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Chapter Nine
One week later...
Caitlyn
Louisa stormed through the living room with boxes, bags, and a determined look in her eyes. I wasn’t going to like whatever had dragged her to Kade’s house early in the afternoon on a Saturday.
“Hey, you.” I glanced at the dress bag in her hands. “What’s up?”
“I’m working a double so you’re going to the charity ball tonight.”
“Uh, no.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I’m not allowed to leave the house, remember?”
“You’re not standing up my brother and he’ll be there to keep an eye on things. I have a personal limo driver handpicked by Kade. You’ll be fine.”
“Won’t that call attention to myself?”
“It’ll be fine, you’ll be in a regular car, but with a driver. We’re about the same size.” She tugged me to my feet and walked around me in a slow circle. “Yes, this gown will be perfect on you.”
“I can’t walk in heels and a gown! I don’t even know how to apply make-up. Louisa, I’ll be nothing but an embarrassment.”
“You just need to stand next to Kade and look pretty. I know you can do that! You waitressed for years. If you can balance all those heavy trays, you can walk in high heels. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, and if anyone could twirl my hair around my head, I’m sure you can, but–”
“Listen, Cate, I studied cosmetology in high school and I literally brought home over a thousand bucks every prom season. You’re a gorgeous girl. It won’t be hard to enhance what you’ve got.”
“Oh wow! Why did you become a nurse then?” The smile in her eyes drained out, and I wished I hadn’t asked. I sat back down on the couch and Louisa joined me. “Listen, I’m sorry if that got personal. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“My parents died right after my graduation. I was powerless to help them. I thought if I had gotten there just a bit faster than everyone else, I might have been able to do something.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through such an awful experience.”
“Yeah, but Kade got really sick right afterward. His powers showed up the same night. He actually got alerted to the accident moments before it happened, but neither of us could have stopped it. I never really admitted it before, but even if I had been next to the bridge, there was just no salvaging anything.” She blinked back tears. “So later on that night, my brother became extremely sick and I refused to lose him too. No, I wasn’t ready to face a world without my entire family.”
“Did you ever figure out the cause of the accident?” I asked softly.
“Kade thinks the Morelli family had something to do with it. The law firm Kade works at had been under a lot of pressure at the time. My mother and father were both lawyers. Neither of us have proved it, but we think my parents were close to unraveling something foul deeper down in the bowels of the firm. I think it’s why he has stayed there all this time instead of getting away from Greymoor Heights. Nothing good comes out of this place. A cabin in the woods or a bungalow on the beach would be much better.” She sighed and then patted my hand. “Now that I’ve given you all the feels. Let’s get you ready for the party. I want you to knock Kade’s socks off.”
“I really care about him, Louisa. I don’t want you to think that I’m out for something. I can imagine what this might look like to you, but I’m not seeking his fame or whatever.”
“Listen, Cate. I’m only going to say this once. I don’t go around and coddle most people, especially not with the shit I see on a daily basis, but I believe you’re genuine. My brother and I are set financially, and so he doesn’t trust easily, but he saw something in you.”
“Why the hell do your bust your ass so hard at the hospital if you’ve got money?” Whoops. How disillusioned had I been to not connect those dots.
“Because I believe everyone deserves a fighting chance to live, and if my skills can give somebody that chance, I want to be there.” Louisa stood up. “I don’t know anything about the talents you and my brother have, but from what I’ve seen it comes from a place deep inside of somebody genuinely good. I could be wrong,” she scoffed. “I have been wrong at least once in my life, but I don’t think I am on this particular example.”
“Geesh, you really don’t want to go to this fancy party, do you?”
“No, I really don’t. Get up, Cate, so I can make you even prettier.”
“Oh! You’re so going to owe me one.”
“Hm.” She tapped her chin. “I helped save your life. I think you’re going to be repaying me for a long time.” Louisa smirked.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath. “Fine. I admit defeat. Thank you for helping me survive and all. I’ll be your Barbie doll this one time, but then we’re even.”
“Huh, so your life is only worth one party?” She laughed as I got to my feet and shot her daggers from my eyes. “I’m sure I could bargain. Get at least some baked goods and maybe a few house cleaning trips out of this.”
