Okay, so, I have been asked about it before & I finally remembered to do it lol. I made a Pinterest board for IASWAD!  If you want to see them, just go to my profile & click on the link, then 'Pinterest.' They should be public!

Thanks for reading! Enjoy!🤍

"All that you are is all that I will ever need."— Ed Sheeran
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Chapter 43
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"Have a nice day," I smiled to the couple before they turned, then walked out of the diner.

I allowed my eyes to follow the both of them, who held the others' hand with a tight grip. I would be lying if I said that I didn't envy what they had. What I yearned to share with Kade some day.

I reminded myself of last night, and continued to thank the universe for that bit of...something. Something that had made me feel as if I were floating on cloud nine all day, something that spooked the heck out of me every time I thought on it. I tried my hardest to not drill the situation so hard, because I knew that I would turn things into something they never were.

"She's in love."

I jerked around at my aunt's voice, my cheeks growing ridiculously warm.

"What?" I said even though I was completely aware of her words.

Shay walked back to us, a plate of piping hot fries in one hand, a drink in the other, and a scandalous look in her eyes.

"Goodness, Celeste. Leave the poor girl alone," she scolded my aunt, who continued her torment with a wink of the eye.

After placing a plate down on the table of the customer, Shay rounded the register with a grin, "She can't help the fact that she's hopelessly in love with...mhm, what was his name again, Cele?"

Celeste brushed her hands down her apron, before her eyes found mine. "Oh, Shay, how could you forget the one and only Kade?"

"Susie's boy, isn't he?" Shay tapped at her shoulder as she retrieved the plates from the nearest table.

"Mhm, he sure is," Celeste confirmed with a nod. Shay grew closer to me to collect utensils for the customers. "Oops, silly me."

"Oh, that woman is so sweet," Shay noted. "She always get the same peach cobbler, and her tips always make me sing like a bird in summer. I see—"

I couldn't take this any longer. My face was nearing a tomato the longer I listened to their teasing. "Okay, I'm going to the restroom."

"I can never leave you girls alone, can I?" My Uncle Dylan commented, making his way from the back, and to us.

I smiled as he walked to Celeste, whose red lips were as high as could be. "Especially you," he said. His expression softened down at her.

Uncle Dylan placed his hands on her hips, before he drew her closer. Her giggles increased until he caught her lips.

I chuckled as Shay scowled from beside me. "Not to bother your tongue swapping, but there are other people around, you know."

The love-struck couple ignored Shay, who shook her head, with a floating smile on her lips.

I walked to the bathroom, which was vacant to my luck. I couldn't handle anymore awkward small talk, or anymore fake laughs at the terrible jokes from the customers.

I waited for the water to heat before sinking my hands underneath. Slowly but surely, I felt my mind wander off in a dangerous direction the longer I stood here. And, of course, it went right for him.

I stared at myself in the mirror, particularly to the spots his lips had traced over. My skin buzzed at the reminder. "At least it's not there," I reassured myself. No physical evidence of the previous night was left behind, besides the bruising thump of my heart against my chest.

I had to remind myself that things weren't secure enough to have these type of reactions. But, I couldn't help but dream of a different universe. Without Chivo, without Kade's second life, without Daniel, without the past.

Speaking of Chivo.

My mouth went as dry as the Sahara dessert. From what Kade told me, Chivo was after a fight, one in which he would receive. Or, my life would be retrieved instead of the cash reward.

I wanted to help, but I felt helpless. Hell, I was helpless. Technically, if I wouldn't have went to the party, Kade would have had carried on with the fight. But, at the time, I had no idea.

I didn't want him to fight, only to possibly get hurt in return. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Chivo lost the round, and was still angered with Kade.

What would happen if Kade lost?

I had to grip the edges of the bathroom sink as the thought wavered over me.

No. He's a good fighter; I've seen it with my own two eyes. He hasn't lost a single round yet. This time can't and won't be an exception.

I stirred at my phone's beep. I pulled it out of my pocket once I felt another vibration not long after the first.

Maggie: Do you want me to rough up Barbie #2 for you?

Raven: Maggie is about to go John Cena on Natasha. Help.

Maggie: Raven, spray your knuckles with paper spray, Vaseline or oil up your skin, put on some rings, and find some non-slippery shoes for good grip.

Raven: For WHAT?!

Maggie: We're going down together, that's what. We get our asses against the wall and windmill every single one of those bitches. In Kimberly's honor.

Maggie: Also, grab your hoodie, these bitches probably like to pull hair. We can get Jax to help too, he can turn into a damned power puff girl if we need it.

I laughed at the messages. I had told Maggie about the entire ordeal with Amber over the phone this morning. The only things I managed to get out of her response were a string of curse words, along with insults directed toward Amber.

I felt my anxiety squash on its own at Raven's message. At least I knew that she couldn't have been that hurt if she was able to text.

Me: Don't do it for me, or in my honor. Be the bigger person.

Maggie: Ha! Says the girl who went total 'knock a bitches head off their shoulders.'

Me: I barely even tapped her.

Maggie: Oh, suck a goose. I heard rumors that you even broke her nose. I'm so proud. Me next.

Laughter spilled from my lips. I didn't have too much time to check, but it was true that a bone had popped under my knuckles when I hit Amber, and there was a lot of blood. I never thought I would have had that power but I guessed anger did crazy things. Seeing Kades' swings and how he won his fights didn't hurt too badly either.

Raven: Just don't get sent to jail until after our girl's birthday.

I chose not to respond to that. I glared down at my phone as I read over the mention of the cursed day.

My birthday had never been a huge celebration in both my mind, and in reality. It was a day that I just so happened to be born on. The significance of it was beaten out of me a long time ago, and it had never returned. I didn't consider it anything to celebrate, and I wished that others felt the same. I had mentioned it once to Raven when she asked, but I assumed she wouldn't remember. Apparently, the girl never forgot anything.

My phone vibrated in a matter of seconds.

Maggie: Birthday? I was never told about a birthday.

Raven: Yep, December 23th.

Maggie: Saggy balls, you're a Christmas Eve EVE baby?

Raven: Yep! Mark it in your calendar, get a tattoo of it, write it on your forehead, do something. Because it's our pretty girl's day.

Me: It's a regular day, guys.

Maggie: Time to start planning. How does shrooms and Pink Whitney shots sound?

I shook my head in defeat. My efforts wouldn't mean a thing in their eyes. I could only hope for the best, and that was it.

I left the bathroom, and made my way to the register. Griff had joined the conversation now, his arms wrapped securely around Shay.

His face was radiant with a large smile as he cupped her. "Are you serious with me? All jokes, and bullying aside?"

Shay nodded her head, her eyes raising to his face. "I wouldn't joke about this," she said to him. I frowned in confusion, fully leaving from the bathroom.

I watched as his hands went to her stomach, his eyes wide and center. I looked over to Celeste, who was grinning widely at them both.

Then, it clicked.

"A baby?" I exclaimed.

"Our baby," Griff corrected, his hands still on Shay's stomach.

"Nearly seven months," she added with widened eyes. My own grew to match. "Seven?"

Shay nodded, massaging at her temples. "Trust me, I was just as shocked. I think I just wanted to deny it until I couldn't, but hell, we're here now."

I glanced over her stomach again, but if she wouldn't have confirmed it, I would have never believed or thought it. But, if they were happy, then so was I and I was beyond happy for them. I knew that everything they had been through as a couple was worth it in this very moment. "Congrats, guys," I smiled. 

"About time you two had my future godchild," Celeste smiled, in which Griff and Shay chuckled.

"Or, godchildren," Uncle Dylan corrected.

At this, Griffs' lips raised. "One little Griff will be enough."

"One little Shay will be enough," Shay corrected, her brown eyes squinting at her husband. Griff shrugged, his lips tipping into a half-grin as he ran a large hand over the small of her stomach.

I smiled, leaning onto my elbows. "Either way, the child will be as beautiful as ever, just like it's parents," I said to them.

"Well, now we all know who the real godparent will be," Griff said, his smile reaching his eyes.

We all giggled as Celeste mumbled, "Suck-up."

***

"So, that's it?" I questioned Raven.

"Apparently," she said, crisscrossing her legs. "I mean, I expected a huge blowout, but damn it, it was the opposite. I drove him home, he didn't say a word, and hasn't said a word."

I blinked in shock. "He sounds really pissed," I said. He had a right to be. Even if he was rich and could buy another, it was the principle.

Raven placed her head on her closed fist, her lips out in a pout. "What I would do to be in your shoes right now," she huffed. "Lucky bitch."

If only she knew. "Hey, you got your own self into this, babe," I said.

Her jaw fell, before the scoff crawled up. "I tried to apologize to him!"

I widened my eyes at her in shock. "Raven, in what world is an apology worth a Lamborghini and a three-thousand dollar bracelet?"

She raised her hands in defense. "Okay, okay, you're right. I'll help him get another or some shit, but enough about me," she grinned, curling her legs under herself. "Fill me in, now. No breaks."

I shrugged with a sigh, attempting to keep my tone neutral. "What's there to hear? Work, suspension, yelling, and working."

Raven frowned, her shoulders falling. "Kade, Ryland, or your dad?"

I met her eyes with a chuckle. "You'll be shocked at my answer," I responded.

"Electrocute me."

I arranged my head on her pillow. "My dad, and Ryland have been treating me like the black sheep of the family ever since I was suspended."

Raven scowled, her head shaking at my words. "Well, that's stupid. All you did was defend yourself."

I nodded in heavy agreement. "And, this didn't even start after the fight," I added. "It actually started when I yelled at Teresa at Kade's family's dinner."

She retrieved the old ball her father had caught for her at a game several years ago, from her nightstand. "Again, stupid. I know you, and you would've never yelled unless she set you off. Your dad should have understood that."

I nodded heavily in agreement, having to stop myself from smiling too big. I'd never had a girl friend listen and understand like Raven and Maggie did, and it was a fresh breath of air. I finally found my people in them.

With a scrunched brow, she threw it into the air then caught it. "And your brother isn't your dad. I know he's older but still, not talking to you for just defending yourself is crazy. And it's not like you ruined your life or anything. If anything, you deserved to take that bitch's head off, but if your dad and Ryland can't understand that, then they're being way too unreasonable."

I groaned at finally being heard. "That's what I've been saying, too."

"But, don't let them get you down any..." A slow, silly grin grew at me. "You still have me as your sister to run you crazy with my mouth, so you should be fine there."

I giggled; there was no doubt there. "Thank you, Raven."

She nodded. "What about Kade, though? What kind of role does he play in this terrible week of yours?" Her mouth perked at the corners into a smirk.

My blush answered her question.

By the time I was finished explaining half of last night, my stomach was tight with the reminder. Even saying it out loud felt surreal.

Raven's grin was in competition with Cheshire the cat by the time I finished. After she praised me much more than needed, I laughed as she sprung right off of the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling for a moment longer as I heard her feet hit the floor, before shifting my head.

"What are you doing?" I questioned.

She lowered to her knees, her hand snaking underneath the bed. I saw her head disappear for a moment. "This calls for a celebration," she declared.

My eyes grew wide as she pulled out a green bottle. It didn't take an impressive IQ to realize what she was holding.

"Raven," I hissed.

She placed the bottle on the bed, her perfectly plucked eyebrow raising. "Mhm?" The bottle barely grazed my toes, but I pushed it away with my hand.

I turned, fluffing one of her pillows as I prepared myself. "We can't do it. Plus, I don't drink," I said.

Just as I laid back, Raven followed, turning her face to mine. "You didn't say that at the party," she responded.

"Well...that was an exception," I retorted.

The bottle's top made a pop as she opened it. I watched her chug it until the sizzle calmed, to which I watched with widened eyes. Finally, her head tilted to mine. Her head cocked, nodding the bobble at me. "What exception? A breakup, or a little bit of fun?"

The escapism did seem tempting, and I nearly felt my hand twitch at the sight before I stopped myself. I shook my head, raising my eyes to Raven. "I have to get home to my dad in a few hours, and I'm planning on being sober. He doesn't even know I'm here, let alone with a bottle of alcohol," I snapped in a yell-whisper.

"Champagne, you mean," she corrected, placing the bottle down in between her legs. "You know what sounds good with this? Pizza."

I crossed my arms over my chest, my eyes squinting at the bottle. "It's the same thing."

"Come on," she nodded the bottle at me. "We both deserve a quick drink, and that's it."

Raven sighed. "Look." She placed the bottle to her lips, tilting her head back as the champagne found its way into her system. After a quiet second, Raven placed the bottle down, her shoulders raising at me.

"See, I'm not drunk at the slightest. And, you're good with alcohol, way better than I am. So, there's nothing to worry about. Only two swigs, at the most," Raven continued to persuade. "We can go use my moms' glasses and pretend to be rich, desperate housewives waiting on our cheating husbands to come home to confront them. Then, we get in a brawl because we throw the glasses but it scares one of them, so he hits his head, and we have to help the other cover up the—"

"Raven!" I cut her off. "If I do it, will you stop talking about this oddly specific, oddly both interesting and annoying daydream?"

Her head bobbed eagerly.

"After this, I'm done," I said. "Forever."

She nodded her head, again. "No pressure, then." I rolled my eyes at that.

I pressed the bottle against my lips, and felt the champagne slide down my throat like water. I hated to admit it, but it was far better than the whatever we had consumed at the party. It couldn't be that strong.

"One more, then it's over," I mumbled.

"One more," she confirmed.

Oh, how wrong we were.

***

"Raven," I whispered. "Raven, wake up." I shook the snoring girl, to no success.

"One more...hour," the drunken sleeping girl mumbled.

I chuckled before I swung my legs over her bed. I felt my head swim as I raised my eyes to Raven's clock.

10:34 P.M. it read.

I felt the color drain from my face. "Shit," I whispered to myself. "Shit, shit, shit!"

My uncle had told my dad my shift would be over at ten o'clock. The diner wasn't that far from my house, but Ravens' was a good thirty-minute drive, so either way, I was pretty screwed if my dad was still awake.

"Raven!" I yell-whispered.

My response was a louder snore.

"Raven," I shouted this time.

Like a possessed woman, Raven jerked toward me, her eyes still shut. "Shh, before my mom hears."

I was drunk, and so was she. But, we both knew that her mom hadn't been home in a week, due to work. Which had made it much easier to snatch her alcohol.

I glared at her backside. "Thanks for the help."

I ran a hand over my face as I tried to think of a lie to tell my dad. I was already hanging from my toes with both him and Ryland. Now, it just seemed that I was on the edge of a cliff.  Barely hanging on.

I had to think of something in order to get home. My drunken mind continued to skid past idea points, and instead hit dead ends.

I had to grip onto the edges of her counter as I felt the ground below me waver. I knew that walking home was out of the option, so the only thing I was left with was a phone call.

The amount of times my finger slipped past the phone app on my phone was comedically embarrassing. By the time I reached his contact, my frustration was at it's limit.

I gulped as I realized that this might be either good, or bad. For either of us, this tiny contact might change what we had somehow managed to get going.

I nibbled on my nail, my knee bouncing as hard as my spinning head would allow it to. "Pick up." The phone continued to ring, my conscious only growing. "Please pick up."

My breath was cut short as the ringing ceased and the call connected. He answered the phone after two rings.

"What's wrong?" was the first thing Kade asked me. "Are you okay?"

I felt my lips uplift slightly. Even though I was far from sober, my heart still fluttered at his concern.

"Kimberly?" he called out.

"I'm here, and I'm safe, I just..." I struggled to find the correct words. I didn't think there were any.

How do I begin? 'I went to Raven's house, lied to my dad, only to get drunk with my best friend. Oh, and I'm way out past curfew, so I was wondering if you could help me for the umpteenth time and drive me home ?' The was the most truest statement, but it didn't sound too ethical.

I palmed my warm forehead, falling to my back across Raven's bed. "Could you come and pick me up?"

A second later, I heard rustling in the background. At the sounds of drawers opening and closing, my suspicions peaked.

"You were..." My drunken tongue allowed the words to slip past the barrier, "You were with a girl?"

I hated how tight my voice sounded around the question. But I couldn't deny the weight in my chest at the possibility.

He wasn't mine, not technically. At least, I didn't think. We were friends...but friends didn't do the things or say the things we had last night. Friends didn't feel the way I was feeling about him.

He was quick to answer, which surprised me. "Nah, sweetheart. I haven't been with anyone ever since you walked in on me with Amber."

"Really?" My brows shot up to my hairline. "Why?"

"I spend half of my time doing other things, now," he responded before he fell silent for a moment. A beat passed before he added, "And...I don't care to be with other women anymore."

I nearly dropped the phone. He said 'other women', which technically implied that I was the reason, right? Or was I just overthinking and trying to make something of nothing?

My breath got stuck but I forced myself through, "What about that girl from the party? The redhead. You and her, you didn't..."

"Oh fuck no. I didn't touch her or anyone else," he responded without skipping a beat. "But someone spiked her drink at the party, so bad that the chick couldn't even talk by the time I came back into the party to get my keys from Levi so that I could leave. I didn't want to leave her fucked up the way she was for some fucker to take advantage of by taking her upstairs, and I couldn't find her friends anywhere so I brought her with me. Just left her on the couch to sleep it off, but that's it. I swear."

I nodded slowly even though he couldn't see me. I didn't like the thought of another girl with him, but I'd always be fine with women being protected rather than vulnerable, especially under that circumstance. I couldn't be mad at it; there was no telling what could have happened to her if she was left there.

If a man was going to cheat, then they would do so no matter the circumstance, and if they cheated with a drunk, vulnerable girl, then they were already a bad person, anyway.

"And if you don't believe me, I'll show you proof from the security footage at my house, too. I have it all, and you can watch it yourself or I'll send the feed from the entire night to you right now, if you want, so that you can see," he added, his voice dipping with caution and a bit of fear. "But I promise I didn't—"

I shook my head. "It's cool."

"Are you—"

My mouth twitched at his nerve filled voice. "I believe you."

If he wanted to prove it, and suggested it himself, I didn't think there was any reason to further discuss it.

I knew he was waiting for a reaction but I said nothing else. "Where are you?" he eventually questioned.

"Ravens," I responded, massaging at my sockets with the palm of my hand.

I heard him start the car. "You drunk, sweetheart?"

When I didn't answer, I heard him sigh in the phone. "Fuck me. If she's going to get you drunk, she could at least be a good friend, and take you home when you need it."

I frowned, instead focusing on the earlier question. "How did you know that I was..." I trailed off as I attempted to recover any mention of alcohol in our previous conversation.

"I know when someone's drunk, Kimberly," his voice grew serious. "She should have never let you touch a bottle if she knew you needed to go home."

My brows scrunched. "I made the decision on my own," I defended.

"And, where did that shit get you?" he said to me, his voice low with undeniable agitation. "If you don't want to party, if you don't want to drink, if you don't want to do something, and she keeps persisting, you tell her ass to fuck off. I'm sick of her putting you in these situations. Quit giving into her shit before she brings you down with her."

I was rendered speechless at his confession. Slowly, I felt the anger overpower the nauseation by the buckets. I was so sick of being bossed around.

Sighing, I glared down at the empty bottle beneath my feet. "Fine, you know what? If you don't want to pick me up, then don't worry about it," I said into the phone. "I can find my own way home." Before his response was heard, I ended the call.

I turned back to my sleeping friend, her snores pulling into the silence. "I told him, didn't I?"

A choked snore was the only response I received.

It seemed that walking was the only option left. I would have called Maggie, or Jax, but I knew that their house was too far away from here. And, Celeste would kill me if she found out a drop of alcohol even touched my lips.

I sat on Raven's bed for what felt like hours, and dwelled on my stupid decision. I didn't know how to feel, or how to act now that I had finally stepped over into the 'bad' side. Adrenaline, happiness? None of those things came close to the emotions I felt when my mind began to cloud and thicken.

Kades' words circled over me. I knew that, deep down, he was slightly right. It was okay to say no when I was uncomfortable. I'd gotten so used to never having an option, I guess sometimes, I forgot that I had one now. Every time I gave in so easily to Ravens' persistence, it never turned out good. As fun as some of the mistakes and adrenaline was, I needed to remember that it was fine to say no.

I jumped back from my thoughts at the knock at the door. My fuzzy mind skipped until I frowned. It wasn't. It shouldn't be. It couldn't be.

As I heard the second knock, I gathered all of my courage into a large heap. Finally, I managed to drag my heavy, yet loose feet down the stairs. I heard him knock once again just as I hit the ground level.

I opened the door a little too quickly. "I thought you didn't want to pick me up."

Brown eyes roamed over my figure carefully. My body slumped the longer I stood here, I was growing far tired by the second. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I only meant that Raven should start taking responsibility for the things she's been making you do."

I shook my head but quickly stopped at the dizzy effect that followed. "She's not making me do anything."

His eyebrow raised in a questioning position. "Really, sweetheart? Then, why are you drunk right now?"

"That's not the point right now." I rolled my eyes, then swept a hand through my hair that seemed to weigh a million breaks right now. "Besides, I'm still standing, aren't I?"

Kade crossed his arms, nodding across my figure. "You can barely even talk right now," he retorted.

I glared at him.

I refrained from commenting that Raven, who he didn't seem to like very much, was the only person to believe in us, even when neither of us did.

At his raised eyebrow, mine did the same. Until, I realized that I had voiced my thoughts by accident.

At the humor filled glint in his eyes, I felt myself squirm under the humiliation. I had somehow managed to make it sound like we were in a relationship, which tectonically, we weren't.

Arguing wasn't going to get me to sleep any sooner. "We should go," I changed the subject, pushing past him.

I felt his presence linger behind mine as I walked to his car. Just as I reached the door, I noticed that Kade had already opened it for me. I nearly stumbled once I felt a hand lay across my back, gently leading me in.

"Don't move too fast," he mumbled, loud enough for me to hear. "I don't want you to hit your head." He nearly handled me like a baby until I was in. I would have slapped his hand away from buckling my seat, but I was so drunk, I didn't think myself capable.

The ride to my home wasn't exactly like the others. It was different somehow. It reminded me of those times when you watch the same movie, and every time, you find something that you never noticed before. It was the same for us: every time we did this, I noticed something that I hadn't caught before.

The electricity was far more significant, but in a intolerable way. It felt like every time the other barely even shifted, a connection pulled us back to the other. I was full of energy, just at the sight of him. Every time I was near him, it felt as if I had finally grown a pair of lungs.

With my head against the window, I continued to steal small glances at him. Apparently, he had the same idea. Every other time I would look, his eyes would snake back over to the road in a quick motion.

"Kade?" I called out, glancing over. He was already looking at me, and instead of feeling my skin flush as usual, I felt the confidence only encourage my decision.

His eyes quickly fell back onto the road at his name. "Yeah?"

"If I grab your hand, will you run?" I sighed out; I was so damn exhausted.

"Try it out, and we'll see," he challenged.

I lifted my heavy head, my hand grazing over my thigh, before it grew closer to his own. His hand fell from the wheel, letting it rest right above the cup holders. I smiled at the slight shaking of his hand.

"Are you afraid?" I said the words quietly, my gaze concentrated on his hands.

"Fuck no," he responded, to my slight expectations. "I'm terrified," the vulnerable man in front of me admitted, his voice falling somewhere between a sigh and a whisper. "I'm so fucking terrified, sweetheart."

Our fingertips barely grazed at first, before the slight contact frightened the both of us. It was like a shock of lightning decided to strike our bodies in warning before I took the shot entirely. With his hand in mine, I felt our surroundings blend into a large blur of nothing, and us turn into something.

"I lied," he said in the midst of silence, so quiet, I nearly missed it. I looked at him, my confusion visible.

His chest was falling and rising so quickly, it looked supernatural. "I told the truth about not being with anyone ever since Amber, but I lied when you asked why. It's not because I spend half of my time doing other things or anything like that," he bowed his head for a minute, a hand running down his face. "It's because...it doesn't help anymore."

I had to remind myself not to let my jaw drop at his confession. I blushed so hard, it hurt. I saw as he pressed his lips together, and I figured that there was something else he wanted to say.

I lifted my head from the window entirely. "And?" I pressed.

"And, because I won't be able to..." he trailed off, his cheeks now red.

I had to bite back a chuckle at the fact that he was blushing, again. "What?" I continued.

"I won't be able to get into it unless I imagine you doing those things to me," he confessed, his fingers ghost white against the steering wheel, his cheeks visibly red.

Oh.

My cheeks flooded even darker at his confession. I didn't know how to respond, since I was far too inexperienced in everything sexual and relationship-wise.

Instead, I squeezed his hand in mine, turning my head towards the window. But I couldn't deny the rush of satisfaction in me after knowing what he told me.

Before long, I felt the car slow in my driveway. At the car speed, it was like my stomach turned against me. I didn't do good with alcohol and moving cars, I had found out.

With either hand clenching my stomach, I attempted to hurl myself from the car to prevent the mess. I didn't even get the door open all the way before the contents of my stomach spilled out in the car.

"Shit," Kade cursed.

At first, I thought it was over his car being covered with my vomit, but when I felt his hands lift my hair from my face, the title of embarrassment was well earned. I reached for the door handle, before I heard him mumble that it was all right.

"I'm so sorry," I mumbled after the contents of my stomach were long gone, and all over his car floor.

One hand gently rubbed at my back in a comforting motion. "Don't apologize to me about this."

He opened his side of the car, and made his way to my side in a matter of seconds. He opened my door, his brown eyes running over my face.

To say that I was embarrassed was an understatement. "Don't look at me, please," I mumbled, allowing my hair to blanket one side of my face.

One hand shot out, shoving the loose strands behind my ear. "Why not?"

"It's pretty self explanatory," I responded, sighing.

He knelt to eye level, gazing up at me. "I wanna look at you," he said softly. "Every version of you, sweetheart."

"Not this one." I averted my gaze the mess I had caused and immediately wished I hadn't. I cupped either side of my aching head. "Look, I'll clean it up, just let me—"

"No, the hell you won't," he scowled across at me. "You need sleep, and that's what you're going to get. I promise you I'm more concerned about you than than this." He paused to motion to the mess, "It's just a car, sweetheart."

At my discomforted position, I felt Kade's hand grasp either the side of my face before one fell to my chin. His fingers directed my head towards his. I blushed under the pressure, before I raised my eyes to his.

"You good to walk?" he asked me.

I nodded, though I truly didn't know if it were true or not. He offered his hand anyway. I accepted and slowly lowered my feet to the ground. I stumbled over a curse as my legs dipped from under me. Kade's arm quickly went around my waist to support my weight before I could fall.

"What are you doing?" I questioned as Kade's body dipped, his arms touching the back of my knees. Carefully, he pulled me to him until we were nearly molded into one another's skins.

"Making sure that you don't crack your skull open," Kade said, clearly amused by his own answer.

I wanted to argue, to say that I wasn't helpless or as wasted as he claimed. But, I knew that my legs would no longer support me for the night.

"You just leave the door unlocked?" he questioned, eyebrow raised as he pushed the door open with ease.

I shrugged my shoulders, shifting to him. He was far more comfortable than expected. "Never needed to leave it locked, I guess."

"Kimberly," he sighed, his legs slowly carrying me to my room. "There's no way I'm losing you over a door."

I hushed him as he led us through the pitch black house. I didn't know whether or not Ryland or dad were home, but Teresa was gone since her car wasn't here, which meant dad could be too. I wasn't taking any chances, though.

"You won't lose me," I offered to Kade, though I didn't really know if I trusted my own words. I saw his lips turn into a thin line, his eyes averting ahead.

As we entered my room, Kade stepped closer to my bed. Slowly, he lowered me to the mattress, his chest looming over mine for a slight second, the loud collision of our heartbeats heard past the silent night. I had to will myself to pry my arms from his strong neck.

"This is going to be the best sleep of my life," I smiled at myself. "I love this bed." I stretched my limbs across the mattress.

Kade chuckled, stepping closer to me. "I'm sure you do, sweetheart. Let's get you on your side, okay?" I nodded, falling into hysteria as his hands gently adjusted me until I was to my side.

I wasn't sure if I mustered up my next words or if they stayed in my head, but I didn't have long. The exhaustion was coming strong now.

"Kimberly?" he said my name after a split minute of silence.

I felt him pull my shoes off. "Mhm?" I squeezed my eyes shut, one hand raising to swipe at them.

"If I take you out tomorrow, just me and you..." I heard his sigh from the end of my bed. "Will you run?"

The corners of my lips lifted at him. The request turned my world upside down, and I knew my answer before I even opened my mouth. His question was no true question, it was simply a telling for me.

I felt him pull my other shoe off then lay the blanket over me. I wasn't sure how he remembered the combination, but he laid all three blankets on me, perfect combination and all.

"Raise your head for me a bit, sweetheart," he said, lightly grazing away the hairs along my face. I obliged, and he carefully fit a pillow under my head until I was comfortable.

A part of me thought I'd already given an answer, but then I realized I hadn't. "You should try it out, and we'll see," I copied him from earlier, my eyes peeking slightly to get another glance at him.

Instead of coming face to face, his back was facing me. I saw either arm raise, his fingers fidgeting and twisting with one another. He was nervous, he was actually nervous.

"Kade," I chuckled, blinking owlishly at his back.

"No." I saw him breathe in. "If I turn around, and say this shit, I'm probably going to throw up, okay?"

"Why are you nervous?" I let my head sink into the comforting pillow as I watched him.

He was beginning to pace now, nearly leaving holes in my carpet. One hand shoved through his hair before he sighed. "Because, I was supposed to rehearse over the fucking note cards I made on what to say to you and I've been practicing all day on how to ask you, but now I'm here and I can't remember what I wrote for shit—"

I stopped him with my hand. "You've been rehearsing how to ask me out?" I had to stop myself from awing aloud, or leaping onto him. I'd never known someone to care so much about what they said to me, let alone a boy.

He had actually planned and rehearsed to ask me out, because he thought he'd mess it up any other way. I thought the world of both, but he didn't need to rehearse anything with me. I liked him the way he was, censor or no censor.

His eyes raised to mine before falling. "Yes," he sighed. "I didn't want to fuck it up, but I maybe I just did." His head fell with a muttered string of curses.

I smiled into the pillow, so big that it hurt. I nodded at him. "Tell me what you want to say."

His eyes widened as if I'd just asked him to present in front of an entire country. "What if you don't like it?"

"That's not possible."

Either hand trapped his face, running down the length before he nodded roughly. "I'm just gonna spit it out, okay? If you laugh, I might throw the hell up."

I nodded slowly, chuckling at that. "I guess it'll be payback for what I did to your car."

He sighed roughly, running either finger against his knuckles, which looked to be bruised. I guessed it was from his training.

"Okay," he hissed, his eyes squinted at the carpet. "I wanted to take you out...if you want. We could go to the movies, or whatever you're into. And, of course, I'd feed you. Well, technically, you'd feed yourself, but you get it. I'll take you to eat wherever you wanna go. And, we could do some other shit as well," I could hear the struggle in his voice, and that caused the butterflies in my stomach to awaken once again. Before I had a chance to respond, his eyes widened before he motioned to me. "I don't mean sexual shit, I mean like, personal shit. I want us to talk again, like we did in the forest. That type of shit, not the other. And, fuck me, why am I still talking and why am I saying shit so much?"

By the end, I was grinning like Cheshire the cat. I didn't know if this was his first time asking a girl out, but I could hear the double thinking over each word spoken. I noticed the labor in his breath as he attempted to find the right words to say. He was rambling because he was so nervous, and I think that only increased my attraction for him. It made me want to awe, but I decided to put him out of his misery already.

"Yes," I accepted the request.

"Wait." He jerked around, his eyes wide as if he thought I would say otherwise. "Really?"

I nodded, biting onto my lip to conceal the grin. "Yes, Kade. Really."

His entire demeanor relaxed. I hadn't even noticed he'd been blushing until now. Slowly, I saw his dimple come into play as he smiled back at me. My insides warmed at the sight, as it had so many times before.

I jumped as I heard footsteps in the hallway, close to my bedroom. I looked to Kade, my eyes wide as I attempted to think of a plan to get him out. His eyes quickly moved to the window, and I wanted to hug him at the quick thinking.

"I'll be here at around noon, okay?" he confirmed. "I won't be late this time, I promise."

I nodded, my mind still spinning from both the memories of tonight, and the champagne mixed. 

I didn't expect his next move, but either way, my heart sung at it. He pulled a pinky at me, to which I took with my own. Just as I had done with him. His eyes were serious. "I promise," he said, nodding at me.

Just as he was on his way out, he turned toward me again, his black hair grazing over his brown eyes. "Oh," he paused. "And, thank Raven for me, for believing in us."

I smiled, and nodded my head. "I'll make sure to do that."

Just as the steps grew farther from my room, Kade was gone from the window. I only hoped that he could get away without bringing too much attention to himself.

Quickly, I threw the blanket over my face. This didn't cause my smile to diminish in the smallest sense though.

An entire day with Kade. He had actually asked me on a date, one that wouldn't be to a secret location, or one that wouldn't be to his other life underground. Just us.

Us.