly, he could’ve told me no. I hadn’t held a gun to his head, but I had been pushy, and I might have given him the cold shoulder for a couple of days until he gave in to me.
Guilt sparked in my chest as I sat next to him. I cared about Jake and didn’t want him to rage or anything. I needed to keep him calm so we’d have a great visit.
“I promise, they don’t bite.” I stroked his cheek with my thumb, then kissed him tenderly. “But I might,” I told him in a flirty tone to help take his mind off my family.
