Page 15 of Chronicles of a Rockin' Mess

I sigh. Kade is my friend. He checks in on me weekly still, another reason I can’t let go of my past. But I do value his friendship.

“OH! I really hate you!” I scream, trying to sound angrier than I am.

“So, it’s a yes?” he asks. His voice sounds so hopeful. It’s a like a punch to my gut.

“Fuck you, Kade! This is the one and only time that I’m letting you pull the friend card! You got that? One time only, nonrefundable!” I say loudly.

“OK, deal! I’ll have Gwen call you with deets. We need you out here in a week max, OK?” he asks.

“Fine, but you’re also covering my rent until I can get a sublease,” I say.

“Done,” he says. “And, Lark?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks,” he says quietly. “I owe you big-time.”

“Fuck yeah, you do,” I say as I hang up and fall back down on my pillow. I stare up at the ceiling and wonder why the universe is cursing me.

Chapter 9

Ilook at the gate. I didn’t bother trying to buzz my way in because I needed a minute to compose myself as I contemplated my decision to come back here a mere four days earlier. That, and Kade had promised to meet me here, and his car was nowhere to be found.

I sigh and look down at my phone.

Lark: I’m here

Kade: Coming

Kade: What? No “that’s what she said”?

Lark: (eye rolling emoji) get your ass over here

A minute later, Kade pulls up and opens the gate. He gets out of the car and tosses my two bags into the back of his Jeep and pats the seat next to him.

“Come on, I won’t bite.”

I hop in and he drives up to the garage.

“Is he here?” I ask him.

“Uh, about that…he…sort of…he doesn’t know you’re here,” Kade replies, running the last few words together.

“What? What the hell do you mean ‘he doesn’t know I’m here’?” I say, glaring at him.

“Well…we sort of haven’t told him yet,” Kade says with a sheepish look.

“Oh no…nope. I am not getting in the middle of this,” I say, and I grab my bags and start schlepping them to the front gate.

“Wait!” Kade says and runs after me. “Hold on.”

“Kade, this is not OK. I can’t work for someone who doesn’t even know I’m going to be here.” He grabs my arm and swings around to face him.

“And to think that I dropped everything to be here at a moment’s notice for what? He doesn’t want me here. And you’re too much of a chickenshit to tell him,” I grumble, yanking my arm free.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going back to the airport,” I continue as I start to lug my bags down the driveway.

“Lark! Wait, please!” Kade begs.

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