A comfortable silence settled between us, the kind that didn’t need filling. I could hear her breathing, see the rise and fall of her shoulders on screen. It was easy. Natural.
She broke it first. “We should probably figure out the bonfire tomorrow night.”
I groaned. Nothing I enjoyed more than standing outside in a frozen field freezing my dick off after freezing my balls off all morning out on the water. “Yeah. At least it’s for a good cause. This shit matters, especially right now.”
I remembered what it was like going to bed hungry because there wasn’t enough to stretch to the end of the week. If I could help make sure some other kid doesn’t have to experience that, then that’s what I was going to do.
I shifted against my headboard and cleared my throat, banishing those wayward memories.
On screen, Stella had gone very still, her eyes soft and knowing. “You spent a lot of time at our house back then,” she said quietly. “I remember Mom always made sure there were leftovers for you to take home. And how you’d show up right around dinnertime on Thursdays.”
“Your mom’s pot roast night,” I said, my throat tight.
“Yeah.” Her voice was gentle. “She knew, Cade. We all did. We just … we wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak for a second. “Your family saved my life in a lot of ways. More than you probably realize.”
She reached out like she was going to touch the screen, then pulled her hand back. “I’m glad we could be that for you.”
I had to blink a few times, my eyes suddenly stinging. “Okay, enough of the heavy shit,” I said, my voice tight with repressed tears. “We’ve got more pressing matters to discuss.”
Her eyebrow arched. “Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like how I’m supposed to keep my hands off you at the bonfire when you’re going to be walking around looking all—” I gestured vaguely at the screen. “Like that.”
She snorted. “Cade, I’m literally in an old t-shirt that’s three sizes too big with wet hair.”
“Exactly. And you’re still the hottest woman I’ve ever seen.”
She shook her head, but she was smiling. “You're ridiculous. But okay, fine—yes, we’re going to have to pretend we’re not together.”
“It’s going to be torture.”
“I know.” Her expression flickered with frustration. “But we can’t give Colin any ammunition. Not yet.”
“So I just have to stand around and watch you walk around all night looking like that—” I lifted my chin at her “—and not touch you?”
“That’s the plan.”
“I hate this plan.”
She laughed, and the sound did something dangerous to my chest. I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but it was a sound I wanted to hear for the rest of my life. “We’ll survive one night.”
“Will we, though?” I whined.
“Cade.”
“Fine,” I muttered. “But if anyone flirts with my woman, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
“No one’s going to flirt with me.”
“You’re delusional.”
She shook her head, but she was still smiling, and I watched her try to stifle a yawn.
“You should sleep,” I said, feeling the tug of sleep myself.
“So should you. You have an early morning.”
