Chapter NINE

I was able to finish up my paperwork and the gym wasn't overly busy, so I signed out right at 4P.M. the following day. Now four days until Christmas, the mall was like Santa's Village. Right outside the gym doors, there was a massive decorated tree, two people dressed like elves collecting donations for something, and loud holiday music. I had two days of work left before I had two days off, which was exciting. I might have been anxious to see my brothers, but I was sure excited about Christmas, especially for Rylee.

"Hey," Finn called to me, just before I snuck out. I wasn't trying to leave without saying goodbye, it was just that I hadn't decided what I was going to say to him about dinner, or drinks, that night.

We had spent all day together, really, but the flow of clients was steady and he was usually on the floor while I stayed at the desk.

"Hey," I repeated, smiling at him. My stomach growled.

"So, if I am done right at 9P.M., you could meet me at my place?" He was smooth, I will give him that. And persistent. And gorgeous. Today, his blond hair was hanging in his bright blue eyes.

"Uh, my mom actually wanted to do dinner with me tonight," I spat out. It was a flat out lie. My mom would be busy with Dalton and Trinity getting in to town.

"Oh. Okay, well, I have some wine at my apartment, if you need a drink after." He smiled, not pushing it.

I nodded, somehow letting myself agree to it without thinking. I mean, I liked being with Finn. For sure, any girl would. He was sweet, thoughtful and appreciated me. He also kept his emotions in check, most of the time. He really tried to accept that we were just friends, co-workers, who slept together sometimes. But I knew he wasn't with other girls. He was waiting for me to come around - he had been waiting for a year.

"I'll text you later?" I suggested, which was my way of telling him I was in, and he knew it.

"Cool." He lifted his chin and dropped it again, just before I turned and pushed open the door to leave.

Since I did not have dinner plans with my mom, and she was in fact busy getting the two spare rooms ready for my brothers to stay in, I drove right to Kaden's apartment. It wasn't far from his mom's house, which was a few blocks from my house. He was always off on Tuesdays, so I didn't think twice before buzzing up to him.

"Hello?" he answered, after a minute or two longer than necessary. His voice was sort of scruffy sounding.

"Hey Kade, let me up," I said, as I often did when I showed up unannounced.

"Missy... um... hey."

"Hey. What are you doing?" I asked, confused.

"Uh, my mom has Rylee for the evening..."

"Okay..." I didn't get it.

"My co-worker, Mandy... is here."

Oh. Ohhh. He had a girl over. Like, a real live woman in his apartment. I almost didn't know how to react, since I'd never seen him with a girl. Kaden had spent so much time focusing on Rylee and working so they could survive, he did not have time to date.

"Oh! Damn, sorry, I guess I shouldn't just show up," I said, knowing I made this awkward.

"It's cool. Uh, I'll call you later?" he asked, which just seemed weird now.

"Yeah, cool."

I waited until the "call" ended before spinning around and leaving the lobby of the building. Back in my car, I actually felt happy for Kaden. I knew he'd always missed out on having that type of relationship, since Rylee had come along when he was so young. Rylee was old enough now that Kaden's mom liked babysitting - she was fun, out of diapers, and napped easily. I liked babysitting her, too, but mostly did that when Kaden had to work. Things were changing now, and I couldn't wait to find out more about this co-worker of his.

It was well past dinner time by the time I got home, and I was feeling it. My mom was in the kitchen, and it smelled amazing.

"Pork chops and roasted potatoes," she said, motioning at the oven. "How was your day?

"Good. It smells awesome," I told her, putting my purse down on the table.

"Dalton and Trinity will be here in half an hour," she went on. "Dad's just washing up."

"Great," I smiled at her, running a hand through my hair.

"It will be good, Arden." She could tell that "great" didn't mean great.

"Okay," I agreed. "I'm just thrown off a bit. Kaden has a girl at his apartment right now."

"Oh, wow. That is something. You're not... jealous, are you?" she asked carefully.

"Oh god, no. Mom, we are not like that. It's just new. He has never.... it's just weird, that's all."

"I know. Both of you have sort of focused on Rylee and work..." She let her voice trail off. "How's Finn, anyway?"

I tried to keep a straight face. She knew that I hung out with Finn sometimes. She knew that he liked me. She wished I would give him a chance, too.

"He's good." I sucked in a breath, shutting my eyes for a second. "I'm actually going to see him tonight."

Her face lit up, sort of like one of our three Christmas trees. "Good! You know, he is such a sweet guy. You deserve to have that sort of connection with someone, Ard-"

"Mom, stop."

"Oh, honey. You can't keep doing this."

"I'm not doing anything."

"You are. Finn is great. You like him, he likes you. But you're afraid to commit because -"

"I'm not afraid," I told her, but I was. I was so afraid of getting my heart ripped out and stomped on again.

My mom sighed. "Well, tell Finn I said hello."

She'd only met him a few times. He had come to pick me up once, when my car wasn't starting. And she had stopped by the gym a few times to say hello, while I was working. She didn't interfere in my personal life often, but she sure wanted me to have a boyfriend these days.              

I ate that amazing meal, with my parents, and with Dalton and Trinity. Thankfully, the entire conversation was that of Dalton's school work, and how he had some wrestling matches coming up in January. Trinity talked about her thesis, which was boring beyond boring. They were only two years older than me, but we were in different worlds, it seemed. The food, though, was fantastic.

I headed upstairs once we were cleaned up from dinner, to shower and change. When I went to see Finn, I made myself hotter than I ever would for work, or for hanging with Kaden and Rylee. That right there should have been some indication that I liked him, or that I liked that he liked me. I pulled on my tightest dress, short and green, with thin straps at the shoulders. It wasn't super fancy but it was nice, and I knew it would just end up on the floor of Finn's bedroom, anyway. I did my make up and pinned back some of my hair, then went back downstairs.

My phone was ringing before I made it out to my car, so I stopped in the kitchen to answer it.

"Hey," Kaden said, already sounding embarrassed.

"Hey!" I tried to sound casual.

"That was weird, I'm sorry," he said right away.

"No, it was fine. I should call before coming over," I told him, letting out a breath.

"You've never had to before."

He was right. We had been best friends literally since the first day of sophomore year. Even before that, we were close. He was the one who talked to me that day, two weeks into ninth grade, when I had no friends. We knew practically everything about each other. I had cried to him more times than I can count. He had cried to me, those sleepless nights when Rylee was a baby. But things were different now.

"True, but still. You should have told me about her, then?" I teased him.

"Well, it's new. I've been into her for a while, but I finally asked her out. She came over first, which was when you came over, and then we went for dinner. I just got home," Kaden explained.

"Sorry for the interruption," I said, then let myself laugh.

"Well, we weren't..." He let his voice trail off. "So, what are you up to?"

I swallowed hard. "I'm just leaving, actually, to meet Finn."

"Ohh, I see. Get it, girl," he laughed, then added, "Or are you and him actually official now?"

"We are not," I said, without thinking.

"I don't know how he is okay with just being your fuck buddy." Kaden didn't say this with judgement, though it sort of sounded like it. "Since he's basically in love with you."

"Stop," I warned him, now slipping on my boots by the door. "We are co-workers."

"Yeah, but he's the only person who's seen you naked since high school-"

"Okay, okay. I have to go," I said, cutting him off.

He laughed, again. "Love ya, Missy. Hang tomorrow?"

"With Rylee?" I asked, heading out the door and down the driveway towards my car.

"I meant me, but yes, she'll be here," he pretended to be offended.

"I work til four. I'll come over after?" I offered.

"Sounds good. I should be done by three and then just have to get Ry from my mom's."

"See you then," I finished, plopping down into the driver's seat.

"Bye."