Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses Book #8)(47)

“And his name is Cade James.”

Both Scarlett and Daisy suck in a violent breath.

“You are one brave soul.” Daisy fans herself with her tiny black clutch. “If things don’t end well with you two, Piper just might—”

“Oh, honey, believe me, I have been filling in the blanks.”

Scarlett steps in and picks up my hand. A deep look of concern lines her face with worry.

“I take it Piper doesn’t know?”

I shake my head.

“When are you going to tell her?” Scarlett’s jade eyes light up with something just this side of horror.

“Right after I tell him.”





Cade





I’ve been torn over very few things in my life—usually something small like the difference between pitching for a medium or a large drink, or how well done I’d like my steak. Never have I been torn over the right time to tell a girl I love her—not that I’ve ever tossed those words out liberally. I’ve said them to Sammy, but only because she said them first, and it felt right to parrot them back. At the time, I believed them, but Cassidy has hacked down that fallacy, shown me what true love is, and now I’m torn over when and how to share this information. I could do it sooner than later. Maybe take her to the overlook. But then, we have Piper’s party this weekend, and is it a good idea to profess my love right before I expose her to my barbed wire of a sister? Maybe we should ease into it. We go to the party, and then I lay it all out there afterward. That should soften any blows my sister might lay out. And knowing Piper, there will be many, many blows I’ll have to soften.

Buddy comes over and wraps himself around my legs with the leash in his mouth, and just the sight of that long brown tether brings a goofy grin to my face.

An aggressive knock bursts over the door, and my heart thuds, because it’s a little earlier than Cassidy usually arrives, but I’ll take it. I whip the door open just enough with my foot, holding back Bud in the event he wants to reprise his role as the galloping kisser. He could have knocked her out cold, or worse. I still feel like shit over the incident, but it’s not Cassidy I’m staring at. It’s my sister.

“What’s up?” I look past her to the overgrown oak where Cassidy’s been known to park.

“Well, it’s nice to see you, too. Now, get out of my way so I can give my dog a hug.”

I pull back, and Buddy races out, running circles around Piper, glad to see her. She puts the leash on him, and before I know it, we’re taking a walk around the block. Usually, I would eat this up. Usually, I’d rave about how we have to do it again, but I can’t stop looking over my shoulder at the house, making sure Cassidy hasn’t pulled up and sashayed her cute self to the door.

“Have you heard a thing I’ve said?” She waves a hand over my eyes.

“Yes”—I turn back around—“sorry, no. My head’s all over the place.”

“You’re just like my roommate. Lately, it feels as if I’m talking to a wall. I was apologizing by the way. I said I would be nice to what’s-her-face if I saw her around on campus.”

“Good. Thank you. And will you be nice to her if—I don’t know, you see her off-campus?” I came this close to ruining her surprise birthday party. I’m sure that would have gone over well with Owen. I do like all the care he’s taking to make this special for her.

“You mean like at your house?” Piper’s lips purse as if she’s physically going to be ill.

“Yeah”—I cringe because I know this might leave her with the wrong impression—“like at the house.”

“Crap.” Piper stops in her tracks and pinches her eyes close a moment. “I knew you were seeing her.” She yanks Buddy back and hands me the leash. “Is that why you’ve been so coy about this new girl? Because there is no new girl?”

“No, I just want you to drop the attitude around her. I’ve forgiven her, and so should you.”

“That’s funny because she never asked for my forgiveness. When she hurt you, she hurt me, too, Cade. I don’t know why you’d let anyone shit all over your heart, and then give them the chance to do it again. But this time, you’re going to be the only one getting hurt because I’m not playing her stupid game.” She stalks off into the night.

“Piper, wait. Come back. I’ll take you to dinner.”

“I already ate!” she screams so loud her voice echoes through the treetops. “Why don’t you take your nasty little girlfriend to dinner? Maybe she could feed you a little more bullshit.”

And just like that, she disappears into the murky darkness.

“Crap.” I pull Buddy over and give him a quick scratch. “Piper would really love Cassidy if given half the chance.” But Sammy broke Piper’s heart. I’m not sure if Piper will ever be open to accepting, to loving someone I bring into my life again.

Buddy barks and tangles himself around my ankles.

“All right, boy. Let’s do this.” Buddy and I get a little run in for the night.

Cassidy never makes it over.

The big trio and I miss the crap out of her.



The next day, try as I might, I can’t catch a glimpse of Cassidy on campus. Just before I left, I made two revolutions around Prescott Hall, brazen enough to make any stalker proud. By the time I get home, I think about shooting her a text, inviting her to dinner, for coffee—hell, I’d go basket weaving in a shit field if she wanted me to.