My parents left not long after I did but refused to sell, leaving the house to deteriorate, the flowers to die, and the weeds to take over, engulfing the tree swing we had out front. It’s—Dammit. I wasn’t going to look.
“You’re an asshole,” I snap, to which Cade shrugs nonchalantly.
“And you’re not over it. Think of it as therapy.”
Fuck. How did I forget he gave up football to be a goddamn social worker?
“Don’t even think about using me as a case study or work experience, Cade. I’m not interested.”
“I’m fully qualified, fucker. I don’t need your issues for that.” I breathe a sigh of relief until a smug grin forms on his face, “You were my topic junior year.”
“Asshole,” I repeat, wanting to punch him.
We’re silent after that until he pulls into a parking lot and my jaw drops. “This is Halo’s?”
“Yep. They came into some money a little while back and renovated the joint.”
“Well, damn.”
The old run-down biker bar we used to frequent—because they never carded us—is now a stylish venue with fancy signage and outdoor seating. I’ve got to admit this is more my vibe these days, but I did not expect it.
“You seem shocked. We’ve got class around here.”
“Yeah, okay. But who’s we? You said we’d be getting a quiet beer together.”
“We are.” He shrugs and I hiss under my breath.
“Who’swe, Caden?”
“Don’t Caden me. It’s just us. But you might run into someone you recognize.”
Closing my eyes, I let my head fall against the headrest and sigh. “I doubt others are as forgiving as you are.”
“I’m going to save my money and not take that bet. I’ve gotta be honest…you don’t have a lot of supporters around here. But you’re back. And it’s time we changed that.”
I slowly open my eyes, hitting him with a death stare, and my stomach churns. “I’m not here to get my friends back. I’m fine with the way life panned out.”
“Yeah, okay. Humor me then.”
As if straight out of a movie, the door slams against the wall when we enter Halo’s, and the goddamn bar goes quiet. Not the music, or the sound of the billiard balls crashing on the tables across the room. But the people closest to me freeze, their eyes wide as they stare.
I’d do anything to turn and walk away, but Cade’s not having it, cupping my shoulder as he guides me inside.
“This is creepy,” I whisper and he laughs.
“Did you forget you’re famous?”
“Fuck no, but everyone fell silent at once.”
“Don’t let your head grow too big.” He chuckles again. “It’s the door. After the rebuild, it slammed shut on its own. And we all froze. Like there was some kind of ghost inhabiting the building. Now as a joke, people freeze whenever it slams. I may have orchestrated that moment to give you a rush.”
I can’t stop the incredulous laugh that bursts out of me, and while it doesn’t give me a rush like he wanted, it certainly makes me a little less uncomfortable. “You’re still the same fucker, I see.”
“Some things change. Some things don’t. Come on, there’s a table over there.” He points to a table in the middle of the room and I fake a smile.Yay.
“Take a seat and I’ll grab drinks. You want a beer?”
I’d love a beer. Actually, I’d love something stronger since Cade dragged me here against my will when I’d rather bang my head against a brick wall. But since I’m currently on medication, I reluctantly decline. “I’ll have a soft drink. You know what I like. That hasn’t changed.”
