Don't Hold Back (Love Hurts 4)

Dad mutters under his breath and stalks off to the front desk. I giggle to myself. I’ve missed this. The fun banter between my parents is something I’ve always cherished. I love my family so much because I know they’re always there for

each other.

I think about Cade and the lack of support he has from his own family. I can’t imagine being part of something like that.

“So, where is this boy of yours?” Mum asks, raising her eyebrows.

“Oh, you mean the one you paid to come with me to make sure I was safe?” I retort, narrowing my eyes. I smile just so she knows I’m joking. The last thing I want today is drama.

“Yes, that one,” Mum says. “I hear he’s quite a catch.”

“And where would you have heard that?” I glare at Calli.

“What?” She shrugs. “I can’t help if the guy is cute.”

“He’ll be down later,” I say, shaking my head. I can’t keep the smile off my face, because she’s right about one thing: he is pretty damn cute. “He told me to wake him, but he looked so exhausted that I wanted to let him sleep.”

“How’s he handling everything?” Mum asks. Her gentle eyes examine mine, seeing past the mask I’m holding up.

“Better than I am,” I say, managing a smile. “Sometimes I wonder how he’s so strong about everything. If he’s worried about tomorrow, he doesn’t show it to me.”

“It’s amazing what you can do when you feel like you don’t have a choice,” Mum says.

Dad comes back over, a smug look on his face as I ponder Mum’s words. Is that how he feels? Like he has to be strong for my sake?

“All sorted, guys,” he says, smirking like he just solved the world’s most serious problems. “You go ahead and I’ll catch up with you once I sort these out.”

We leave Dad wrangling the bags, and walk over to the restaurant. Breakfast has just started up, and my usually nonexistent appetite sparks up at the sight of fresh blueberry pancakes. I load up my plate and sit down.

Halfway through breakfast, Cade shows up looking dishevelled. He leans over and kisses my forehead.

“You were supposed to wake me,” he chastises softly. He rubs over the light stubble that has formed on his jaw. He smiles at my parents, and I remember that he hasn’t officially met them yet.

“Mum, Dad, this is Cade. Cade, my parents, Andrew and Rose.” I pull him onto the seat next to me, sliding my hand onto his thigh. His fingers entwine in mine as he gently squeezes my hand.

“Nice to meet you,” Mum says. She raises her eyebrows at me, a knowing grin on her face.

I cringe inwardly. My mother thinks my boyfriend is cute. Boyfriend. I just called Cade my boyfriend, and it felt good.

“Don’t I matter?” Calli asks, narrowing her eyes at me. “Where’s my introduction?”

“You’ve been speaking on the phone for the last two months, remember?” I fire back.

“Speaking to isn’t the same as meeting them in person,” she argues. She leans across the table, extending her hand. “Hi. I’m Calli.”

“Nice to meet you, Calli,” Cade chuckles.

“So, what do you want to do today?” Calli asks, turning her attention back to me. She swipes another piece of fruit from the plate in the centre of the table. “The day is yours.”

I think about it for a second. “You know what I feel like doing? Having a girls’ day. Just the three of us, and Mel and Nora when they get here.”

Calli smiles, tears in her eyes. “That sounds great,” she mumbles. I sigh and tap her gently on the hand.

“No crying, Cal. If you cry, you’ll stay here with Dad and Cade,” I warn.

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it,” she whispers, wiping her eyes. “I just keep thinking that this might be the last day I ever get to see you, and it makes me sad.”

“And you might have to put up with me for ten more years,” I point out, my voice gentle. “You don’t know what is going to happen, so stop trying to guess.”