LAINEY
I stood in front of my closet and pulled out three different shirts, agonizing over what to wear, before throwing them all on the bed and grabbing the first one I'd picked. My hands were shaking. I was being ridiculous.
When Kade and I had argued three days ago I’d pretty much ended things, but I had forgotten that I still had his credit card. I hadn't used it since then, but it wasn't much good anyway. The last time I'd tried to use it, it had been declined. He might've come looking for it at some point, or maybe he would cancel it and cut his losses, but I felt bad.
I wasn't the sort of person to let any kind of relationship end on such hostile terms. We weren't particularly close, but Kade deserved more respect than for me to tell him off and ignore him as he marched out of my bakery.
So I pulled on my jeans and told myself I was just doing the right thing. I had to return the card before his parents realized I had it and try to clear things up. Be the bigger person.
The trip from Boulder City to the Atlas Casino in downtown Las Vegas took about thirty-five minutes in peak traffic. I wasn't even sure if he'd be there, but it was the only place I had to look for him. I spent the entire drive agonizing over what to say and how to say it. I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression because regardless of how I felt, I knew my assessment was correct. I didn't belong in his world; we were incompatible.
But I also didn’t want to be harsh or rude to him. He'd been kind enough to help me financially with the bakery and the fundraiser supplies; the least I could do was return his card with dignity and thank him. I just had to ignore the tiny voice in my head that kept begging me to plead with him and force him to see that I wasn't really trying to get back together with Brandon.
What good would it do? Our worlds would just collide in worse ways, especially if his parents had anything to say about it. And once Kade found out I was keeping a pregnancy secret from him, or the tabloids found out and blasted it across the entire city, my world as I knew it was over.
This was for the best. I had to back out quietly and graciously, and hope to God that was the worst of this situation behind me now.
Music hit me the second I walked through the doors at the Atlas. The place was flooded with wealthy people in expensive suits and dresses, a huge contrast to my neat jeans and sweater. I didn't belong here, not now and not even when I was wearing that ridiculously expensive, gaudy wedding dress. This was Kade's world, and I wasn't a part of it. I had to remind myself I was visiting and I'd never have to come back.
I walked through the place hoping to find a security guard or staff member. I felt lost until a bouncer took pity on me wandering around and stepped in front of me.
"Can I help you?" he asked, flexing his muscles as he gripped his hands together in front of his waist. He was clearly trying to get me to look at him, and I almost rolled my eyes.
"I'm looking for Kade Kingston." I pulled the card from my purse. "I need to give him something."
The man eyed me cautiously for a second while looking down his nose at me. Then he spoke into his radio to call someone, and a man in a suit appeared about ninety seconds later. He was taller, a bit younger, and definitely had more authority. The name badge he wore said security, and I cowered when he spoke.
"I'm Gavin." He shook my hand. "You're looking for Kade?"
"Yes," I mumbled, nervously glancing around. I knew Kade was a celebrity of sorts, and I had no way of knowing if he had his own personal security or if these guys would let me see him. But the man in front of me studied my face. He scowled at me, but there was recognition in his eyes.
"Follow me," he grunted, jerking his chin up at the bouncer, who backed off. Though they both eyed me as he started walking away.
I followed him up a set of stairs in a scurrying stutter-step to keep up. My heart hammered and I kept thinking I should turn around. This was a mistake. Kade probably wanted nothing to do with me again. He was so angry when he stormed out of the bakery, and then that strange man stood there with me as if he had to protect me. He waited until Kade drove off squealing histires, and only when I told him I had to lock up and go home did he finally leave the bakery.
I never tried to call Kade and apologize. I just let it be what it was. He never called or texted me either.
Gavin led me to some sort of private party room, deep in the bowels of the casino, past the thumping music and slot machines, past the bar and into a more private area. It was quieter, but I wasn't sure I liked that.
Then I saw him.
He was sprawled on a couch with women everywhere. One had her hand on his chest. Another whispered in his ear. Empty bottles covered the table and when he laughed at something one of them said, his eyes were unfocused. That wasn't my Kade. The guy I fell for would never have been the sort of jerk to let women paw at him. But maybe I'd been wrong the entire time anyway.
I knew who Kade Kingston was when I let him take me up to his room upstairs in this very casino. I just convinced myself the entire world saw him wrong. It made a shiver of discouragement snake its way up my spine, but I knew it was for the best. It would make it easier to do what I had to do if I saw him for who he really was, not who I’d fantasized him to be.
I stopped walking. Gavin looked back at me but I couldn't move. I stood several yards away staring at him, while Gavin approached and interrupted the little party Kade had going on.
"Kade," Gavin grumbled loudly. "You have a visitor."
Kade's head turned. His eyes found mine and for a second everything stopped. I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. Then he squirmed a little, and his eyes widened, butit was the way his face blanched that got me. He was shocked, maybe embarrassed that I was standing there in front of him.
Then he sat up so fast one of the women nearly fell off the arm of the couch beside him. She flailed her arms around in a comical motion to balance herself and then scowled at me.
"Everyone out."
"What?" the blonde pouted at him. "But we just?—"
"Out. Now! All of you." Kade's eyes never left mine, though he did flick a wrist at his security guard friend.
