Page 22 of Cade

Hanna

I managed to get some work done this morning. I got up early and knocked out a couple of covers that I needed to get out. I have a few more to work on this week, but I’m gonna spend part of today packing so I can be ready in time to move all my stuff down to Cade’s.

I make myself put my phone away while I’m working so I don’t get distracted from the task at hand. Now that I’m done, it’s time to put some music on and start going through my closet. I open my phone and see I’ve got a couple of texts from a few people. The first is from Kierstie, though it’s in a group chat with Kinsley and Madison.

Kierstie: So why did I have to hear from Ma that you’re moving in with your man? And moving like in a few days?

Kinsley: Wait…what? So you’re moving like two hours away?

Me: I am moving in with Cade. I’m not moving that far away or anything, and we’ll be up here a lot. Hell, Zane’s a prospect, so you know we aren’t that far away. Besides, I’ll be near the outlets, so I know you three will be down there more often than your men would like.

Madison: We have to do Mexican tonight or something then. You can’t leave without it.

Kinsley: Emmett is working, but I can get Dad to be on grandpa duty.

Kierstie: Shane will watch the kids.

Madison: Mick will, or if he’s got a late appointment, then someone will be happy to be on grandma duty.

Me: I could go for some chips and salsa.

Kierstie: Yep. Tonight it’s us, chips and salsa, maybe a margarita and ALL the deets on you and this massive rugby player man you snagged.

I know I’m lucky to have a family like this. We might not be related by blood, but we’re family all the same. The next text message is from Mayson.

Mayson: Daisy informed me that she needs some princess time with you before you go away with your “beast”. Romona showed the girls Beauty and the Beast last week and now all the guys are the girls’ “Beast.” I don’t know how, but I’m sure you’re to blame for my 4-year-old talking about Prince Fucking Charming!

Me: LOL. She’s a princess, of course she’s going to want her Beast. It’s only natural. Just wait till she starts kindergarten and gets her first boyfriend. Why doesn’t she come over here in the morning? We can do princess time, then Mom and I can drop her off at daycare.

Mayson: My little girl is NOT getting a boyfriend. EVER. See you in the morning.

The last text is from Cade, which is surprising since he has practice first thing this morning. I open his text.Oh shit.Something must’ve happened, or someone said something about what happened yesterday. Well shit, there goes the whole Cade doesn’t need to know or be bothered with what happened plan. I open a different thread to send out a message first since I know Cade would be busy with practice for a bit before he can look at his phone again.

Me: So I just got a text from Cade asking if something happened yesterday in the stands. Someone said something to someone!

I get a response within a few seconds.

Emma: What were his exact words? You only need to answer the exact questions he asked and no more.

I copy and paste the two texts from Cade over to Emma. She texts back almost immediately.

Emma: Well, shit. Looks like my brother has actually learned a thing or two. Notice you could’ve answered that first question without revealing what went down and not lying, but the jerk doubled up with that second text. Let me think for a second.

I wait for her to text me any suggestion because right now all I've got is plain honesty. I’m not sure if that paints me as a little crazy or a lot crazy. Thank you, intrusive and overwhelming thoughts riddled with self-doubt. My phone dings with Emma’s text.

Emma: So I think you have one play. Talk to him on a video call and show a lot of cleavage. Distract him with that great rack you’ve got.

Me: That’s all you can come up with??

Emma: I mean, you could just tell him what actually happened. None of us did anything wrong. Hell, we didn’t even touch anyone else. If you decide on honesty, do it with boobs. Boobs always help and can never hurt a situation.

Me: Spoken like a true lesbian. You’re right though, we really didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll just tell him.

Emma: I mean, you could tell him that those tramps are lucky we behaved ourselves because it might not happen again like that if next time they run their mouths as fast as they open their legs. Bitches be testing me. I’ve got class starting. Let me know how that brother of mine takes it.

Me: Will do. Learn some shit!

I spend the next couple of hours going through my closet and packing things. I’ve got a decent pile of things to donate and an even bigger stack of boxes to take with me. I’m not taking my bed or any of my furniture except for my desk that Dad and Pops adapted to best help me while working. I can work right now without it, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case much longer. Cade said we can put my desk by the window in the living room since it gets the best natural light.