Seeing his face morph with a hint of embarrassment at being caught checking me out was extremely cute.
Hewas cute.
It’s like we shared a secret no one else knew. The moment in my garden felt sacred, something solely for us to treasure.
God, I couldn’t wait to see Cade now. Couldn’t wait to properly exchange words and not just stolen glances across a dining table, across the hallway, across the classroom.
This time I’d use all my charm to coax a smile from him.
Like he’d been summoned by my thoughts, his text arrived within seconds.
I’m sitting on the bench in the courtyard. —Guy who doesn’t smile
I’ll be there soon??—Ella
I practically ran to where he waited for me.
St. Victoria’s courtyards were an arresting sight laid against the old gothic-style institute, possessing gardens filled with roses and towering trees. Students usually sat amongst the lush greenery during recess, but after school, I found the place to be even more soothing. There was no one roaming the grounds.
Except for one person, who sat alone on a bench under the shade of a century old tree. My favourite spot. I liked to come here to knit my latest creation, if I wasn’t preoccupied with my friends.
Did Cade see me sitting here often? Was that why he chose this place, knowing I was fond of it?
All these questions ran through my mind as I neared him.
Locked in a pensive state, his head hung low, his elbows rested on his knees, and his joined hands lay suspended between the V of his spread legs. He looked like a prince sitting on his throne, pondering over life’s woes.
From the very beginning, Cade never gave the impression of being a young teenager. The frown on his face, the downturn tilt of his lips, and the heaviness in his posture made him seem wiser and older beyond his years. As though he’d seen the darker side of life and never recovered.
If you paid close attention, you’d noticed the haunted quality in his eyes that spoke of a story that was far too complicated for others to understand.
But I wanted to understand.
I wanted to unravel every layer of Cade Remington and learn the things that made him…him.
Without warning, I fell into the seat next to him and chirped loudly, “Hi!”
Cade flinched, muttering a curse under his breath, his body tightening until his head snapped my way and our eyes met. I witnessed the exact moment relief sank into his muscles and he relaxed, reclining back against the bench. “Oh, hey. It’s you.”
My lips twitched. I loved that I got a reaction out of him. “Were you expecting someone else?”
“No.” He shook his head bashfully. “How…How are you?”
I crossed my legs and stared at him, batting my lashes. “I’m great now that I’m here. You?”
“I’m good.” Cade’s gaze fell to my bare legs and slowly trekked up my torso. “Do you just hang around in your cheerleading uniform?”
“No, but would you like me too,querido?”
I was being bold and flirtatious.
I think he liked it.
A slow blush crept up his cheeks. “What doesqueridomean?”
“Queridois a term of endearment in my language.” I smiled and angled my body his way so we were more face-to-face. “Now answer my question.”
His gaze rose to mine, pinning me with that blue that evoked a maelstrom of feelings in my chest. Three heartbeats travelled between us, suffusing the air with the kind of tension that forced you to bite your lip in anticipation. “What if I said yes?”
