Sadness isn’t an emotion Cade shows the world. But seeing his downturned lips and somber eyes? I suddenly feel sick.
Still, we can’t go backward. The rules will keep me and my job safe.
After swallowing the candy, he nods. “Okay. No talking about the past.”
Relief replaces my unease. People can’t find out we were more than friends. Not Trevor. Not the press. No one. That would be yet another reason on men’s lists to not take me seriously.
I can’t take back what I wanted in college, but I can move forward.
My stomach grumbles in response to the decadent smell of food, and I’m thankful for a distraction as our meals arrive, popping the awkward bubble surrounding us.
I grin at my plate, but when I spot the pickle spear, my smile disappears. Stabbing it with my fork, I stretch my arm across the table and drop it onto his plate. Now I’m ready to dig in, but Cade’s laugh distracts me.
“What?” I ask.
Perfect white teeth snap the pickle in half. “Thanks for the pickle. Just like old times.”
As a certified pickle hater, Cade always ate mine without complaint. Getting rid of old habits is going to take serious work.
“It won’t happen again,” I assure him, but it’s mostly for me.
“Hmm. What are the odds of that?”
“Don’t.” I point my fork at him. “Rule number three. No game.”
He holds up the half-eaten pickle in surrender, and I almost laugh. It’s impressive how good he is at pulling people into his orbit. Cade makes you feel seen, heard, and trust that he’ll always be there.
But he wasn’t for me.
One bite is enough to categorize this meal as life changing. Holly’s going to flip when I tell her it’s even better than she could imagine, rich and buttery with a hint of lemon.
He picks at the massive piece of lobster on his plate. “Are you coming to tonight’s game?”
I shake my head. “Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Do you want to? Feels like that would be an agent thing to do.”
He’s got me there.
“Sure,” I concede, but I won’t go alone. Yes, it’s work, but I need support.
I open The Quartet’s shared calendar. Mallory’s babysitting and Jo’s studying for medical school since she leaves soon. Adri’s all-day event makes me chuckle into my drink.
Invite me to something. I’m too sexy to be this bored.
Me
Want to go to a baseball game tonight?
Adri’s response appears immediately.
Menace to Society
Hot guys in baseball pants and I get to watch you work with your ex? Sign me up
Me
Not ex. Almost-ex
