Page 102 of Gorgeous

He needed the brotherhood, and I would be it.

But that was wrong.

Cade had a brotherhood. He found a family. What he needed was something else entirely. He needed a partner.

And I blew it.

“Breck? Darling?” The sound of Sue’s muffled voice carries through the door, drying up a few tears that have been steadily falling down my face for almost an hour now. Cade hasn’t responded to any of my messages. I stayed with Anniston for the first two days he was gone, but then I thought he may come home if I wasn’t there. It wasn’t fair to the guys—or Anniston—for him not to return home because of me. Jess begged me to come home, and my suitcase is out and ready to go.

But I need closure before I can leave. If Cade Jameson wants nothing to do with me then I want to hear it from his mouth.

“Breck?” Sue calls again. I tuck Ben’s letter away in the shoebox I keep them in and go to the door, sucking in a deep breath before I open it to find a frowning Sue. “You have a visitor,” she says, her cheeks puffy like she, too, has been crying. I rush her, hugging her closely. This woman has been my rock, my family for the past year when I came to Madison. I can’t imagine not having her in my life.

“Are you okay?” I hug her, feeling like a shitty friend for not spending time with her lately. She strokes my hair, before pulling back. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just miss you is all.”

What? I haven’t decided if I’m going back home to New York. Like I said, I need closure before I can leave. “I’m not going anywhere,” I answer her. Not yet, anyway.

She gives me a knowing smile and pulls me from my room, pushing me down the hall. “Your guest is waiting.”

Right. My guest.

It’s probably Hayes or Anniston. They’ve come to check on me a few times since my blowout with Cade a week ago. I know he’s come home. Anniston texted me when he returned. To say my feelings weren’t hurt is an understatement, but I guess I deserve his silence.

I trudge down the hall, my bare feet slapping against the wood. Then I come to a halt.

“What are you doing here?” I ask from my position in the hall.

Cade turns around at my question, his jaw hard and stubborn as he looks me over. “I came to offer you a ride home.”

Fuuuck. Why, God? Why does his voice have to sound so damn sexy? Why couldn’t he have a laugh that sounded like a chipmunk and annoyed me to the point of packing my shit and heading home? Why does it hit me right in the nipple?

I cock a hip out and narrow my eyes. Oh no, Mr. Jameson, I’m not going that easily.

“I am home.” I state the obvious.

His steps are predatory when he eats up the space between us, a cocky grin tugging at his mouth. “I beg to differ,” he says, snatching the hand off my hip, and turning me upside down on his shoulder. I make a sound that I will never own up to. It’s loud. And between a squeal and a moan.

“You see, Brecklyn, I’ve been doing some soul searching this past week.” He opens the front door, stepping outside before demanding, “Close the door. Sue doesn’t appreciate bugs coming in.” I make a face behind his back, pulling the door shut behind us, and then I smack his ass.

I’ve been waiting to do that for a long time now. Someone had to do it with this new, devil-may-care attitude he’s rocking, and that someone was going to be me. He owes me after everything I’ve been through this week.

My hand stings after slapping the literal buns of steel, and he laughs, continuing his pace like he didn’t feel it at all. He opens the passenger side of his truck and deposits me onto the seat like I’m a bag of groceries. The seatbelt comes next before he shuts the door and saunters off to the driver’s side.

When he shuts the door behind him, sliding the key into the ignition, he looks at me and lets out a sigh that sounds exhausted. I wonder if he’s been sleeping.

“I’m an asshole.”

My forehead wrinkles. “And?”

He chuckles, turning sideways, placing his hand along my cheek. “And I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t make up for the awful way I behaved toward you, but I hope it’s a start.” He blows out a breath, his emerald eyes serious as they bore into mine. “I was so angry about you keeping who you were from me.”

I cut him off. “I know. Understand that I never meant to hurt you. I just …” For the millionth time this week, my eyes well with tears. It’s miraculous that I’m not dehydrated. “I wanted to be there for you like you were for Bennett. It was wrong to not tell you who I really was.”

Cade’s head nods once in understanding. “You were right, though. I would have never given you a chance knowing you were his sister.” His hand strokes down my face. “For so long, I blamed myself for his death. For all of their deaths. It’s not something I can easily let go of.” My heart plummets like maybe this is a goodbye speech and not aPretty Womanmoment. “But I’m trying. I’ve made weekly appointments with my therapist and have agreed to take the PTSD meds when I need them.”

Are you there, heart? I can’t feel you beating. Did he say he’s trying?

Don’t get excited. He may not be willing to try with you.

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