I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I let her see those parts of me I hid from everyone else.
I followed her back to her friends. Their table made the most noise in the bar, but no one seemed to mind.The opposite in fact. The other patrons looked like they wanted to join.
“Do you want to sit with us? We can pull up another table. Have the other guys come to. Unless you have to pack up and get on the road.”
I shook my head. “No, we have time. Let me go ask them.”
She nodded before sitting and grabbing her drink. She downed the entire thing as I walked away. Not that I needed any proof to show I had completely hypnotized her outside. Just as she had done to me.
Hudson was the first to notice me when I returned to the table. “About time you got back. Make any progress?”
“I was only talking with Cadence, nothing else.”
Hudson’s gaze narrowed. “Hmm.”
“Do you wanna go and sit with her friends?”
“If there’s beer, I’m there.”
I laughed. “I’ll make sure you’re stocked all night. Let me ask the other guys.”
After everyone agreed, I introduced them to Cadence’s friends. Thank God they took pity on me and didn’t expect me to remember their names.
I sat in the empty chair to her right. As I scooted to the table, my leg pressed against hers. I expected her to pull away, but as I turned to look at her, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and didn’t move.
Trying to calm the growing bulge in my pants once more, I focused on the chaos of conversations happening around me.
I was no closer to discovering the answers to my questions, but one thing I was certain about.
I was in trouble.
Chapter Sixteen
Cadence
“How many times do you plan on getting wasted while visiting me? Is my company that bad?”
My mom always had a way with words.
I groaned as I grabbed a mug from the cupboard and filled it with coffee. Mom was sitting at the kitchen table, and I turned toward her. “I’m never drinking again.”
“I’ve heard that one a time or two.” She paused as I put the cream back in the fridge. “Did you have fun, though?”
I nodded as I took a sip. The hot liquid soothed my dry throat, and at that moment, I was certain coffee was all I ever needed in life.
“I’m glad you’re reconnecting with your friends. They miss you.”
“I miss them, too. I didn’t realize how much until now.”
“It’s a shame Liam doesn’t live here anymore.”
“Jamie is only here for a short time, too. Who knows when he’ll move away.”
“Damn. You’re right. And now he’s going to take Blake with him.”
I nodded again. “So, I’m not the only one who left. We are all on our own paths to find ourselves.”
“When does Liam head back west?”
