Page 33 of The Obvious Check
“Scarlett?”
The name makes me tremble, which I try to hide by gulping. Cade’s still staring and my stomach drops, embarrassment filling every limb.
“H-how did you know?”
“Your dumb act is cute, but I like girls who don’t patronize me. You know how I know.”
I drop my head in defeat. I always knew those fantasies I had in my head about us would never come true, but to be faced with the reality of them hits differently.
“How long have you known?”
“Since I got two black eyes for trying to say hi to you.” He says it so casually, as though getting his face rearranged was just a minor inconvenience rather than assault.
I gasp and look at him with confusion. “What?”
“Did you forget about that? Luke called me in for a meeting. Wanted me to stage one more fight for him, and I said no. Then I saw you again and couldn’t leave without saying hi.”
“He told me they dragged you out because you stole some money.”
“Ah, so you do remember. Yup, if I wasn’t going to fight for Luke, then I wasn’t allowed to talk to the girls Luke hired, apparently. Thankfully, my friend Henry had followed me there and managed to get them off me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Besides, Luke’s backed down a little since then. He’s trying to butter me up for another fight. You know how it is. He’ll keep pushing, pushing, pushing until I finally give in. I guess I’m luckier than you, though.”
My eyes connect with his mossy green ones.
“He knows I can knock the shit out of him if he tries to force anything on me.”
God, I wish I had the strength to get away from him.
“Have you been back there since?” I ask meekly.
“I was there tonight.”
“Oh.”
“I followed you after class. Figured it might be a good time to clear the air. Now I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more going on than I thought.”
He peers over my seat, noting the bag in the front, the makeshift bed he’s currently sitting in, and something in his head clicks together.
“Luke keeps telling me you’re special to him.”
I try to hide the disgust I feel when he says that.Special.I’m definitely special to him, but not in the way anyone wants to be special to a man.
“Made it sound like you were together. I’m surprised he hasn’t taken advantage of you having nowhere to go.” His words drip with suspicion.
I stay silent, hating how easy it is for him to read me like I’m written in large print.
“Does he know you’re out here sleeping on your own?”
I shake my head, my hair falling into my face. “No.”
“Should I let him know? Maybe he’ll up your pay to help out.”
“No!” I yell it, the very idea making panic claw at my throat. Then I huff out a breath and try to compose myself. He’s testing me. Gauging my reaction. “The less he knows about my circumstances, the better.”
Cade nods, and I feel like he’s judging every decision that led me here, but it’s not something he’d ever say out loud. “Don’t worry, Sav. You can trust me. I won’t say anything.”
