Page 4 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“No big deal, my ass,” Ruby adds.

I laugh too because this is so unlike me. “He’s a good kisser. I did a good deed.”

“Annie, you don’t just go around kissing guys,” Ruby reminds.As if I don’t know myself.

“True,” she agrees.

Ruby’s brows pinch together. “What is going on, Annie?”

“My high school boyfriend is transferring to Riverside starting next semester,” I explain, knowing it is a poor explanation. My head is still spinning and, in some way, my erratic reaction to Cade has to do with Ford. He wants me back. I could see it in his eyes Thanksgiving weekend.

“So?” Ruby asks.

“So…” I wince. I’ve never told the girls about Ford because it was so messed up. After what happened freshman year with Chase, I didn’t want them to see the pattern, but now I have to come clean. “We were together for three years and it was a really messed-up relationship.”

“What do you mean?” Briar asks.

“Do you guys remember how things went with Chase?” I ask. My relationship with Chase was a shitshow. He would screw up. I would take him back.

“It’s hard to forget,” Ruby says, and Briar agrees.

“Well, my relationship with Ford was kind of the same. I’m broken. Like I can’t find a good guy.” I frown. “Ford was older and handsome as hell. I just kept taking him back. He was attending Harvard. Who the hell switches out of Harvard Law?”

“Riverside has just as good of a reputation,” Ruby reminds. “And you aren’t broken. You’ve just had bad luck. You shouldn’t talk about yourself that way.”

The guys walk back over to the booths, which are side by side.

Cade walks up to me. “Am I supposed to thank you?” he asks, touching his lips.

“I would say so,” I reply, feeling the apples of my cheeks burning.

“Thank you.” He smiles.

We all get back into our lanes and throw some axes. No one talks about the crazy situation and Cade seems to be doing okay.

I catch him eyeing me a few times. Truth is, I didn’t think the kiss was going to go that far. My initial plan was to peck him onthe lips and show Scarlett he was one-upping her, but somehow the plan for a simple kiss deepened. I’ve never made out with someone publicly before and now this whole situation feels hella awkward.

“You good?” Briar leans in whispering.

I blink and nod. I don’t know if I’m okay. Things back home are a mess. The Attorney General has filed the lawsuit. Apparently, Daddy was ignoring suggestions from regulators about the number of cows we had and our waste disposal system for some time, like years. My parents are fighting more than ever. Ford’s dad, William, has assigned one of the lawyers from his firm to the case and is charging my parents a fraction of what the real cost is. I know Ford and his family. They aren’t helping because they care. They want something and I have a feeling what Ford wants is me.

We say goodbye to Ruby and the guys.

“Cade, Briar and I can just call an Uber,” I offer since he brought us here. After the night he’s had I assume he’ll want to be alone. I don’t want to burden him.

“You don’t need to take an Uber when I have a car.” He tilts his chin to the midnight-blue Mercedes.

“Are you sure?” I ask. I don’t mean to be annoying but he’s been keeping his cool all night. If that were me and my boyfriend was kissing someone in public, right in front of me, I would hold in my tears—just like I have in the past—and wait until I was alone to break down.

“I’m driving you both home,” he insists.

“Thanks.” I grin. I get into the passenger side and Briar gets into the back seat.

The car ride to drop off Briar is awkwardly silent. I keep trying to think of something to say to break it, but nothing comes to mind.

We stop in front of Briar’s house. “Have a good night. Thanks,” she says before leaving the car.

Cade nods and waves and then it’s just me and him in the car. The air in the car feels dense now and it almost seems hard to breathe.

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