I love cheesecake so much.
A hum echoes from the back of my throat as I moan softly at the spoonful of the best strawberry cheesecake I’ve ever had in my entire life.
This is…heaven. I am in heaven.
I sway side to side in delight as I set the spoon down on the now-empty dessert plate, savoring the last bite. A smile plays on my lips as I lift my eyes to meet Cade’s, capturing the pensive look in his gaze.
He watches me for a moment longer, a soft sigh parting his lips as his eyes break from my own, looking up to motion for the waitress. She’s swift, moving to the table and laying the check presenter on it. As she reaches to take the empty plate in front of me, Cade sets down his black card on top of the presenter, sitting back in his chair as the waitress takes the bill and excuses herself kindly.
Well, he still never looks at the bill.
…
Oh, yeah. He’s a bi
⊰ Cade ⊱The drive home is a blur, my mind consumed with thoughts of Elysian. The way she looked tonight, the way her dress hugged her curves, the way her lips wrapped around that spoon… It’s all I can think about.I pull up to the gate of my community, waiting impatiently for it to open. The guard nods at me as I drive through, the familiar sight of my less-than-humble abode hardly easing the tension coiled tight in my muscles.I need a drink.I’m barely inside when my phone chimes, notifying me of a visitor at the gate. I frown, glancing at the screen.It’s Julia, the hostess from the restaurant.What could she possibly want at this hour?I hesitate for a moment before buzzing her in, my curiosity getting the better of me. I pour myself a drink while I wait, the amber liquid sloshing against the sides of the glass as I bring it to my lips. The alcohol burns as it goes down, but it does little to qu
The invitation to Anna and Amelia’s party sits on my desk, a glaring reminder of the commitment I made weeks ago. I stare at it, my fingers tracing the embossed lettering as I try to muster up some semblance of excitement.Clubs have never been my thing, the pulsing music and crowded dance floors making my skin crawl with anxiety. And after the disastrous not-so-date with Cade last week, the last thing I want to do is put on a brave face and pretend everything’s okay.We’ve barely spoken a word to each other outside of work, the tension between us heavy in every interaction, every stolen glance across the office. It’s like we’re strangers again—two people who just happen to occupy the same space.It’s killing me.I try to push him from my mind, to focus on the endless string of tasks and projects that demand my attention. But it’s harder than I thought it would be, especially when the memory of his touch, hi
I groan out of my sleep, turning in the softness of the sheets. As I inhale deeply, the familiar scent of sandalwood and something uniquely Cade envelopes me. My eyes flutter open, taking in the sleek modern lines of the bedroom.Where am I?I lay on my back for a while longer, taking in the familiar room.This is Cade’s room. Oh my God, I’m in Cade’s house…again.I sit up slowly, glancing down at the awfully comfortable and oversized t-shirt skimming my thighs. It’s Cade’s—Cade’s shirt. A quick assessment tells me that aside from the slight headache, I’m surprisingly hangover-free.Small mercies.Memories of last night come rushing back, fragmented and hazy. The club, the drinks, the phone call. Cade coming to get me, the feel of his hands on my skin as he helped me into the car.Oh God, I got sick in front of him…Mortification w
I lean against the window, my skin still tingling from Cade’s touch, my lips swollen from his kiss. The glass feels cool against my shoulder as I try to steady my racing heartbeat, to calm the desire thrumming through my veins and heat between my legs.The sound of footsteps echoes on the tile floor, pulling me from my thoughts. I cock my head to the side, seeing Cade re-entering the kitchen, now fully dressed in a crisp white shirt and dark jeans. The fabric stretches across his broad shoulders.Oh…A flicker of disappointment runs through me, but I quickly push it down. It’s probably for the best that we stopped when we did. We need to talk, to figure out what thisthingis between us, before we let it go any further.“How about some breakfast?” Cade offers, his voice still rough, sending a shiver down my spine. He moves towards the fridge, the scent of his cologne mixing with the aroma of coffe
⊰Cade⊱I lean back in my chair, the soft leather cradling my back as I tear my eyes from the glowing screen of my computer. Beyond the glass walls of my office, my team is hard at work, a low hum of voices and the clatter of keyboards filling the air.It’s Friday night, and we’re all here for the tech refresh, a crucial step for our IPv6 migration project.My gaze settles on Elysian, her brow furrowed in concentration as she types away at her keyboard, her fingers flying over the keys. The glow of the pair of monitors cast a soft blue light on her features, highlighting the gentle curve of her cheeks and the fullness of her slightly parted lips.A strand of hair slips from behind her ear, curling against her cheek, and I feel my fingers twitch with the urge to brush it back, to feel the silky softness of her skin.I miss you, Ely.Unbidden, my mind wanders back to this past Sunday, to the ten
I slump back in my seat, exhaling deeply as I turn off the engine. Gazing up at Cade’s house, I wonder how long my anxiety will keep me trapped in this car before I muster the courage to approach his front door.What if I start crying when I see her?…Or worse…what if I throw up?The fear is paralyzing, and I have to fight to keep my thoughts from spiraling. I know that if I allow myself to sit here, drowning in my worries a minute longer, I’ll never get out of this car.Shaking my head, I grab my keys and phone, popping the door open with a resolve I’m not sure I truly feel. My heart pounds against my ribs, my steps coming short as I approach the front door. Before I can even ring the bell, the door swings open, revealing a very casually dressed Cade with a small smile on his lips.“Come in,” he invites, pulling the door back. I step inside reluctantly, my mind at war w
Rain. I watch it fall through the window of my dorm room, leaning against the wall beside it as I kneel on my bed, my legs tucked beneath my weight. The tears that stain my cheeks feel cold against my skin, gathering at my chin and dripping onto the hand-written letter sitting on my lap. My lip trembles, a soft sob passing my lips as my eyebrows furrow, the bridge of my nose stinging.What did I do..?My gaze falls to the piece of paper, and through my hazy vision, I re-read the lines over and over again: ‘Ely, I’ve been staring at this sheet of paper for the past two hours, unsure of how to tell you what I need to say. Ely, my dearest Ely, I love you. I will always love you. From the moment I met you, I knew you were the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. You see, I once dreamt about you. Before we met, I had a dream about meeting you. You were standing near the waterfall of our favorite park, wearing that bitsy blue dress of yours that I love so much, and you looke
I groan at the soft instrumental music blasting from my phone, my restless eyes fluttering open. I spent the better part of the night tossing and turning, wondering if the man that I saw last night actually was who I think he was. I’m probably trippin’. … I am exhausted… It’s as though I can feel the bags under my eyes as I pull the teal colored bed sheets from over my body, my unoccupied hand silencing my phone. The heavy sighs that erupt from a sleepy Bubbles laying on his beige orthopedic dog bed makes me side-eye him, wondering what could possibly ale my favorite unemployed freeloader. Per usual, I go about my daily routine: feed Bubbles, make the bed, brush my teeth, shower, throw on a pair of boot-cut jeans with a nice long-sleeve blouse, and I put on my eyebrows. Okay, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration. I’m actually just filling them in. I lengthen my eyelashes with mascara, brush and blow-dry my shiny, waist-length, black, straight hair while I pray for a frizz-