“Yeah, she showed up in town, and she’s been begging him to take her back.”
“Really.” It comes out far more incredulous than it has to. No wonder Cade agreed to keep things low-key. No wonder he got so high-strung at the movies that night! I bet he spotted her in the crowd. My stomach churns just thinking there’s some hussy out there trying to snag my man right from under me. The nerve of this pathetic little thing. I’m practically Cade’s girlfriend. I’m more familiar with his body at this point than I am my own. Hell, I think after Piper’s birthday disaster, I’ll head over to Cade’s house and make my feelings clear as crystal. Of course, I’ll have to fess up to knowing his sister—knowing that I knew exactly who he was when I landed naked in his bed. That will be the hard part, but once that bandage is ripped off clean, we’re off to a freshly mended start. That is, until tomorrow when we have to sit Princess Piper down and let her in on a couple of hard truths. I’m pretty sure she’ll die on the spot when she finds out all those late night heated discussions about Hot Buns were directly related to the boy who’s been gifting her noogies all her life.
Yes, it will be awkward, but it will be necessary. Sometimes, painful things have to happen for us to move on to the next phase of our lives. Hopefully, that won’t involve a physical altercation such as a mandatory beat down from Piper to me. I like my features just the way they’re arranged, my teeth included. No need to involve emergency rooms or cosmetic surgeons.
My hand moves absentmindedly to my scar and lingers there a moment.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Piper nudges my knee with her bare foot.
“Yes. Just fine.” I smack her pretty pink toes as if they were roaches. She knows I hate her sticky feet all over me. “In fact, I have to run across the street to see that girl, Roxy. It looks as if all my interviews for my marketing class are happening at the same time. I’ll be back in a second. I promise, I’ll make it quick.”
I grab my backpack and blow the birthday princess a quick kiss.
I can’t wait until tonight. Long after Piper has blown out her last candle—most likely after I’ve done a little blowing of my own—I’m finally going to profess my love to Cade James.
And hopefully by tomorrow at this time, this entire nightmare will be long over.
As soon as I hit fresh air, that nervous energy that’s been clinging to me all morning eases up just a smidge. I may not have to dish out a lie after all tonight when I tell Piper I’m about to lose my lunch. I was already swaying on my heels back there just thinking about it. Maybe I’ll squeeze that visit with my sister in a little earlier than anticipated. I don’t think she’d mind seeing me twice in one day. I just can’t get my head around what I’m about to do.
My feet carry me quickly past the dormitories, out onto the old world cobbled walkway that leads past the Hallowed Grounds café, and a friendly face offers a warm wave from the table on the end.
“Hey, stranger!” I hop over and offer Sammy, my sister-in-Tennessee-arms, a quick hug. “I’m just on my way to Briggs Apartments across the street to do a quick interview for my marketing class. You want to come with?”
“Sorry, no can do.” She gives a coy little smile. “Tonight’s my big date night with Mr. Right, and, if I want to keep him, I’m going to need to get all artillery ready to fire, if you know what I mean. Can you recommend a good hairdresser? I’ve sort of made a last-minute decision on going the full Monty, hair, nails, cleaning up the landing strip if you know what I mean.” She gives a little wink. “If things go well, and I have a strong feeling they will, I’m thinking this evening is going to end with a—”
“Bang!” I finish it for her, and we high-five. “You go get yours, girl. I’m so very happy for you. There’s no way he’s going to let someone as fantastic as you walk out of his life. And once you land him horizontal tonight, you make sure you show him one wild time. We Southern girls may look and sound as sweet as peach pie, but we are sin through and through underneath those sheets. Make him beg for mercy, and then make him beg for more. By this time tomorrow, you are going to have him eating out of your hand”—I stand to leave—“among other places!” We share a wicked cackle as I quickly text her the locales of all my favorite hot spots. By the time that girl is through, she’ll look like the supermodel I already know she is.
Once my good deed for the day is done, I whip my way across the street and into Briggs Apartments for my sweet little treat with the owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes. I take the elevator ride up, and as soon as the doors whoosh open, my senses are taken over by all things heavenly chocolate.
“Holy, holy,” I whimper as I give a hearty knock to the door.