Page 13 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“It does if you want them to believe you and him are the real deal,” she points out.

“You aren’t wrong.” I take a deep breath when I remember. . . “What are your plans for the holidays? I’ve been inside my head since Thanksgiving, but you know you can come home with me.”

“Thanks, but I have a job lined up at Black Jack’s, and I make time and a half for holiday hours,” she explains.

“Okay, but if you change your mind, please be in touch,” I urge her.

“You know me. I’m a lone wolf.” She laughs dryly.

“Yeah, okay,” I say, even if I don’t like her answer. I know she is stubborn and won’t change her mind.

“Let me know how breakfast goes.”

“Thanks, and please keep this between us.”

“Obviously,” she answers.

“Talk soon.”

“Bye.”

We end the call. I check myself in the mirror. I’m wearing a pair of tight jeans with a blue flannel top and a pair of Ugg boots. I slip on my puffer jacket and hat.

I get a text from Cade that he’ll be here in five, so I head downstairs. My housemates have already left for the holidays, so it’s just me in the house.

I wait by the front door a couple of minutes until I hear a honk. I head outside.

Cade gets out of the car to open my door.

“It’s cold outside. I don’t need you being a gentleman,” I tell him.

“Get in the car, Annie,” he says like I tire him.

I get in with a smile because he’s smiling too.

When he gets in the car, he rubs his hands together and turns up the heat. “My mom raised me to be chivalrous. If she found out I didn’t hold a door open for a girl, she’d feel like she failed as a parent,” he explains.

“Well, I can’t wait to meet her. Am I dressed okay?” I ask.

“You look good,” he says, looking at my legs then up at my face.

He’s wearing a black peacoat and a pair of dark jeans. He looks veryGQ.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say. “I kind of feel underdressed.”

“You look very pretty, Annie. You don’t need to worry. My parents are chill people,” he says as he pulls out of the driveway. The other times I have seen Cade, he’s always been very casual. He’s usually wearing jeans and a hoodie. Now he seems very sophisticated in his fancy car and fancy clothes.

We head out of the student housing area to a neighborhood where there are larger homes. It’s where the professors live. We pull onto Sacks Street and Cade parks in front of the restaurant. Sacks Street has a small-town heritage vibe. With all the lights and Christmas decorations, it all looks pretty and magical.

“Have you been here before?” Cade asks.

“No, I don’t really venture out this way,” I admit.

“Well, you’re in for a treat. They have an award-winning breakfast,” he says, opening the door for me. The place has a rustic country feel to it, but it also looks fancy enough that I’m sure the food is gourmet.

Cade spots his parents at a table and his mom waves to us and stands. Cade walks over to her and hugs and kisses her cheek. It’s very sweet to see how he is welcomed.

“Hi, Mom.”

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