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CHAPTER FIVE:

↳THE TRUTH

     DAYS HAD BEGUN TO TURN into weeks as Caden continued her romance with Forsythe Jones. The young woman was crazy for the older man— and not just in a physical way. Although the enigmatic man shared parts of his life with her, she knew she didn't know him fully. Caden didn't want to pressure Forsythe though, knowing that in time he would tell her his secrets. 

It's not like they were dating, she thought to herself. It's more of a physical relationship– one that I wish could delve deeper. . .

Caden leaned against the counter at Pop's smiling at the woman in front of her. Caden had a shift everyday this week, raking in money that she knew her mother's hospital bills would need. The woman's name was Gladys and Caden quickly befriended her one night when she had struggled keeping her two children in check. She had just finished her coffee, relaxing with Caden. 

"Where are your kids?" Caden asked as Gladys ranted about her day.

The woman rolled her eyes at the question and Caden was almost worried the older woman was mad at her. "They're with their father."

Caden nodded, "are you two separated?" Caden remembered briefly that Gladys had mentioned her idiot of a husband.

"He wanted a divorce," she said snappily. "I don't want it. I will always love him even if he's being an idiot."

Caden refilled her new friends coffee, a frown in place. "What did he do wrong?"

"He's in some bad business and he thinks the money from it can help us, but I don't think it can." A hallow laugh fell from her lips, "I'm not even sure if he loves me anymore. Our marriage was rushed because of my pregnancy."

Caden kept checking the clock, noticing how with each minute with Gladys the closer she got to her end of the shift– when she was to see FP again. 

Caden perked up each time the front door opened, the bell rang above the door, and few customers came in at once. She noticed that FP was the last one to enter, reveling in the fact that a smirk was sent her way. 

Caden's smile froze on her face as Forsythe paused in the doorway to Pop's, his gaze on the woman in front of Caden. Gladys hadn't turned to see FP but before she could turn to see what Caden was staring at, he left.

"I–I got to go," Caden managed to get out to Gladys, taking off her apron as she turned to Pop. Gladys was her last customer, and surely she wouldn't care about Caden running off. Pop nodded, knowing that the young waitress was done, and that the man who she was about to run after was the reason she was in a hurry. Pop Tate knew everything about Caden– he was like a wise father figure to her.

"FP?" Caden called out as she watched the older man in question mount his motorcycle. Caden had to pause for a second to take in his black jeans and leather jacket and how Forsythe just eased out bad boy sexiness. I can't get distracted by his body– why did he leave? Caden jogged towards the man, avoiding a couple who were trying to enter the diner. 

She stopped in front of him, noticing how his face held a frown and how his eyes shifted from me back to the diner entrance. 

"Why did you leave?" Caden asked, stepping up to the man until she could touch him. Her hands grasped the leather jacket he wore, letting her other hand press against his chest lightly. Forsythe sighed, he had avoided Caden's gaze until now. He looked up at her as she towered over his body on the bike. 

"Caden, there's a lot you don't know about me." 

"I know that," Caden started confused. "I thought you just needed time to trust me before telling me." 

"Yeah," FP scoffed lightly, one hand coming up to grab onto one of her hands. He was trying to savor the moment with the young woman in front of him. "I wanted to trust you and make sure I was serious about you–" 

"That's understandable," Caden interrupted him, stepping in between his legs. She thought being close in his proximity could help ease the words out of his mouth– little did she know it made it harder for him to say it aloud. 

"Caden– that woman in there. . ." 

"Gladys?" Caden furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "do you know her?" She paused in her movements, her hand slowly retreated from the confines of his leather jacket.

"Yes, Caden. . ." Forsythe paused, wishing he didn't have to speak the words aloud but he had to. He couldn't lie to the young woman he had fallen for. "She's my wife."

"What? You're married?"

      CADEN DESANTOS COULDN'T BELIEVE what she just heard. She was glad and upset she had to find out, regret filling her as she realised she was the other woman in a relationship. And to Gladys– the sweet woman who was inside Pop's right then. 

"Caden— damn it, Wait, let me explain!" FP cursed as he tried catching up with the young woman who began to walk away from him. He took a moment to hop off his bike but his tall stature against her short legs gave him enough time for her to catch up to him.

"There's nothing for you to explain," Caden hissed out as she tried to keep the tears at bay, she felt betrayed. "You're married."

FP pulled at her hands, trying to create some sort of physical contact with the girl in front of him. 

"Don't," Caden warned the man as he pulled her closer to his body. She realised he was trying to use their physical attraction against her. 

"I'm sorry," FP breathed out as he hugged her close. His breath tickled her ear as she numbly listened to what he had to say. "I was going to tell you about Gladys and my kids–" 

"What?" Caden pulled herself away from his body. 

FP realised that he probably made it worse by mentioning them.

"You have kids?" Caden stuttered out and her heart shattered at the thought of Gladys and the two children she has. Caden remembered her talks with Gladys about her children– Caden was a home wrecker. "I'm so stupid," she breathed out as a fire burned within her. She was upset.

"Case, please, hear me out." Forsythe pleaded, his hands desperately trying to cling to her smaller ones as she began to walk away from him. She threw her hands up in the air, giving the older man the bird as she walked back into the diner, her heart breaking into tiny pieces.  

"Just leave me the hell alone, FP. I don't ever want to see you again."