They both leave in a rush, and with them goes my lifeline. Ignoring Kade, I walk over to the bar to get a drink. Surely one drink will be okay.
******
I have no clue how many drinks or shots I ended up having last night, but here I am, waking up in Kade’s bed.
Fuck.
I do a quick check of myself and notice I’m still fully dressed. I exhale in relief. I turn over and see that Kade is fast asleep on his stomach beside me. I need to get out of here. Now, I think to myself as I quietly sneak out of his bed, tip toe across the floor, and make a quick exit out the front door to my waiting car. Kade drove us home last night, that much I do remember, so I only hope I put the keys back in my purse. I do a quick check, and there they are. Good. As I’m pulling out I see Kade open the door, staring at me. My phone rings instantly. When I don’t pick up, it beeps with a text message.
K : Why the f**k did you run out of here like that?
I sigh, but ignore the text.
K : Would you f**king answer?
K : We just slept, Nikki, nothing more.
K : What, you going to go back to ignoring me now?
He rings again.
K : Fuck, Nikki, text me back, or f**king answer.
K: Please.
I don’t bother calling or texting back. I have nothing to say to him. He’s a player, and I need to protect myself. It can be said that I have trust issues with men. It all started with Ben. I gave that ass-hole everything and I got less than nothing in return. I want to let Kade in, I do.
But sometimes things are easier said than done.
I just don’t know if I can survive Kade.
Chapter Five
KADE
I haven’t heard back from Nikki in a few days. Doesn’t mean I’m giving up just yet. I just need to figure out how the hell to get her to finally agree to go out with me. Look at me, f**king begging a woman to go out with me. I need my head examined. I had plans to go out tonight, see if I could catch Nikki out somewhere, but Layla begged me to play scrabble with her, and I found myself giving in. I can’t pretend I don’t enjoy her company. She's smart, witty, and nice to look at. I also love messing with her. I don’t know how we became close so fast, but I know Layla trusts me. I think it’s that trust that makes me feel protective of her; I don’t ever want to let her down. She is so innocent and angelic; she has a heart of pure gold. You can tell it by the way everyone acts around her. Even Nikki is protective as hell over Layla, and you can see why the girl incites such loyalty. It’s because she herself is loyal to a fault. She takes care of those around her and has no hidden motivation. I also know for a fact she isn’t materialist or cares about money. In the words of J. Holiday, the girl has ‘a body of a call girl and the mind of a teacher’, and trust me, girls like that are hard to find. Yesterday I watched as she cleaned the entire house so Jillian, the lady that comes to clean, wouldn’t have much work to do. I chuckle at the thought, earning a glare from Layla.
“What’s so funny, Kade? Besides the fact that you're losing,” she says smugly. My lips curl up into a half grin. I look at her latest word on the board, ‘intrigue’, and then my last word, ‘breasts’. I laugh again. Man, I’m funny.
“Where’s James?” she asks curiously.
Here we go again; Layla should work for the FBI. I’d love to tell her where my baby brother is, only I’m not too sure myself.
“Out,” I say tonelessly, earning me a grunt from Layla. I pick up one of Chase’s Twix bars and take a huge bite. Forbidden chocolate tastes a million times better than regular chocolate. It really does. I choke on my chocolate when she spells out the word ‘cock’ on the board.
“Is that in the dictionary?” I tease, eyebrows lifted.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, I meant the bird!” she splutters indignantly.
“Besides, are you going to question me after I let you use ‘LMAO'?" she retorts with a sly grin.
Well, I guess not.
******
The next day James and I walk into the house together, and I can hear Chase and Layla talking. Chase walks up to me, a crooked grin on his face. “Come out and eat with us, but hurry because Layla’s already starving.” He gives me a look that says ‘You know how she gets when she’s hungry.’ I grin.
To avoid grumpzilla, I yell out, “We better go now, people. Hurry up!” James nods, agreeing with me. We both grin at each other, and shake our heads. Who thought this day would come; us trying to mollycoddle a woman?
“I’ll be five minutes.” We all head to our rooms, getting ready as fast as we can. We don’t need the dragon lady coming out, although it’s hilarious watching Chase deal with her. The man gives her anything she wants, Layla is spoilt like crazy. Okay, I will admit, I spoil her too, but I also annoy her a lot so I think that’s evens it out. At least that’s my theory. I walk uninvited into James’s room and wince when I see a huge bruise on his back.
“James? What the f**k?” I hiss at him.
“Kade, don’t start,” he warns. Fuck. Do you know how frustrating it is to watch my baby brother go through these things, and not be able to do anything about it? And all because it's his choice. James chose this. I sigh heavily, and crack my neck from side to side.
“Come on, bro, can’t keep the princess waiting,” he says with a grin, trying to ease the tension. I clasp my hand on his shoulder and squeeze gently.
“Yeah, let’s go.”