His rich laugh boomed over the phone. “That I am. Now, what can I do for you?”
“I was hoping you might know where Caden is.”
Jalen was quiet for a moment. Suddenly, I felt like a girlfriend checking up on the partner she suspected of cheating. “You don’t have to tell me. I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”
“I’m actually not sure where he is. Between you and me, he had a tough meeting this morning, and I think he needed to blow off some steam.”
My chest tightened. “His dad or Gabe?”
“Gabe,” Jalen said with a sigh.
“Thanks for the heads-up. If you see him, will you give me a call?” I asked.
“Sure thing.”
Jalen took down my number, and we said our goodbyes. When I hung up, I stared at my phone, trying to decide where Caden might have gone. The truth was, I didn’t have the first clue where he might try to find solace these days. I only knew where the Caden of years ago escaped to.
A little flicker of something that felt a lot like hope sprang to life in my chest. I opened the screen door and poked my head in. “I’m done for the day, so I’m taking off.”
Noel looked up with a frown. “We were going to grab beers.”
“Later this week? I’ve gotta check on something.”
Eddie’s brows pulled together. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “It will be.”
I didn’t wait for more questions, just headed for the parking lot, thankful I’d driven this morning. Beeping my locks, I hopped in and started the engine.
My brain knew the route to where I was going so well, I didn’t even have to think about it. Because I’d never stopped going there. Even if Caden had given up on our spot, I never had.
It only took me about fifteen minutes to get to the trailhead, then a ten-minute walk to the log that overlooked the creek. Each step made my heart beat faster. I stilled as I caught sight of the large form sitting with his back to me.
Caden was tall. Six foot three inches with broadly muscled shoulders. Yet, sitting there, he looked small. Almost like a little boy.
An ache took root in my chest. And it spurred my feet into motion.
Caden didn’t look up as I approached, but I didn’t let that stop me. I rounded the log and sat next to him, just like I’d done a million times before. I didn’t say anything, just sat. He’d talk when he was ready.
I didn’t know how much time passed before Caden finally uttered two words and then a sentence that nearly shattered me.
“It’s broken. The kind that won’t ever be fixed. But I just keep trying.”
Grief dug its claws into my heart. “What happened?”
“Gabe scheduled a meeting with an incredibly important guest and didn’t tell me about it. The meeting required hours of prep, but I had less than five minutes.”
I studied the man next to me. “But you pulled it off.”
Caden glanced over at me. “What makes you say that?”
I shrugged. “I know you. I know you thrive under pressure, and you understand people. What makes them tick. I bet you had the person pegged in two minutes and gave them everything they needed.”
His lips twitched, but the hint of humor didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s a high, coming up with something on the spot like that, knowing the stakes, and making a stab in the dark, just hoping your instincts are right.”
“And they were.” There was no doubt in my mind.
Caden nodded, turning his gaze back to the water. “I should be happy. Celebrating.”
