“I have work to do, Blaize.”
“Jax can handle it, and if he can’t, Hunter can. Please. It’s important.”
She sighed, putting the drinks on a tray and handing them over to a waitress. “Fine, but don’t piss me off.”
I took her hand and brought her to my office. She folded her arms across her chest, waiting for the shoe to drop. “Go on a date with me.”
Her eyes shot to the roof. “Is that a question or a demand?”
“Will you go on a date with me?” I asked again. “I’m not used to this, okay? I’m used to things going a certain way and with you, everything is derailed.”
“Uhm, should I be insulted that you are calling me a trainwreck? Is this supposed to be romantic? If so, you’re right. You suck at this.”
I smiled at her snarky attitude. “I want to see what this is between us. One date.”
“This is a trick.”
“No, it’s not. Please?”
“Okay. But if you hurt me, I will kick your ass,” she vowed. “When?”
“Tomorrow night? I’ll pick you up at Annika’s apartment and we can go to dinner.”
“Okay. How do I need to dress?”
She could wear a trash bag and be the most beautiful woman in the world. “Wear a dress and heels.”
“Okay. Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
This would either be the greatest mistake of my life or it would be the start of a brand new chapter.
CHAPTER 64
KADENCE
Iwent to the pier after work. There was a lot going on in my life, and I wanted to talk to my brother. It felt foolish, but it was the closest to his grave I could get. I refused to go back to New York, and if I ever attempted to go to the cemetery, someone might alert my dad. His graveside was a shrine to my father. Maybe he never mourned Nathan enough to heal, and that was why he acted the way he did.
The thought was in my head for a single moment. He was a grown man with two children. The loss of one shouldn’t have made him neglect me. If he never wanted me, then maybe he could’ve given me up. Maybe my life wouldn’t be nearly as fucked up as it was if someone else raised me; but at the same time, I’d heard horror stories about the foster system. My life was destined to be one giant ball of trauma and issues since I came out of the womb.
I wanted a life Nathan would be proud of, and I would have it. Eventually. I needed to get past whatever this wall was with Blaize, but now that we were going on a date, maybe things wouldn’t be as tense between the two of us.
When I arrived at the pier, I pulled my wedges off and dipped my toes into the water. I never understood why I had this fear,but I could do this. The death grip I had on the pier post did tell me enough, though. I’d never go swimming, but I could dip my toes and that was it. Even as a girl I never liked water. Nathan was the one who made me swim, and I always wanted to be with him even if I was scared.
“Hey, Nathan. You’ve missed a lot.”
I spilled my guts to the void of water. It was like talking to a therapist, but easier to talk to him. If Nathan was here, I wondered if we would have this close connection. God, if Nathan was here, life wouldn’t have been as difficult. He would’ve been my protector, especially if my father decided to be an abusive prick. What kind of daughter would I have been if I had my brother?
Tears spilled from my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. “I miss you.”
I heard something behind me, and my head snapped to the side. For a moment, I didn’t hear anything, but then I heard the rattle of an engine. My paranoia was horrible since I was attacked months prior, but I was also scared of my father finding me.
“I’m going crazy,” I whispered to myself.
I’d been in Westhaven for five months now. If my father was looking for me, he would’ve found me by now. Or maybe I was giving him too much credit. He wasn’t a horrible FBI agent, but he wasn’t the best, either. I needed to get back to the apartment before I gave myself an anxiety attack. No one from my past would find me.
Then I heard a board creak on the pier. I jumped, my eyes snapping to the sound. A scream was building in the back of my throat before Blaize’s face came into view. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Fucking hell, Blaize,” I breathed, clutching my chest. “Do you always sneak up on people?”