“Hey,” I whispered, leaning in so that only he could hear me. “Think of her as your aunt.”
Elin looked guiltily at me, then nodded.
Thank goodness, the last thing we need is for him to get a crush on Cade’s sister.
I settled back on the seat next to Cade, scooting over in hopes of finding the comfortable position I’d been in, then sighing happily when his arm came around me and pulled me close.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Alani said, crossing back to me as she reached in her canvas bag.
I sat up quickly, Cade’s comfort forgotten, when she pulled out a clear plastic container with a cupcake inside.
“Cade said you have an addiction, so I picked this up on my way home. It’s from this bakery by my school. Pineapple coconut, my favorite.”
“Oh my gosh, you are an angel,” I gushed as I took the container with my greedy little hands.
I’m sure my love for her was written all over my face when I unwrapped my gift and took a big bite, closing my eyes and moaning with ecstasy.
Alani giggled at my response, and I swore I heard Cade groan next to me. Probably due to the fact that I’d sworn off sex, and the sounds coming out of me were bringing back memories.
Maybe I need to tone it down a bit…
“The cake is moist, with just the faintest hint of pineapple, and the frosting is a perfect balance of vanilla and coconut. Genius. I’m going to have to meet this baker,” I stated, grinning up at her around my cupcake.
“I’ll take you this weekend,” she promised, then turned to her parents and said, “I’m starved. I’m going to grab something to eat and get started on my homework, okay?”
“Okay, Ni Ni, then you can help Elena get settled in your room.”
“Sounds good,” Alani said, then turned and flounced into the house.
The girl definitely had energy.
“She’s only seventeen?” I asked Cade, swatting his hand away when he reached for my cupcake.
“Yeah, seventeen and a senior,” he replied unhappily. “It seems like just yesterday she was pulling on my pant leg, and now she’s coming home after dark … Pops, who was that who dropped her off? He barely even stopped the car.”
Cade’s dad frowned as he looked over at the hill.
; “I don’t know, I’ve never seen that car before,” he replied, then looked to his wife. “I thought you said she was staying after school and getting a ride home with Hannah.”
“That’s what she said. I’ll ask her later.”
Cade was still frowning when I polished off my cupcake.
“I’m going to go throw this away and use the restroom. Does anyone need anything from inside?”
Cade requested another beer, and everyone said they were fine, so I brushed the crumbs off my lap and headed inside.
After throwing away my trash and going to the bathroom, I was passing Alani’s room when I heard her inside.
“No, please don’t … I’m sorry.” I paused because she sounded totally different than she had outside. Her tone was high and almost whinny, laced with a hint of fear. “I told you I had to be home, or my parents would be upset. No, I know, it won’t happen again. I promise. Please, don’t be mad.”
I thought about opening the door and checking to make sure she was okay, but since we just met, and I doubted she wanted a stranger butting in to her business, I decided against it. If anything, I’d get to know her better over the next few days, then mention the conversation.
I need to build a relationship, some trust, before I can expect her to confide in me.
But, when I stepped outside and closed the door, beers in hand, I had an uneasy feeling in my gut.