Page 34 of The Obvious Check
I believe him. I barely know him and the last time I put my blind trust in someone, I ended up homeless and dancing for strangers, but with Cade, it feels different. He's unassuming and for some reason, I feel like he'll protect me rather than destroy me.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“On one condition.”
I hide my grimace. That didn’t take long at all. Should I be surprised that Cade is like everyone else? He just wants to take, take, take. Always trying to barter with me even though I have nothing to give.
“Come home with me tonight.”
Except that.
All the blood drains from my body as it dawns on me what he wants. Sex. How could this be? I thought so highly of him. He’s the face I imagine when I’m up there, protecting me from all of this and now he’s just as bad as the rest of them.
“I’m not sleeping with you, Cade.”
He balks at the suggestion, pushing himself back until he’s leaning against the car door. “Whoa, wait. You thought I was propositioning you?”
I stay silent, hoping that’s enough of an answer.
He shakes his head. “Wow. What the hell has Luke done to you?” It’s another question I don’t want to answer. “I have a two-bedroom apartment just off campus. I’m offering you the spare room.”
“Spare room?”
“Yes.” He gets his phone out and flips through pictures. “I was late to the rental market and all the single apartments were taken. So I have space. You need space. I’m just offering it to you.”
He flips his phone over, and I’m immediately surprised at how clear and bright the pictures are on his screen. Wow. I knew I had a brick, but this thing is beautiful. It’s only when he tips it to swipe across a few more pictures that I focus on what he’s actually showing me.
A room. A beautiful light and spacious room with white bedsheets on it and a fluffy purple pillow on top. Who decorated it? I can’t imagine Cade picking out such beautiful bedding.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t afford it. I still have to pay rent on the apartment that’s getting fumigated,” I lie as it’s my default setting at this point.
“Did I say anything about payment? I don’t want you to pay. I just want to make sure you aren’t out here in the cold.”
I hesitate.
“If you're worried about me doing something, I completely understand. I can ask my sister and her boyfriend to come over instead. As much as the dude annoys me right now, he's a stand-up, protector kind of guy. No one will mess with him when he's in full goalie-rage mode. They can take my room, and I'll take his in the hockey dorms. Or I'm happy for you to take my picture and send it to your family with my full name, address, and social security number. They'll know exactly who you're with if I suddenly turn into a psychopath. Although, honestly, I'm not sure why you haven't done that with Luke already. That guy is bad news wrapped in a plaid shirt.”
“No, it’s not that. I trust you.” The sad reality is, I don’t really know anyone else in college. We’ve been in the same study group for a year now, and he always sat next to me without fail. How can I not trust him when he’s never done anything to hurt me in that time? “I can’t use you like that.”
“Use me?” His brows furrow. “You aren’t using me if I’m offering.”
I still hesitate, that response reminding me so much of Luke’s initial words. Cade isn’t Luke, though. That is the ever-present thought in my mind.
Cade looks around my car, and I’m fully expecting to see judgment in his eyes when they connect with mine. I don’t, though. I just see emptiness.
“I don’t think I can,” I say.
“Okay,” he says, opening the door and shutting behind him.
What the—
Heleft?
I can’t believe it.
