Don't Hold Back (Love Hurts 4)

“Yeah. I’m kind of seeing someone.”

“Do I know this someone?” I ask. I get the sneaking suspicion I do, judging by her embarrassed reaction. I rack my brain, trying to figure out who it could be.

“It’s Steve, okay?” She’s so oversensitive, which makes me giggle. “Shut it, Erin. I don’t need your shit over this. I’ve been getting enough of it from Nora.”

“Cat guy Steve?” I gasp between fits of laughter. “Oh my God, that’s perfect, Mel. You’ve totally made my day. How did this happen?”

“He’s actually a really cool guy,” she replies defensively. “He came in where I work and we got talking. Things happened from there. I’ve been so nervous about telling you.”

“Why?” I laugh. “Good on you. I’m glad you’re happy. I can’t wait to see you guys.”

“Me too,” Mel says softly. “I’ll give Nora a call and get over there ASAP. It will be fun.”

Fun probably isn’t the right word, but I get what she’s saying.

I feel like I’m on death row, waiting for my last visit from my family. I glance over and spy Cade walking to the bathroom, his backside on full display. I smile, enjoying the show.

“I better go, Mel. Let me know when you book so I can reimburse you, okay?”

**

“Let’s go and do something,” I say to Cade. I’m lying on the bed, watching him dress. He looks super sexy, in faded jeans and a fitted grey shirt. “I don’t want to sit around here stressing about the test results and then stressing more about whether he’ll do the surgery and then more about whether I’ll survive—”

“Okay,” he interrupts, his eyes twinkling. “What do you want to do?”

I go blank. I have no clue what there is to even see in London, but I’m too embarrassed to admit that to him. Panicked, I answer with the first thing that pops into my mind.

“We can start with Buckingham Palace.”

“Really?” He laughs, then realises I’m serious. “Okay, let’s go.”

The palace is huge, as I expected, and the crowd of people standing at the front is phenomenal. We can’t see much from our spots at the back, but just being there gives you that buzz of being a part of something important. We’ve arrived just in time to see the changing of the guards. It’s quite a display, especially considering they never crack a smile during the whole ceremony. I watch, amused, as a couple of teenage boys try everything to break their concentration.

“Was that all you hoped it would be?” Cade teases afterwards. “Because I kind of felt like Buckingham Palace was the thing you say when you can’t think of what you want to do.”

“Laugh all you want, but at least I can say I’ve seen it now,” I snap. Even though I’d had fun, it wasn’t at the top of my trip highlight list. Not that I’m going to admit that he’s right.

“So what do you really want to see?” he presses, studying me. “And if you say Big Ben, I’ll hurl you into that lake over there.” He gestures over his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” I groan, throwing my arms up. “I wasn’t expecting to come to London, so I didn’t have time to research it.”

He snorts and I glare at him.

“Do you research everything?” he chuckles.

“You’re shocked by that?” I retort. “Have you learned nothing about me?”

He laughs again. “Good point. Okay, then let me choose.” He nods, as if he’s just made a life-altering decision. “Right. Two things you have to do in London—and no arguing,” he warns me, pointing his finger at me. “One: ride the London Eye.

“What if I’m afraid of heights?” I challenge. I’m not. I just want to make things difficult.

“You bungee jumped off a bridge six hundred feet in the air. I think you can manage to ride an oversized Ferris wheel,” he replies, patting me on the back. “Number two: fish and chips in a pub with an ice-cold beer to wash it down.”

I laugh. “They’re your must-see sights of London?”

“Hey. Did I judge you when you wanted to go to Verona to see Romeo and Juliet?” he asks, pretending to be hurt.

“Yes,” I retort hotly. “You made fun of me for days.”