“Yeah!” Kyle shouted, inserting himself into the conversation. “You can’t break the law when you are the law, bro.” He ran his hand through his hair and winked at me.
“What he said,” Lola told him, pointing at Kyle. “Cade can take her.” Lola moved between Cade and me and flung her arm over my shoulders. “You’re good with that, right, sweetheart?”
I tried to keep my face straight, but it was a hard task to do because I was more than okay with Cade taking me home—to his home. “Yeah.”
“Okay.” She pulled me away from Cade and Ford. “Go say g’night to Uncle Brody. I’ll get Cade to meet you out front.”
I did as she said and walked over to Uncle Brody, who was watching the scene with interest, but as soon as I moved up the steps, he opened his arms to me. “You heading out, baby girl?” his gruff voice asked.
“Yeah.” I laid my head on his chest and pulled in a deep breath. I’d never doubted whether I could trust Brody. From the first time I met him, I could sense he’d keep me safe. I’d only ever felt like that with a handful of people in my life, and they were all standing in this backyard.
There’d been a time I was sure Mom would keep me safe, but she’d ignored so many signs, so many red flags she should have battled through. I didn’t doubt Mom loved and cared for me, she just…didn’t pay attention.
Uncle Brody planted a kiss on the top of my head and pulled back. “Love ya, baby girl.”
“Love you too, Uncle Brody.” I took one last look on the lawn where Ford and Lola were arguing over something, but Cade was watching me. His dark-blue eyes pierced mine in the dim light, and as soon as I backed away a step, he took one closer to me.
He stalked toward me like a lion who had his prey in sight, and as soon as I was back in the house, I spun around and headed for the front door. He caught up with me and his hands grasped my waist as I pulled it open. “Let’s get out of here.”
I couldn’t agree more, so I nodded and let him lead me toward his car where he opened up the passenger door for me. He shut the door behind me and rushed around to his side, started the engine, and pulled out of the drive. He halted when he was on the road and looked back at the house. I frowned, seeing Ford in the front doorway staring at us.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Ford had insisted he take me home, and now he was watching us with his head tilted to the side like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.
Cade didn’t answer me. Instead, he revved the engine, and Ford stepped forward. His brows were pulled down, the expression on his face moving from inquisitive to furious. I flicked my gaze between Cade and Ford, wondering what the hell was going on. I opened my mouth, about to repeat my earlier question, but Cade sped off.
I clutched on to my belt and held my breath at how fast he took the corner. “Cade, slow down.” He ignored me, mumbling something under his breath, so I clasped on to his arm. “Please, slow down.”
“Fuck!” He slowed right down and shook his head, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were turning white. His chest heaved on a breath, and I stared at a bead of sweat as it trailed down his temple. He was on edge, more on edge than I’d ever seen him. Was this because of what we planned to do tonight? Or was it the way Ford had acted?
“Cade?” I whispered, trying to gain his attention.
He didn’t say anything to me as he took the turn for his street, only now he was much slower than he had been moments ago.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he croaked out.
“Sorry?” I squeezed my hand on his arm, trying to understand what was going on, but I was more confused than ever. “What’s going on?”
“I…” Cade blinked several times and pulled into his own driveway. He turned the engine off, but he didn’t make to move out of his car. “There’s something I need to tell you.” He kept his gaze focused on the windshield. “I…fuck, I don’t even know where to start.”
I leaned back in my seat and unclipped the belt, giving him time to get himself together. My stomach churned with what he was about to say, nerves flowing through me at the speed of light. His features were screwed up, his gaze flicking all over the place. “Start at the beginning,” I told him.
I wasn’t sure what I thought he was going to say, but it definitely wasn’t, “It was my senior year at college.” I swallowed at the roughness of his voice but didn’t take my gaze off him. “We were all heading to a party on the other side of town.” He paused and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “My girlfriend at the time was in the passenger seat, my two best friend
s and roommates in the back.” Cade shook his head, and I couldn’t bear the agony etched onto his features.
“Cade—”
“I forgot my wallet, so I went back inside for it.” He slammed his palm on the steering wheel. “If I wouldn’t have forgotten it, they’d still be here.” Still be here? “I still don’t understand…I just…I remember the light being green and driving over the intersection and then…” Cade winced and rubbed his shoulder. “Something hit us. The metal crunched as we flipped, tires squealed, and then the smell of gas when we finally stopped.”
“Cade,” I whispered, and it took everything in me not to climb over to him.
“It’s my fault. If we were ten seconds earlier or ten seconds later—”
“You can’t think like that, you—”
Cade’s abrupt laugh cut me off, and he turned his head to face me. “I can think like that because I was fuckin’ driving. I woke up with a cut on my head, a dislocated shoulder, and three dead bodies surrounding me.”
I leaned up on my knees and placed my hands on either side of his face. “That doesn’t make it your fault.” I clenched my fingers, trying to push my point home. “You said something else hit you?”