Page 53 of Cade

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Change of plans, boys,” said Savannah in the speaker. “We’re headed to Kuala Lumpur to cut off our boy.”

“Fuck,” said Cade. “Malaysia. I hate Malaysia.” He nudged his brother, but he said nothing. The other men looked at him, wondering if Bodhi was capable of keeping his head on this mission.

“Bodhi? Brother, if you need to stay back…” started Eric.

“No. I’m good.”

“Are you?” asked Cade. “Look, I wasn’t going to show you this, but Cass sent me a text. She spent a bunch of time with Viv after we left.” He handed his brother his phone.

Tell Bodhi it has nothing to do with him. Viv found out she had a gr-mother. Gr-mother died. Sent her into an awful place. Saw a terrible nursing home – wants to help others. She’s unsure if Bodhi truly wants her. Tell him to get off his ass. Love you.

Bodhi grinned at the last statement, nodding. He handed the phone back to his brother and let out a long sigh of relief. Taking his own phone out, he sent a text to Viv.

Very much want you. Very much need you. Don’t leave before I come back. I need to see you.

He sent the text message and waited patiently, hoping she would respond.

Not leaving. Need you and want you too. I care deeply for you Bodhi. I’m glad you reached out.

Sending a kissing emoji, he put the phone back in his pocket and looked up to see thirty pairs of eyes staring at him.

“What?” he frowned.

“If you had done all that weeks ago, you wouldn’t have been a miserable bastard to live with,” said Frank. “Do you have any fucking idea what it’s like to watch a six-foot-eight man mope?”

“I wasn’t moping,” he frowned. The others all raised their brows at him. “Okay, maybe I was moping, but I was trying to protect her.”

“Protect her from what?” asked Nathan.

“From me,” he said. “From it.” Looking down at his groin, the others all responded with ‘ahs’ and ‘ohs,’ nodding.

“Brother, I understand,” said Eric. “I was terrified that I would hurt Soph. I had this picture in my head of needing it so desperately that I wouldn’t consider her feelings or health.”

“Uh, just want to point out she’s our sister,” said Joseph, staring at his friend and brother-in-law.

“I get it, man, but we’re trying to help each other here. The women do it all the fucking time. Why are we so afraid to do it?” said Eric. “Do you guys ever just sit back and realize how fucking lucky we are? I mean, we’re surrounded by some of the most amazing, brilliant women on the planet, and they actually want our sorry asses.”

Ivan grinned at the young man making the speech. Eagle nodded as well.

“We are fucking lucky,” smiled Cam.

“Bodhi, you’re taller than I am, but we’re built about the same.” The big man frowned at Eric. They weren’t built the same. Bodhi was easily forty pounds heavier. “Bodhi, I’m talking about our dicks, brother.”

“Oh, yes. Well, I’ve tried not to look in the showers,” he said, shaking his head.

“Right,” smirked Eric. “Sorry, brother, but it’s hard not to notice. You’re packing a club.” The other men chuckled, and Bodhi actually blushed. Cade nudged him, smiling.

“They’re joking, Bodhi,” said Cade.

“I know. I just don’t like to speak of it.” Cade nodded, jerking his head at his brother. “I’m afraid because I had an encounter with a woman once that didn’t end well. I was unaware that she’d made a bet with her girlfriends that she could, uh, ride me.”

“That’s fucking shitty,” said Luke.

“Yes, well, apparently, she wasn’t prepared to lose a hundred dollars. I kept trying to get her to slow down, but she wouldn’t. I was young and somewhat desperate,” he said, shaking his head. “She ended up harming herself by trying to sit on me quickly.” Eric nodded.

“Bodhi, brother, that’s not on you. That’s on her. You can’t help that you’re a big man, all over. You can control where you land a punch, where you land a kick. You can’t control whether or not a woman impales herself on you. In the moment, we’re all a bit lost. I mean, you could have thrown her off of you, but you might have hurt her doing that.”

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