Page 154 of The Single Dads Club
I picked up my phone and called Peter, reluctantly agreeing to another date just to get my mind off Cade, and then flopped back against my couch.
My laptop sitting next to me gave me an idea. A very,verybad idea.
I clicked a link titled Sebastian and Britney. As I waited for the video to load, butterflies took flight inside my stomach.
The girl was pretty. She looked sweet and normal. I watched Cade’s latest video—the one he’d probably made after waking up in bed with me—with tears streaming down my cheeks. What he did wasn’t a simple screw up. It was an unforgiveable mistake that was on the Internet for everyone and their brother to see. And there could be no denying it was him, especially with such a unique tattoo crawling up his shoulder.
I watched in horror as he placed her in the center of the bed and began kissing her. When he moved between her thighs, my stomach knotted and I forced my eyes closed. I knew it was a bad idea to watch this, to see it with my own eyes, knowing it would likely be burned into my brain forever, but somehow I couldn’t stop. I fast forwarded the video until they were fully intertwined, needing to see if his love-makingwith her was anything like it was with me.
What I saw made my jaw hit the floor. His strokes into her were hard and fast. He’d been holding part of himself back with me, that much was clear. I couldn’t believe that at one time watching Cade’s video had turned me on—now it just pissed me off. The image of him moving against her almost made me vomit. I slammed my laptop closed and ran from the room. I collapsed in a heap in the center of my bed and sobbed, hugging a pillow to my chest, begging the pain to go away. But all I saw when I closed my eyes was Cade’s lustful expression as he drove into her.
* * *
“Oh, hell no. I will cut a bitch.” MacKenzie sauntered across the bar to where a group of girls were climbing onto the barstools we’d been waiting twenty minutes to occupy.
“It’s fine, Kenz.” I gripped her elbow, pulling her back from the scene she was about to create. “We’ll find another table.”Or we could just go home.After the second week of my moping, MacKenzie and Ty decided to host an intervention. It began with some pre-drinks at my apartment, and had moved on to some crowded bar. I immediately got flashbacks of the last time we’d been out. You know, the night I spilled the beans of my virginity and when Cade had stepped into my life.
“No. We need to find a table near the pool tables.”
I had no idea what was up with her insistence—none of us played pool. “Those people are leaving.” I pointed across the room.
“Sweet!” MacKenzie practically sprinted, elbowing people out of her way as she crossed the room.
Jeez. I didn’t know what had gotten into her, but Tyson and I dutifully followed. I climbed up on the stool and placed my purse on the sticky tabletop. It felt good to give my feet a break. Why I’d decided to wear heels tonight was beyond me, especially when all I felt like doing was lying in bed in my pajamas. After ordering another round of drinks, Tyson let out a groan.
“What now?” I turned in the direction he was looking, but his hands gripped either side of my face, stopping me.
“No, Lex. Don’t look.”
What in the world?
I removed his hands from my face and spun in the direction he and MacKenzie were both staring.
Oh.
Cade was here.
A mix of emotions rushed through me at the sight of him—everything from anger, to resentment, to desire. Damn traitorous body.
Cade and a male friend were racking a set of balls in the center of one of the pool tables and keeping up an easy banter between them.
I hated that his presence alone had the power stop my breathing and send my heart lurching in my chest, like my body knew we were sharing the same oxygen and was rebelling against the idea.
Cade was laughing, but when he looked up and caught my eyes his smile fell. I wondered if he’d come over and talk to me, and then wondered how I would feel if he didn’t. He said something to his friend, whose gaze cut to mine. He cracked the slightest smile, as if in understanding, and shoved Cade in my direction. Refusing to budge, Cade remained planted near the pool table, his eyes looking anywhere but at me.
MacKenzie, smiling confidently, straightened in her chair. “Now everyone, let’s not freak out. So Cade’s here.” She shrugged. “So what if he happens to be at the same bar as us. It’s no big deal.”
“You little sneak! You didn’t!” MacKenzie’s utter lack of surprise at seeing Cade tipped me off. She’d set this up.
Tyson glanced anxiously between us, unaware of what he had missed.
“It wasn’t your place to interfere. God, did you tell him I wanted to see him?” I buried my face in my hands.
MacKenzie leaned closer, placing her hand on my arm. “Of course not. Listen, you need to man up. I just told him we’d be here tonight, and if he wanted to see you, if he still had any feelings for you at all, he should show up around nine in the billiards room.”
“You idiot, Kenz. It doesn’t work this way. I need my distance…” Hell, I needed to never think of him again, not that that was working.
Ty patted my back. I knew this was all MacKenzie’s doing, so I couldn’t be mad at him. “Fine. If he’s here, then I’m leaving.” I grabbed for my purse and went to push back from the table.
