Page 51

When I wake the next morning, I feel absolutely wrecked.

Not just in the delicious, thighs-still-aching, thoroughly ruined kind of way.

The kind that settles in your chest and stays there because as incredible as last night was, the only reason we ended up in bed, naked, tangled, and promising forever, is because Luke backed us into a corner.

I want to pretend it doesn’t bother me, that we love each other regardless, but it gnaws at me, quiet and constant, like a splinter I can’t dig out.

I didn’t want to drag him into this mess. I tried to keep him out and carry it on my own, but Cade didn’t just step into the fire, he charged into it, almost offended he wasn’t there all along.

The bed is cold and empty now. Where’s Cade and how long has he been awake? Pushing the sheets aside, I pull myself out of bed, ignoring the constant ache of my heavy limbs as I swipe one of his shirts from the dresser and put it on.

“Cade?” I call as I step out of the room, fully expecting to see him hanging out in the living room, but to my surprise, he’s not here.

Stanley pads over, his tail swishing as he leans against my leg, nuzzling into it. Crouching down, I run my fingers through his thick fur, and whisper, “Morning, bud. Did Cade take you out already?”

He doesn’t answer, but a flicker of color on the kitchen counter catches my eye, and I drift toward it, not thinking much until I see what it is.

Sticky notes.

Dozens of them.

They’re everywhere… plastered across Cade’s laptop screen, scattered to the point that you can barely see what’s under them.

I step closer and take in the words scribbled across the notes in Cade’s rough, hurried handwriting.

Dress. Flowers. Rings.

My pulse jumps. My fingers tremble slightly as I pick up one of the notes. The ink is slightly smudged, but the words are clear.

To Do:

- Find the perfect dress for Sav (something she’d actually like)

- Talk to the officiant about the earliest date.

- Pick out flowers that remind me of her.

- Get wedding bands (Make sure they’re her style)

- Find a venue

- Ask Adley to be part of it.

- Make this the best day of her life!

My chest tightens. Tears burn hot and sudden behind my eyes because this proves it. This isn’t just about survival to him. It’s not just a chess move in a bigger game.

He’s planning our wedding.

I swallow hard, tracing the edges of the note with shaking fingers. He must’ve done all of this after I fell asleep. While I slept terribly, thinking I was the one carrying all the weight… he was out here, quietly holding it too.

Turns out, he’s been carrying everything.

The love. The fear. The hope.

I press the note to my chest, clutching it like it might fall apart if I let go.

Stanley watches me curiously, his head resting on his paws.

“What do you think, huh?” I ask softly, running a hand through my hair. “Is he really planning all of this for us?”

Stanley doesn’t answer, of course, but his tail thumps once against the floor as if to say, “Yeah, he is.”

I sink into one of the barstools and pick up another note.

This one has a small doodle of a bouquet, simple but sweet.

I swallow hard, trying to push back the overwhelming mix of emotions.

Gratitude, disbelief, and something that feels severely close to hope even though I know I shouldn’t have that.

The sound of a key turning in the lock snaps me back to reality, and Cade steps into the room, carrying a paper bag in one hand and two coffee cups in the other.

His eyes land on me instantly, flicking over the shirt I’m wearing, and his gaze lingers, darkening just a little before he clears his throat.

“Well, damn,” he mutters as his eyes drag up to meet mine. “And here I was, thinking breakfast was gonna be the best part of my morning.”

I shift slightly, placing the sticky note on the counter. “You could’ve woken me up,” I say, tilting my head. “I would’ve come with you.”

Cade’s lips twitch as he steps closer and wraps his hand around my waist. “And miss seeing you standing here in nothing but my shirt? Not a chance.”

Studying me, his hand drops to my waist while the other cups my cheek, and here’s something almost reverent in the way he studies me. It’s like he’s trying to memorize every last detail.

He leans in and kisses me, his grip only tightens when I suck in a shaky breath. Then his fingers flex across my ass, and he squeezes, pulling me flush against him. Every inch of me lights up under his touch and heat rushes to my core as he chases every worry away.

For a second, I forget.

Forget Luke.

Forget the fight.

Forget everything except the way Cade’s mouth moves against mine.

But then his hand slips beneath the hem of my shirt, his shirt, and I remember exactly why we shouldn’t be doing this. With a reluctant groan, I press my hand against his chest and push him back. “We shouldn’t,” I breathe, the words burning on my tongue.

He leans back just enough to meet my gaze. “Oh, we should.”

Rolling my eyes, I press my palms more firmly against his chest and shove him back, then tip my chin to the notes spread across the counter. “I think we have more important things to talk about… you’ve been planning our wedding this morning.”

He follows my gaze, and there’s the tiniest tinge of pink in his cheeks as he rubs the back of his neck. “It’s happening so soon, I wanted to make sure it’s perfect. It’s only a few notes.”

Only a few notes?

It’s thousands and already seems well-planned for one night of work.

Gratitude settles on my chest as I take in all the work he did for me.

No one has ever done anything like this before.

Frankly, no one has ever cared this much.

No one has ever looked at my life, my future, and thought ahead for me. Fought for us.

“You don’t have to do all of this,” I whisper, my voice betraying me slightly.

“Why not?”

“It’s too much.”

“Nothing’s too much for you.” His tone is softer. “I meant what I said last night, Sav. I want you to have everything. I want you to be safe whatever happens.”

Safe.

My stomach knots at the word, at the real meaning behind it.

“You’re still not planning on fighting, are you?”

“Not in this lifetime,” Cade says easily. “I’ve been talking to some people and apparently there’s some white hacker on the football team who is willing to talk to me.”

“About?”

“Hacking Luke’s system and finding some dirt on him.”

My brows furrow. “Are you crazy? You’re giving Luke reasons to come after you.”

“He’s going to come after me no matter what, Sav. It’s better I try to figure out a way to either blackmail him or shut him down entirely than step foot in that ring hoping to come out alive.”

I suck in a harsh breath and shake my head. “That’s not going to happen. He’s not going to have you killed.”

“Always expect the worst, Sav. That’s how it works in fights. Never underestimate your opponent. That’s why we’re doing this now.” He gestures to the sticky notes. “It’s all precautionary.”

“But how are we supposed to plan something like this in a week?”

“We’re not. Most of this is for the big ceremony.”

I tilt my head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

He reaches for my hands and threads his fingers through mine like he’s grounding himself.

Or maybe me. “Adley and my parents aren’t going to be able to make it on such short notice, so we’ll do something else.

Something bigger with them. Right now, all we need to do is make it legal.

I booked an appointment at the courthouse this afternoon, which means we can make it official today. ”

My breath catches. “Today?”

“Yeah. Dash is free to witness, Erik is going to be the officiant, and Chloe got time off work to celebrate with us. I know it’s not how you pictured it, but the real wedding, the one with your perfect dress, with your sister there, with all the things you’ve dreamed of, we will do it.

This is just… a formality.” His voice drops.

A chill runs down my spine.

Just in case something happens to him in the fight he’s not going to be in.

I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to imagine him walking into that ring at all, let alone not walking back out of it.

My stomach churns, bile rising in my throat, knowing the truth about Luke’s fights. I’ve seen the aftermath. The ones where the loser never gets back up. The ones where someone just disappears, and no one asks questions. What if that happens to Cade?

“What if this white hat guy doesn't work out?” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Cade shrugs, his expression relaxed in a way that makes my anxiety spike.

“Then I'll figure something out.”

“And what if you can’t?” My voice cracks.

“If I can't, then I'll step in the ring.” He says it so casually, like he's not talking about gambling his life away for me.

“You're not making me feel better.”

A confident smile tugs at his lips. “I've won in Luke’s ring before. Granted, that was when I was a freshman and didn’t give a fuck, but I'm willing to bet I can still take on any guy he has planned.”

My heart pounds against my ribs. “How can you be so sure?”

His green eyes lock onto mine. “Because there's so much more I have to live for. I'm not just fighting for fun anymore. I'm fighting for you.”

The certainty in his voice should comfort me, but it doesn't. It terrifies me.

He's so confident, so sure of himself, like he can't even fathom the possibility of losing.

But I've seen what Luke's fights do to people.

I've seen the ones who were just as confident as Cade right up until they weren't breathing anymore.

“Come Sunday, you'll never have to think about that bastard again,” he continues, his thumb brushing across my knuckles.

My stomach twists like I’m free-falling. “He’s set a date?”

“Yeah.” His eyes darken. “Saturday night.”

The reality slams into me, knocking the air from my lungs. “ This Saturday? Already?”

“Yeah.” His voice is tight, like he doesn’t want to say it out loud. “Better to get it over with and move on. Then we can start our real life and plan the real wedding you deserve.”

I can’t breathe. It’s happening too fast. The fight. The wedding. The risk he refuses to acknowledge.

Cade must see the panic in my face because he squeezes my hands, pulling me closer, his forehead resting against mine. “Sav, don’t.” His voice is low. “This is supposed to be a good day. We’re getting married.”

How the hell can this be a good day? He’s talking about this fight like it’s some event we’ll move past, like it’s not life or death.

I can’t fight him on this, so instead of pushing him away, I let him pull me into his arms and hold me like he’s trying to keep the world from crashing down around us.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

I listen to the steady beat of his heart, counting as I try to memorize the sound.

Cade presses his lips to the top of my head, lingering there for a moment. “I love you, Pretty Girl,” he says. “More than anything.”

I breathe in and clutch onto him like he’s the only thing tethering me to the ground. “I love you too, Cade.”

But sometimes I love you doesn’t feel like enough. Not when he’s willing to risk everything for me. Not when he’s planning a future we might not even get if things go wrong.

“Then trust me,” he says, his forehead resting against mine. “We’re gonna get through this. Together.”

I nod against him, even though the weight in my chest doesn’t fully let up. Even though fear still gnaws at the edges of my mind.

He pulls back, his green eyes searching mine. “I know it’s not a fancy event, but I’d love to take you dress and ring shopping this morning before I meet with this hacker. We’d have to miss class, but I think it’s worth it. Will you let me?”

My heart twists and the sheer tenderness in his words makes my throat go tight. He’s already doing so much, giving so much, and yet he still wants to make this special for me.

I nod, flustered, realizing I’m still in nothing but his shirt. “I’ll need to change first.”

His gaze flickers down my body, and he smirks. “I mean… I’d be fine if you wore just that. Could even wear it to the ceremony if you want.”

I scoff, shoving lightly at his chest. “I don’t think the courthouse would approve.”

“Damn shame,” he teases, squeezing my waist before stepping back. “But fine, go change. Just don’t take too long, or I will start making a case for you marrying me in nothing but my shirt.”

Rolling my eyes, I turn toward the bedroom, and the warmth in my chest lingers, pushing back the darkness that hangs over us, at least for now.