Page 50 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Sorry I wasn’t honest. I felt like you kids needed a nudge in the right direction.”

“I appreciate the effort. I’m not in a good place right now and. . .” I don’t even know what else to say because being with Annie felt good. I didn’t think about being used by Scarlet. I didn’t feel like a fool. I felt like myself for the first time in a long time.

“You don’t need to explain. Sorry for meddling.”

“I should find Annie and say goodbye,” I tell him. “She took off on me. Is it okay if I go by her room?” I know he wanted me staying away from there. I don’t want to disrespect him because I like the guy.

He blinks and looks as upset as I feel. Even if I’m not letting on. “Go ahead.”

“Thanks, sir,” I shake his hand and he gives me a sad smile.

“Hope we’ll be seeing you again soon.”

I nod and collect my things from my room and leave them by the front door. I head up the stairs, guessing which room is Annie’s since I’ve seen her walk down the hall to the left when she’s gone upstairs.

I reach a closed bedroom door. I don’t have a plan of what I want to say. All I know is this can’t be goodbye.

I knock. “Annie?”

“Go away,” she replies.

“Please don’t shut me out. We need to talk,” I plead. She may be used to her mom taking off on her when they get into a fight, but that isn’t who I am. I won’t leave until we’ve worked things out. I just don’t know how that’s going to look because I don’t know what is happening between us. Somewhere along the line we’ve become friends who are fake dating, but there is something very real about the way I feel about Annie. I also know she isn’t ready to hear that after the way she took off from our kiss.

“We have nothing to say,” she replies through the closed door.

I open the door, knowing I am intruding on her personal space. Yet, I’m learning Annie is a little stubborn and, although that can be an admirable quality, I am not going to let her ice me out.

“Cade, what are you doing?” she asks, sitting up quickly on her bed.

I don’t have time to take in the details of her room because she is my only focus. I walk slowly over to her bed and take a seat. “I asked your dad for permission to come up here.” I startwith that because I don’t have something better. Her face is still stained with chocolate and for some reason it makes me smile.

“What’s so funny?” she asks, clearly irritated with me.

“The chocolate dried on your face,” I tell her, smiling. “You know what, Annie? Maybe I shouldn’t have initiated that kiss, even though it felt like we both wanted it. I’m sorry if I overstepped but I have a few things to say. I’m not leaving until I do.” I put my foot down for what may be the first time in my life. When I was dating Scarlett, she would do all kinds of shitty things to piss me off. I never called her out. Or I called her out and allowed her to brush me off like my feelings weren’t important because she was having issues, and I worried about tipping her over the edge.

“You have my attention.” She crosses her legs. She looks sad. I hate I made her feel that way.

“I know we are fake dating. I also know there is some hot chemistry between us,” I start. “I understand you don’t want to take that step, and that’s fine. I respect you as a person. I’ve had a really good time with you these last few days. I’ve laughed and opened up to you about things I don’t talk to anyone about. If anything, I still consider you a friend. I hope you consider me the same.”

“I do,” she says with confidence, which makes me feel a little better.

“Good. I need to leave. I have to go home to Colorado. My mom is headed there now from Mexico. I don’t want to leave her alone,” I explain. “I want you to come with me.”

Her mouth falls open into a perfect O. This is not the time to be thinking of her sucking my cock, but I can’t help it. She snaps her mouth shut, which kind of helps with my thoughts.

“Cade, I understand you need to leave but I can’t go anywhere. I can’t leave my father by himself when he’s injured,” she says.

Do I tell her that her father played us? Probably not a good idea.

“I understand.”

“I still need us to act like we’re dating when we get back to campus.”

“I need that too,” I tell her. “Scarlett keeps texting me. She isn’t going to let us go, which is all kinds of messed up.”

“So, our deal is still on,” she confirms.

“Thanks for hosting me. I really did have a great time.” I don’t know why this feels like a breakup, or maybe it’s just hard to walk away from Annie.

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