Page 61 of Dreaming at Seaside
“If you follow him, won’t he just snap at you?” Bella felt Caden’s muscles tense.
Caden shrugged from her grasp. “Let him snap.”
Her heart went out to Caden as he stalked out the door. She knew all he wanted to do was fix whatever had sent Evan into a tizzy. If Evan was anything like the teenagers she knew, when Caden asked Evan what was wrong, Evan would snap,Nothing, in a spiteful way that would cut Caden to his core, when really, whatever had sent Evan storming outside felt bigger than life in his teenage mind.
She went into the living room and sat down on the couch, debating whether she should leave and give them time alone. She didn’t hear any yelling, which she took as a good sign. After twenty minutes, Bella began to wonder again if she should leave. She went in search of Caden so she could bow out of the evening politely. She found them sitting on the steps of the deck with their backs to her, both leaning their elbows on their legs. Evan’s narrow shoulders and waist looked even smaller beside Caden’s broad body. Bella hesitated by the screen door, unsure if she should interrupt them. She didn’t want to leave without saying anything, and simply by being there she knew she was putting added pressure on Caden to return to her.
She opened the screen door, and they both glanced over their shoulders. Evan’s eyes were hidden beneath his hair. Caden’s were dark and serious.
“Hey.” She hoped she sounded casual. “I think I’ll take off.”
“Bella, stay.” Caden came to her side.
“You don’t have to leave,” Evan said from the steps.
She had no idea if she should leave or stay. They both sounded sincere, but she didn’t want to take Caden’s attention away from Evan when he needed him most.
“I’m sorry,” Caden said.
He might have wanted her to stay, but she knew that a bigger part of him needed time alone with Evan.
“It’s okay. Evan needs you more than I do right now. Thanks for dinner. It was amazing.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “I’m sorry, babe,” he whispered.
“Don’t be. I’m a big girl. Besides, I had you all to myself today.” She kissed him and felt his disappointment tangle with hers on the way out the door.
