Page 32 of When Darkness Calls

It lasts only a few seconds before the sound of the front door bursting open has me on my feet, standing between the abrupt noise and Dani. And it’s like time slows to a crawl.

The dull thuds of pounding footsteps through the hall reverberate in a dull, drawn echo in my head as Cade’s widened eyes fill me with dread…that slowly dissipates as he raises his arms and Liz appears around the hall corner, folding into them in a heap.

Her body racks with heaving sobs.

What the fuck?

I tilt my head toward Dani. She’s sitting upright, shock and concern written across her face.

She looks to me, mouthing What the fuck? with a slight nudge of her head in their direction.

Cade has adjusted his hold on Liz, swaying gently as he rubs small circles between her shoulders, the other hand held on the back of her head, keeping her close to his chest. He hasn’t even looked at us.

I send an incredulous look to Dani that she mirrors with a shrug.

“Lizzie?” Dani prods in a soft voice.

Liz lifts her head slowly looking over her shoulder at me and Dani, a slight dip forms between her brows as she looks up at Cade, her bright eyes widening a fraction before she steps back sharply. The blotchy redness on her cheeks and around her eyes deepens. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs, head down as she slumps to the couch, flopping against Dani. Cade returns to his earlier stance leaning against the door, but his hands grip the pocket of his hoodie like his life depends on it.

“I did it. It’s over. He…he didn’t even seem super upset at first. He just said okay. Okay?! Then he went back to scrolling on his phone. Can you believe that? It took me saying we’re breaking up three. Separate. Times. Before it sunk in and then he just seemed…annoyed? Like I was being dramatic?” Liz mutters through hiccups, tears still streaming down her face.

“Oh, Lizzie. I’m so sorry.” Dani wraps her in a tight hug.

“Fuck him.” Cade’s voice breaks the tense, solemn mood.

“Yeah, fuck him.” I agree with a sharp nod. I have no idea what happened to him, but Issac is now on my shit list.

“You aren’t dramatic. You’ve been feeling let down and unappreciated by someone who is supposed to go above and beyond for you. You deserve better than that, Elizabeth. Don’t ever settle for less. You shouldn’t be with anyone who wants to or tries to dull your sparkle when you were born to shine.”

My eyes snap to Cade.

Okay, seriously what the fuck? He really just said that? Shit. Where did this romantic poet ass come from and what did he do with Cade?

Even Dani is watching him like he’s a stranger, her gaze darting to mine every couple seconds. I can only respond to her questioning stare with an unceremonious shrug.

Liz mumbles her acknowledgment of Cade’s speech, taking a deep controlled breath, and sitting up from Dani’s embrace. She tilts her head from side to side, closing her eyes. With a small roll of her shoulders, she looks back at Cade with a sharp nod that he returns before lowering her gaze to her hands in her lap, rubbing harshly at her knuckles.

“No more crying. He doesn’t deserve your tears.” Cade declares. He stalks forward, standing in front of her on a bent knee. One hand reaching out to lay gently on her own, pausing the anxious movement. The other tilting her chin up to look at him. “What do you need right now?”

Her eyes shine from unshed tears, the color a lot like my own but much more vibrant, closer to the sky on a sunny July afternoon instead of the muted storminess.

Liz’s voice cracks as the small grin does too. “You…guys. Just you guys. And strawberry ice cream if you have it.” She sniffles, and Dani giggles. Cade grins.

“Well, you’re in luck. I was just about to go get strawberry ice cream. What’re the odds of that?”

ten

Dani

Sunlight filters through the gauzy curtains covering the doors to my balcony. Happiness flows through my veins radiating from the inside out. Yesterday? Could’ve been better. But last night? Amazing. I had so much fun with the guys and Liz.

After Cade had left to get the ice cream, Liz had calmed down enough to tell me everything that happened. It was like once she could unload all of her frustrations and sadness, and disappointment, she was like new. A lightness had come back to her that was dulled. Cade was right. She deserves to shine.

When the guys returned, the rest of the night was frankly, pretty fucking good. It was great, so great. It felt…right, like that was how things are supposed to be. It didn’t feel complete though. Probably because the rest of the guys were gone. When one of them is missing, it’s beyond noticeable that an integral part of the group is absent.

Each one brings such a unique presence.

Cade’s seriousness hiding the fact that underneath he’s a big teddy bear who loves so hard and feels responsible for everyone he cares about.