Page 60 of Cadence
They turn to leave, Cole waving once more as his mother pulls him toward the door, his voice bouncing around the room with excitement.
“So…” Eli says, flopping back into the booth, hands over his stomach. “Are we ordering or what? I’m wasting away over here.”
Beau groans. “Someone get this man a milkshake before he starts gnawing on the table.”
Paige slides back into the seat across from me without a word. But she’s still wearing that look, like she’s seeing me differently and doesn’t know what the hell to do with it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Paige
You’vegottobekidding me.
The tested ink on his arm…stealing my sticks to give to Cole…holding the door open for me…
Just when I think I’ve got him all figured out, he goes and does that.
Dinner passes in a blur of burgers and fries, casual teasing, and loud opinions on which cities might be the loudest we play in. As promised, Eli orders everything he said he would and more, groaning dramatically as he pushes away his empty plate and sinks back into his seat.
“I don’t think I could eat another bite,” he sighs as he flops his arm over his stomach.
“So you’re not up for a couple of drinks at the bar next door?” Beau teases, balling up his napkin and tossing it onto the table in front of him.
“I saideat, not drink.” He looks at Maddox and me with expectant eyes. “What about you?”
I shake my head, ducking down to grab my bag. “Think I’m going to head back to the bus.”
Watching Maddox with Cole was like seeing a glimpse of the man I’ve only caught in his lyrics. And maybe I’m not ready to let that version go just yet.
“I’ll walk back with you,” Maddox says, already moving to stand.
“Wait, you don’t want to grab a beer?” Eli frowns.
“Not tonight.” He jerks his head toward the door. “Got things to do.”
“Hey, I can head back myself if you want to go with them,” I tell him, pulling my purse out of my bag and dropping a couple of folded bills next to Beau. “I’m a big girl.”
“I know that,” he says, grabbing his hoodie from beside him, leaving no room for argument. Not that I want to right now anyway, because having time alone with Maddox, even if it is just the walk back to the bus, is sort of enticing. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We say quick goodbyes, leaving Eli to scoop up the money, tossing us a two-fingered salute as we step out into the warm night. The walk is quiet, our steps in sync, the silence between us thickening as we wait for the other to speak first.
I fold my arms, pretending I’m cold, even though residual heat from this afternoon still clings to the sidewalk. Really, I just don’t know what to do with my hands, or what the hell to say.
We haven’t been alone like this since that night in the control room, and now all I can think about is his hands. The way he touched me. The way he played with my body.
Clearing my throat, I steal a glance at him, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“You were really sweet back there,” I say.
He looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “You sound surprised.”
“Maybe I am. You better be careful, or I’ll start to think you’ve gone soft.”
His eyebrow arches, mouth twitching like he’s trying not to smile. “Don’t get used to it. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“Good. Hate to think you just reserved the asshole vibe just for me,” I deadpan. “Might need to document the moment in my diary so I never forget.”
“Funny,” he says, walking ahead, and for a beat, I think that’s all I’ll get, until quietly he adds, “I remember being that age and meeting my favorite band. I still have the signed set list they gave me.”
