I decide since I’m going to Cade’s this afternoon, my grocery shopping will have to wait. Instead, I clean up my apartment for the week then catch up on some reading until it’s time to get ready.
I dust, vacuum, wipe down counters, clean the bathroom, leaving my bedroom for last. The apartment is small, but it’s perfect for what I need.
My parents, gosh do I love them. They knew I wanted to spread my wings and fly. They let me, even though they tried to pay my way. I put my foot down and said no. They helped pay for my college and dorm fees that my scholarship didn’t pick up. That was plenty.
They didn’t need to help by paying for my rent. I roll my eyes at the thought. They deserve to live their life after they raised me.
I decide to look up some dinner recipes on Pinterest and maybe find something new Cade and I both may like.
I find some recipes for fajitas, and black and blue cheeseburgers. I think either of these could be good meal ideas.
I decided to go ahead and get ready, just in case it takes longer than expected to tame the hair that is medusa. I was going to shower before calling Cade but decided against it. I knew if I didn’t make the call when I did, that I would chicken out and just send him a text.
I hop in the shower, making sure I shave, wash, shampoo, and condition my hair. I step out and feel like a brand-new woman. I know I won’t have time to really do my hair, letting it air dry will have to do. Usually taming my locks into straight hair is my go-to, but it takes time. Something I don’t have today.
I swipe some mascara on my lashes and call it a day. My next stop is clothes and since it’s cool out, I’m going with my skinny jeans, a slouchy off the shoulder sweater, and ankle boots. They even have a knitted like fabric that peeps out.
I’m just transferring my cards from last night back into my wallet when I hear my doorbell ring.
“Coming!” Answering the door, I’m breathless, and it’s not because I was running out of my apartment. It’s because Cade has left me speechless with my heart thumping out of my chest, and has my breath hitching.
He’s fucking gorgeous. He’s standing there in faded blue jeans and an olive-green, long-sleeved Henley shirt and it’s molded to his thick arms and tapers to his waist.
“Um..hi,” I murmur, as I take my long hair and bring it to one side of my shoulder, the one where my sweater is covering a shoulder.
“Aubs,” he says huskily out and then his arms are surrounding me and he’s hugging me. It’s not one of those side hugs. It’s a solid hug, where he folds you into his body and I take in every single moment. When he pulls back, his hand goes to the nap of my neck as he tips my head back, way back. He’s much taller than my five-foot-five frame. He has to be at least a foot taller than me.
“You doing okay?” he asks.
“Never better,” I say with a smile, one that I know reaches my eyes.
“Alright, let’s hit the road,” he says as he takes my hand in his and holds his hand out for my keys in the other. He locks up my place and then we head towards his truck.
Chapter 9
Cade
She’s taking to me holding her and hugging her better than I hoped for. I thought she’d be apprehensive, especially after taking her home last night. But she’s not, her hand hasn’t let go of mine. When I reached for her hand in the truck, it was right there with mine. Now we’re at the grocery store. I grabbed a shopping cart and asked her, “What were you thinking dinner wise?”
“That depends on what you like. I have two recipes for you to choose from.” She’s fiddling on her phone. “I found two recipes on Pinterest I haven’t made yet. It may take some help on the grill, if you have one?” she questions.
“I do, what recipes were you thinking?”
“There’s oven-baked chicken fajitas with all the fixings, or there’s stuffed black and blue cheeseburgers, with oven baked onion rings, and a salad. What are your thoughts?” She asks.
“Let’s do the burgers,” I tell her. Her hand is engulfed in mine as we walk through the doors to the local Safeway.
“I’m just going to pull the recipe up on my phone, so I can screen shot what we need. I’m sorry, I promise I won’t be on my phone the whole afternoon,” she rushes out.
“Not a problem. Mine is always on me, because of the logging company my father and I run. There may be times when I need to step out to answer a call or work on a plan. We’ll work through this together,” I stop the shopping cart and turn into her, so she can see the truth in my eyes.