I laughed as we reached the trailhead. “Sometimes, you just have to see the practical applications of those annoying classes.”
My steps faltered as we crossed the parking lot. Something about the passenger van wasn’t right. And that was when I saw it. Every single tire had been slashed, and someone had smashed each window. But no one had touched any of the other vehicles in the lot. Only mine.
24
CADEN
“What’s goingon with you today?” Jalen asked from his perch opposite my desk as we went over the final details for Clive’s retreat and the silent auction items for The Clara Foundation gala.
I grimaced at my phone. I’d been twitchy all morning, hating the idea of Grae out on a trip alone. The only thing that had kept me from going with her was knowing how much having control of her life meant to her. “I’m fine.”
Jalen arched a brow in challenge.
I fought the urge to squirm in my seat. “I’m waiting to hear that Grae’s back from her hiking trip.”
A grin spread across his face.
“Shut up,” I mumbled.
Jalen’s smile only widened. “It’s good to see you like this.She’sgood for you.”
His words only made me feel twitchier, as if my skin were too tight for my body.
A little of the amusement left Jalen’s face. “It doesn’t make you weak to care about someone.”
Everything in me stilled. “I know that.”
“Do you? Because from where I’ve been sitting for the past six years, you’ve done just about everything imaginable to keep people at arm’s length.”
I started to argue, but Jalen held up a hand to stop me.
“Don’t get me wrong. You’re friendly—warm, even. But there’s an invisible wall that you don’t let people pass. It’s not healthy. You need to let people in.”
I was quiet for a moment, letting the words land. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been hurting the people around me by keeping them out. But after the conversation I’d had with Nash and now Jalen, it was obvious I was doing damage. “I’m sorry.”
It was all I could say. I wasn’t about to make a promise to change when I didn’t know if that was possible. Sometime over the years, it had become ingrained in me to keep people out. And the idea of lowering those boundaries had panic eating at me.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m just happy to see that Grae is getting through.”
Fear spiked in my gut, but I shoved it down, forcing a grin. “Don’t go marrying me off just yet. This is new.”
Jalen chuckled. “Just promise I can help plan the wedding.”
I shook my head. He was hopeless.
My phone buzzed on my desk, and I swiped it up, hoping it was Grae. Instead, I saw Nash’s name on the screen. I tapped accept. “Hey, man.”
“Caden.”
The lack of humor in his voice had my spine snapping straight. “What’s wrong?”
“Grae’s fine.”
Those words offered the opposite of comfort. Instead, ice slid through my veins. “What happened?” I gritted out.
“I’m at the trailhead. Someone broke into the Vacation Adventures van while they were on the hike. Smashed the windows. Slashed the tires.”
I was already on my feet, striding out of my office. This wasn’t a break-in; it was someone who was pissed the hell off. “I’m on my way. You’re with her?”
