Page 101 of The Obvious Check
Stanley drops his butt to the floor immediately while staring up at Cade with his tail wagging. After a few seconds of making him wait, because apparently even dog training requires dramatic timing, Cade tosses him a gift. Stanley snatches it mid-air and trots over to the couch with his prize, and immediately begins his symphony of squeaks.
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
The sound would drive most people to homicide, but we’ve grown used to the noise.
“He’s going to destroy that thing in under an hour.”
“Good. Means I picked the right one. Now, where was I?” Cade mutters to himself, still rummaging through the bag.
Arms folded, I lean against the opposite counter, watching him rifle through that massive duffel bag like he's searching for buried treasure. The thing is enormous. Seriously, I could probably curl up inside it and still have room to spare.
Maybe next time I could stow away and surprise him.
The thought makes me smile before reality kicks in. What am I even thinking? I wouldn't need to hide in his luggage like some lovesick teenager. He's already invited me to Connecticut—openly, eagerly—so he can meet Adley.
Cade looks over his shoulder just as I’m pouring him a cup of coffee and he gives me that heart-stopping smile again. Will it ever not make me weak in the knees?
“I just need to get a couple of things,” he replies, digging around more forcefully this time. After making the drink, I place it next to him and he mumbles out a soft thank you before saying, “Aha. Here it is.”
He pulls out a sleek box and slides it across the counter toward me. It’s a phone, and I glare at it in confusion. “It’s the latest model. Figured it made sense to add you to my plan so I can actually call you like a normal human being.”
I place my hand on top of the box, surprised and a little overwhelmed by his kind gesture.
“Cade, this is—”
“Practical,” he cuts me off before I can protest. “It's practical, Sav. You need a phone that actually works, and I need to be able to reach my fiancée without having to hack into pet surveillance equipment.”
His fingers drum against the counter, nervous energy radiating off him.
“It’s also got the best updated camera, so when you come and watch me play tonight, you can take some killer shots of me.” He winks and I want to laugh. I want to be grateful for such a thoughtful gift, but it feels strange to accept something like this. Not to mention I don’t want to leave my old phone behind. It might be old and broken, but it has a lot of memories on it.
“I know you probably don’t want to give up your old phone, and I get that, but keeping it at home is probably the safest place for it. I spoke to the guy, and he said it’s easy to transfer your photos over. All you need to do is connect everything to your laptop.”
“My laptop?”
He pauses and studies me for a second. “Shit. You don’t have one, do you?”
I shake my head, embarrassed at the omission. What college student doesn’t?
“How have you been doing all your assignments?”
I shrug. “I write all my notes out and then I head to the library after classes with any free time I’ve got and use the computers there. It’s worked so far.”
He shakes his head, looking at me in awe before pointing at me. “See. I told you. You’re a fighter. Feel free to use my laptop whenever you want. Same passcode. July 17. We’ll get you one too, if you want.”
A new laptop?
He wants to get me that too?
Can’t he see he’s already given me everything?
“Cade,” I say, more forcefully than I expect. “It’s too much. You don’t have to do all of this.”
His brows furrow. “What if I want to?”
“It’s just you’re giving me so much, and I’m giving you nothing. I’m starting to feel like a burden.”
“You’re not a burden. You’re my wife.”
