One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(60)

I knocked but let myself in when there was no answer. Cade had to be home since his bike was parked in his driveway. “Hellooo…”

A muffled yip chirped out, then another. I followed the sound through the house to the kitchen. Outside in the backyard, Cade and Mase played catch, Ava chasing the airborne ball back and forth. Grinning in silence, I crossed my arms over my chest and watched them awhile.

Cade and Mase wore expressions of boyish joy on their faces, laughing every time Ava jumped for the ball with their low arcing tosses. Every few catches, they’d purposefully drop the ball, letting it roll on the ground and cheering her on while she chased it.

Two weeks ago, their backyard had been barren. Since that time, beds of cedar mulch had been installed, bordered by a wavy, gray brick border. A few young trees had been planted in the back corners with space around them large enough to allow for growth, and sod had been half laid across the yard, including where they played.

Mase dropped down to the ground, and Ava perked her head up before sprinting over and jumping onto his chest. He fell back, laughing, letting Ava shower his face with licks.

Knowing I’d no longer be interrupting their play, I stepped outside. At the opening click of the door, Cade glanced up, a wide grin spreading on his face as he waved.

I made my way down, laughing as Mase rolled around with Ava while he took care not to crush her little body. “Looks like you’re having fun.”

Cade nodded to his roommate. “Mase especially. You might regret keeping her at our place.”

I arched a brow. “Ah, but you boys scoop poop far better than I. I’m good.” I smirked.

“Wily woman. You just might’ve outsmarted me.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve found brawny guys walking their dogs, picking up dog poop in blue plastic bags, undeniably sexy.”

Cade scowled. “What guys?”

I scrunched his cheeks together with flattened palms and planted a kiss on his lips. “You da guy, silly.”

He glowered at me.

But I ignored him and smirked, then leaned up on my toes and kissed him long and slow until he let out a low groan. I pulled back, watching Ava and Mase once more before glancing at Cade. “Why would Ling mention that you’d asked her to do the dragon cake?”

Cade shrugged, his expression impassive as he watched Ava chase the ball Mase had tossed. “Don’t know. I can’t remember the conversation.” He turned to me then. “Cake’s all set?”

I nodded, yawning, unable to fight the exhaustion pulling at me. “It’s waiting in the dining room. Ling has it cordoned off.”

“Good. You’re tired, Maestro. We’ve got four hours ’til showtime. Why don’t you go home and catch a nap? I’ll send you a wake-up call around 3:30 p.m.—plenty of time for you to get ready for tonight.”

Too tired to argue, I nodded again. “Sounds great, actually.”

Hours after my head crashed onto the pillow, an incessant buzzing roused me from heavy sleep. I lifted my phone up to see the time: 3:49 p.m.

Flying up from the bed, I rushed into the bathroom, phone in hand. I turned the shower levers to just below scalding and stripped naked with one hand while scrolling through the dozen cute texts from Cade after his single missed call.



Wakey, wakey.



Hannah, are you there?



Earth to Hannah.



You know, I could come over.



. . .



Wonder if you sleep naked.



Or if you sleep so soundly, I could strip you naked.



Without you knowing.



Then make you very aware.



. . .



WAKE!



UP!



I laughed at his text barrage and smiled, sending him a single text.



I’m awake. And smiling. And naked.



And very, very wet . . .



I got a single reply as I tossed the phone onto the counter.



DEAD



Laughing, I imagined him falling to the floor stiff as a board, in more ways than one. Then I jumped under the spray, soaped up, shaved, and rinsed off, completing the fastest shower I’d ever taken.

While blowing my hair dry, the phone buzzed, lighting up. I leaned over to see the alert.



Pick you up in twenty?



I calculated what twenty minutes would buy me. No more blow-drying, that’s for sure. A quick ten for basic makeup. Five to dress. Two minutes for brushing teeth. Ninety seconds for jewelry.



Twenty. No less.



With record speed, and while watching the time tick by on my phone screen as I kept pressing the control button, I was ready in nineteen minutes. I gave myself a last once-over in the mirror, scrunching my wavy hair up on each side and then dropping it into loose curls.

A rap at the door signaled time was up. I raced through the house, grabbed my keys, and opened the door.

I stopped cold at the sight on the other side.

Cade looked spectacular. His dark hair had one sexy, rogue lock falling onto his forehead. His electric-blue eyes held mine with stunning intensity.

“Wow. You look incredible, Hannah.”

I smiled, a little nervous yet unsure why. “Thanks. Amazing what twenty minutes can do.”