As I sat back down, the air was heavier than before.We went through a few more problems, our voices low and careful, neither of us saying anything that mattered.We never talked about things that mattered anymore.Every now and then, Paxon’s pencil tapped against the table in a rhythm that almost sounded like a heartbeat.Mine, maybe.
We wrapped up when Seth called from the kitchen that dinner was there.Paxon shook his head and gathered his things.
“I should go,” he said quietly.
“But Seth cooked for you too.”
“It’s fine.I need to head home and make sure Calvin is doing okay.”
I nodded, our gazes meeting for a brief second.I cleared my throat.“Drive safely.”
The words were simple, but it felt like there was so much more there as he walked out the door.
“Where did Paxon go?”Seth asked, popping his head into the room.
I blinked hard to ease the pressure behind my eyes and then faced him, wondering if I really was the one unraveling everything.“He left.”
Seth’s casualness slipped away into something I couldn’t quite understand.“All right.Looks like it’s just the two of us then.Come eat with me.”He nodded to the kitchen before disappearing.
Watching Paxon slip out like that and how that affected Seth, I had to wonder if that moment where enough was enough was a lot closer than I had expected.If I didn’t step away sooner than later, I was going to shatter their friendship and ruin everything.
Chapter Five
~Paxon’s POV~
The door clicked shutbehind me, and for a moment I just stood there on the porch, staring out at the dark street.The air was damp and cool as the weather dealt with that weird transitional period where winter tried to hold on and spring wasn’t willing to wait.
I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets and headed down the walkway.A stray wind blew past, carrying the faintest scent of rain and thawing soil.
Had it really been that long since I told Cadence I needed space?I told her when winter had only just arrived back in December.And already, it was March and winter was on its way out.I thought of Seth’s warning.
I was screwing this up, I knew that.I just didn’t know what to do.Not with her, not with my feelings for her, but also not with her relationship with the others.It was all so jumbled and confusing.
My thoughts ran in circles as I got in my car and started it.Before I had a chance to back out of the driveway, my phone buzzed.I almost ignored it, too scared to see if it was Cadence or Seth.Granted, I wasn’t even sure the last time Cadence even sent me a message personally.
Maybe it was our group chat?
