Page 82 of Fly Back to Me
Lauren lifts herself on her palms, her crewneck sweatshirt bunching over her biker shorts. “Liv, you really need to start thinking about when and how you’re going to tell him.” Her brown eyes stab me with warning, her copper hair cascading over her shoulders as she hugs her knees.
I roll my eyes, my palms finding my lower back as I lift my chin to the ceiling. “I swear I have been,” I groan. “It’s just a little harder than I perceived, so it’s taking longer than I expected to come up with something.”
As my eyes scan the tawny glow of the ivory paint, my chest pinches.
I know she’s right.
I do.
“Lauren, he’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met.”
“But are your feelings for him just an extension of your infatuation? Just a side effect of the allure of him being your knight in shining armor?” she pushes.
I shake my head, returning my eyes to hers. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Do you still wear the ankle bracelet?”
My shoulder cocks a casual shrug. “Yeah, but so what? I feel safe when I wear it. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothingreally,” she drawls, squinting. “But isn’t it a little weird to continue wearing it if you guys officially start dating? He’s not going to be your guardian or bodyguard. He’s going to be your boyfriend.”
I wave her off, spinning so I can finetune my low bun. “A lot of people wear things that make them feel safe and that their loved ones are close.”
“Okay, that’s usually in memory of someone,” she quips. “Plus, Cade doesn’t even know you have this ring. How do you think he’s going to feel when you’re just wearing it for the purpose of feeling safe?”
I’m getting Lauren a muzzle for Christmas this year.
My lip twists uncomfortably as my fingers fiddle with my thin hair tie. “He’d probably find it atadweird I suppose.”
“You’re being generous. He’s going to find it creepy as fuck,” she deadpans.
“Who says he’s not going to be flattered? People love to be cherished.” My hands slip to my curtain bangs, smoothing the curl out a little.
“Liv.”
I let my arms fall to my sides. “Yeah, I know. I know,” I grumble.
“Despite the total stalker vibes, your look isfire,babe. Toss in your thigh-high boots, and voila! He won’t even notice you’rea creep.”
A breathy laugh leaves me when I sink down on the mattress, and I tug on the boots in question. My feet and fingers maneuver around to stuff my legs in the black suede, only for Lauren and me to whip our heads at the few dull knocks from the front door.
Our eyes gape at each other in tandem. Then a maniacal grin spreads over Lauren’s face before she sprints from the bedroom.
“YOU BITCH! STAY AWAY FROM THE DOOR!”
I yank the boot zipper up and hop from the bed. Snatching my belt bag from the dresser, I click the rocker next to the door frame before knocking into Lauren.
“Shit!” I gasp, my palm slapping my chest to catch my stolen breath. “Ugh!” My lips tuck, and I swing my bag into Lauren’s arm. “I’m gonna have hairline sweat, you whore!”
Her two palms clutch my face as she laughs profusely. “I’m sorry, that was funny as shit.” Then she plants a quick kiss to my cheek. “Have the best time.”
I trail her with two beady eyes as she pads into her bedroom to our right. And after the coast is clear, I’m treading down the short hallway.
My pulse sprints, throat rolling through the mayhem until I’m turning the knob of the front door. I hiss a breath in, the barest smile stretching across my lips when Cade’s head whips in my direction.
With the way he’s rotating his body, it seems like he’s been absently wandering on the bottom step of the stoop. His hands are slipped into his dark jeans below a black and gray flannel, short waves tousled neatly in that charming, rugged way.
Goddamn.
