Page 17

“If you're worried about me doing something, I completely understand.

I can ask my sister and her boyfriend to come over instead.

As much as the dude annoys me right now, he's a stand-up, protector kind of guy.

No one will mess with him when he's in full goalie-rage mode.

They can take my room, and I'll take his in the hockey dorms. Or I'm happy for you to take my picture and send it to your family with my full name, address, and social security number.

They'll know exactly who you're with if I suddenly turn into a psychopath.

Although, honestly, I'm not sure why you haven't done that with Luke already. That guy is bad news wrapped in a plaid shirt.”

“No, it’s not that. I trust you.” The sad reality is, I don’t really know anyone else in college. We’ve been in the same study group for a year now, and he always sat next to me without fail. How can I not trust him when he’s never done anything to hurt me in that time? “I can’t use you like that.”

“Use me?” His brows furrow. “You aren’t using me if I’m offering.”

I still hesitate, that response reminding me so much of Luke’s initial words. Cade isn’t Luke, though. That is the ever-present thought in my mind.

Cade looks around my car, and I’m fully expecting to see judgment in his eyes when they connect with mine. I don’t, though. I just see emptiness.

“I don’t think I can,” I say.

“Okay,” he says, opening the door and shutting behind him.

What the—

He left ?

I can’t believe it.

It’s only when he opens the front passenger seat door and sits down that my jaw drops. “What are you doing?”

He moves my bag to the driver’s seat and shimmies his shoulders, getting comfortable.

“Now that I know you’re planning on sleeping in front of a chicken joint, there’s no way you’d think I’d leave you out here is there?

” I stay silent. “What kind of asshole would that make me?” His tone is light but his eyes are dead serious.

He’s challenging me to find a better option than the one he’s offering, and we both know that doesn’t exist.

“Uh.”

He fiddles around with the side of the passenger seat and all of a sudden, the chair falls back. His head is practically in my lap.

“You can’t sleep here.”

“Why not? You sleep in the back, and I’ll sleep up front. It’s the perfect solution.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Does your car even lock?” he asks, fiddling with the door.

“Cade, thank you for offering to stay with me, and your home. It’s a very nice offer…”

“Savannah.” He stops, turning his bulky body so his shoulder is resting on the seat, and he looks at me.

“I know we don’t know each other well, but I’m not like Luke.

I just want to make sure you don’t get hurt tonight.

So you either come home with me and sleep in my very comfortable guest bedroom, or I’ll spend the night here.

If we are planning to sleep in cars, though, might I suggest we sleep in mine?

There’s a lot more space, and the doors lock, meaning I won’t be up every minute, checking on you.

Hang on, let me see if I can google that seat belt trick truckers use when they’re sleeping. ”

He pulls his phone out and searches away. How lucky he is to not even worry about his battery life or the speed of the Wi-Fi connection he’s not stealing from the Hat trick’n Chicken.

Even though he’s leaving me with no real option, it doesn’t feel the same as when Luke does it. It feels like a friend helping out another friend.

“O-okay.”

“To moving to my car? You won’t regret it. I’ll put the heated seats on and warm you up.”

“No. To staying at your house.”

He looks at me, surprise flickering across his face. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I sigh, too drained to even think about dealing with my freezing car. The idea of a real bed, one that isn’t lumpy and miserable, sounds way too good to pass up.

And that's how I end up following him home, just for a good night's sleep.

At least that's what I tell myself as I trail his taillights through the darkness—not because I've been dreaming about this moment since I first saw him, not because my heart skips every time he looks at me. Just for the mattress. Nothing more.

The elevator doors open and Cade casually walks out, only looking over his shoulder when I don’t move.

“You coming?” he asks.

I hesitate for a few seconds too long, my brain running through every horror movie scenario where the naive girl follows the hot guy to his apartment.

As I finally step through the threshold, the elevator doors start to shut on me like they're trying to make a decision for me.

Cade turns, his hand slapping against the metal with enough force to make me jump, pushing the doors back.

“Thanks,” I say, slipping past him, then I wait for him to walk in front of me. He does, and I inwardly laugh at our awkward little dance.

“I only moved in a couple of months ago, so I warn you it’s nothing special.

The guest room looks nice because my sister, Madison, decorated it.

The rest of the place could use some love.

” Cade speaks fast, barely looking at me as we walk down the hallway.

Does he think I’m going to judge him? Does he realize that four walls are considered a luxury for me?

I follow behind him, noting the plush hallway carpets and the smell of fresh paint. “I thought you lived on campus.”

He looks over his shoulder, and he flashes me the barest hint of a smile. “Did you? Have you been keeping tabs on me?” His eyebrows waggle at the prospect.

My cheeks flush and I draw my gaze back down. “Uh, no, I’ve just heard you talk about it at the end of class.”

“Good memory, and you’re right. I used to live on campus. Moved here when this place opened.”

That explains the smell of fresh paint. I wonder what an apartment like this would cost to live in. I inwardly laugh. Why does it matter? It’s not like I’m ever going to be able to afford it.

“Why? Surely, being off campus is a lot more inconvenient.”

He pulls his keys out of his pocket, grumbling. “Some shit went down with my teammates, and I needed some space.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” I quip, diverting my attention to my shoes, which only makes me feel self-conscious again. There’s a hole in the top of my sneaker and I’m starting to see my purple sock peeking through. I could really use a new pair, but I want to save all my money for Adley.

“Eh, it’s all good between us now, and I like it here. Having my own space is nice.” He chuckles and I feel it deep in my chest. So light, so happy. I don’t remember the last time I felt as carefree as that.

“And here we are.” His voice wavers slightly, and there’s a hesitant smile on his lips, even though we’re just standing in front of a door.

“Looks great,” I say to fill the silence.

He swallows before turning and unlocking the door, then pushes it open.

As I step into his apartment, the smell of him immediately hits me like a physical force. Woodsy and masculine, it offers me a sense of comfort I only remember feeling at my parents’ house before everything turned to shit.

Before I can really think about what that means, a furry cannonball slams into my legs.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention I have a dog. I hope you aren’t allergic.”

I drop to my knees and stroke the dog’s black, white, and brown fur. “I love them.” The dog leans into my touch as I scratch under his chin. “What’s his name?”

“Stanley Biscuit.”

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Stanley,” I say, giving his ears another scratch.

“Are you sure? I can put him in my room if he makes you feel uncomfortable.”

Stanley rests his paws on my knees, lifting himself up to lick my cheek, making me giggle. “Don’t worry. I’m good. I always wanted a dog growing up and this guy is the cutest.”

“Oh, yeah?” Cade slips behind me to shut the door, his eyes on me and his dog the entire time. “You hear that, Stanley? She likes you.”

Stanley licks my cheek again, and his paw comes up to my shoulder as I wrap my arm around his back, giving him a little hug.

“I guess she’s a keeper,” Cade says lightly as he walks farther into the apartment, turning the lights on.

Still stroking Stanley’s head, I stand and look around his apartment in awe. It’s heavenly. Everything I’d ever want for Adley and me, but nothing I could ever afford.

“The kitchen's there,” Cade says, walking past the sleek black cabinets that probably cost more than everything I own combined.

“Have any and everything you want in the fridge. I apologize now for the obscene amount of pasta I eat. I need a lot of carbs during the season. Are you hungry? I could whip something up for you.”

My stomach growls so loudly it practically echoes, betraying me completely. Not that I'd ever admit it.

“No, thank you.” I wave him off, giving him a shaky smile as I trail behind him like a lost puppy.

With his hands on the quartz countertop, Cade makes the massive space look somehow inadequate, his broad shoulders and tall frame dwarfing the expensive furniture. The island with barstools draws my attention to the living room with its pristine gray couch that barely looks used.

“And I guess this room over here is pretty self-explanatory.” Cade walks past me, opening his arms out to showcase the TV that's roughly the size of my entire car.

“This is the living room area. I don't have much.” Liar.

“Remote's here if you need it.” He lifts the controller off the coffee table, only putting it down when I nod like an obedient child.

As if I'm going to have time to watch TV tonight.

It's already 3:00 a.m. and the thought of sinking into an actual mattress is making me lightheaded with anticipation.

“Okay.” The word comes out small and uncertain, like I'm afraid speaking too loudly might break the spell and I'll wake up back in my car.