“I had fun at your game,” I told him, squirting some ketchup on my plate.
“You did?” He perked up, smiling.
“Yeah. It was cool seeing you play. I’ve never been into the sport before,” I shrugged.
“And now you are?” He questioned, his smile turning into a full-blown grin. The dimples weren’t quite showing, but I felt like the tension had dissipated fairly well.
I held my thumb and index finger up with a tiny bit of space between them. “Just a little bit.”
“Only a little bit?”
“Okay, maybe this much.” I widened the space.
“That’s better,” he chuckled, taking a bite of his burger.
I did the same. “You know, Thea is extra crazy at football games. I thought she might pull my arm off with the way she kept yanking on it, or maybe bust my ear drum.”
Cade chuckled. “Thea is highly enthusiastic.”
“Yeah, kind of like a puppy.”
Cade snorted and then laughed so hard I feared he couldn’t breathe. “Did you just compare my sister to a puppy?”
“Hey,” I raised my hands, “don’t tell me you haven’t thought the same thing. She’s a ball of energy. Except in the mornings. That’s when she’s dreadful.”
Cade continued to laugh. “I’m sure it must be interesting living with Thea.”
“You have no idea. I’m really tempted to throw everything she owns that’s pink out the window. It’s just too much. No one should ever own that much pink.” Yeah, I really hated pink.
“You should see her room at home if you think your dorm room is bad,” Cade chortled.
“Oh, God.” I slapped my hands over my eyes, like the thought alone was too much to handle.
“In her defense, that’s mostly our mom’s doing. She always thought Thea should be a princess,” he explained, grabbing a fry.
“Like with the pageants?” I questioned, raising a brow.
“She told you about that?” Cade’s eyes widened with surprise.
“I guessed. She confirmed.” I replied.
“Ah, I see,” he chuckled. “She doesn’t tell most people about that. She finds it embarrassing. Our mom’s a bit…zany.”
“That’s a kind word for crazy.” Shit. I shouldn’t have said that out loud.
&n
bsp; Cade chuckled. “That’s true.”
We finished eating while chatting about more random things. It surprised me how easy it was being with Cade. Even when it was rough—like our conversation earlier—I still found myself comfortable in his presence. I might’ve tried to stay away from him, but that was for his protection. He couldn’t see that I would ruin him, but I was growing too weak to stay away. I needed Cade Montgomery in my life anyway he’d give me.
The waitress laid the receipt on the table and before I could react, Cade had already grabbed it with a credit card in his hand.
“Cade,” I groaned, “you said this dinner was as friends. Please let me pay my half.”
“No can do, Sunshine,” he shook his head.
“Caaaaade,” I drew out his name.