I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he’d make man bracelets cool. “I’ll ask her.” I pulled on the door handle but it was locked. I reached into my pocket but it was empty. Where had I put the keys? The trunk maybe?
“Hey,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Is it Lucas? I saw him leave.”
“Can you just not.”
“Not what?”
“Not be nice right now. I need you to be mean. It helps.”
“It helps with what?”
It helps me keep my feelings at bay. “Go be with your friends, Cade. They’re waiting.”
He left, just like I wanted him to. Just like I didn’t want him to. But by the time I had opened the trunk, retrieved the keys, and unlocked the van door, he was back.
“They’re not waiting anymore. Oh … and I’ll need a ride home.”
We stood face-to-face by the driver’s side door, the largeness of the minivan blocking us from the view of the drive-through line. His phone rang, the ringtone a song from The Crooked Brookes, reminding me of our connection. He stopped the song after a few notes but didn’t answer it. I kept my mouth shut about knowing the song. It had only been a few notes anyway; maybe it wasn’t the song I thought it was.
“Three-hour truce?” he asked.
A sob crept up on me, getting out before I could stop it. “I’m not supposed to cry.”
“Why not?”
That was someone’s rule. I wasn’t even sure whose anymore. No crying before date three. It didn’t matter; we’d never have a date three. Rules were stupid anyway. They didn’t work.
He stepped forward, so close I could smell his breath-stealing scent again. “Talk to me, Lily.”
I leaned forward, put my forehead on his chest, and let myself be sad for a moment about what I couldn’t have that was standing right in front of me. I didn’t let my arms go around him like they wanted to. I didn’t let the rest of my body melt into him or even my cheek find its way against his soft cotton shirt. No, just my forehead and only a few tears.
“I’ll be done before they leave,” I promised.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. “You have three hours. No need to rush.”
He pulled me closer, but my arms were still crossed over my chest, creating a very necessary barrier between us. I had once told him in a letter that hugs were magical, and they were. Hearing his breath in my ear, feeling his heart beat against me, the warmth of his body seeping into mine, sent tingles throughout my entire being. He’d bent down a little, his head filling in the space next to mine. I could swallow my objections for three hours. Live in this perfect moment for as long as possible. I didn’t have to think about the past or Sasha or Isabel …
No, I had to think about Isabel. She was more important to me.
I pushed my arms against him and he released his hold. I wiped at my cheeks with my sleeves. “Thanks, but I’m good now.”
“Too late. They already left.”
I watched as his BMW pulled out of the parking lot and drove away. “You let your friends drive your car?”
“I’m not as attached to it as you might imagine.”
Because it was bought with his father’s money, I remembered him saying in one of the letters. I knew more about him than he realized.
“Okay. I’ll take you home.” I sniffled, embarrassed by the embrace we had just shared.
“Can we stop somewhere first?” He rounded the van and got in the passenger seat before I’d answered.
When I was in as well I asked, “Do I have a choice?”
“Truce. We called a truce.”
I managed a small smile. “All right. Where to?”
“I do actually have to be home at some point tonight.”
“We’re almost there.”
We were listening to awful music on the radio. I couldn’t play the kind of music I would normally be listening to without giving everything away. It was dark and I had no idea where we were, but I knew we were at least twenty minutes from my house.
“Turn right here on seventh,” Cade instructed.
I turned and my guitar case in the back slid and hit the wall.
“What was that?” he asked.
“The dead body I keep back there.”
“Nice.” He pointed. “Okay, up ahead there on the left turn into the main drive.”
“Of the Land’s End? You’re taking me to a hotel? I’m not that kind of girl.”
He laughed. “I’m not taking you to the hotel … Well, I am taking you to the hotel, but not like that.”
He showed me where to park and I turned off the van.
“Now, follow my lead,” Cade whispered. “If anyone stops us, let me do the talking.”
“Is this illegal?”
“Not really.”
“That wasn’t a comforting answer.”
“Are you looking for comfort?”
I didn’t answer, but I followed him. He must’ve decided at some point that I was walking too slow because he reached back and took my hand, pulling me along. The feel of his hand made my heart skip.