“Plus, I’m sleeping with someone who’s wrestling with bulls for fun.” She turns to look at Mav and back at Kade, clearly comparing them. “I’m pretty sure he could take you, pretty boy.”
I burst out laughing at her calling Kade ‘pretty boy.’ It’s accurate for sure, but from the look on his face—like he bit into a lemon—I don’t think he likes the description overly much.
“Rest assured, Kota, I don’t plan to ever hurt her. Your warrior princess can safely be stored away,” he promises, reassuring the both of us, and slides an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his side.
I look at him and notice the humor flashing in his eyes, clearly not upset at Kota for threatening him with bodily harm. “You’re on a roll,” I say, and his eyes find mine. “Taking that whole being threatened in stride.”
He shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “You’re worth it.”
My mouth drops open as his declaration renders me speechless. Lacking a witty retort, I ignore it and turn my head to look at Kota and Maverick, whose arm is slung across her shoulders as well. I might not fully trust the man yet, but she does, and if the happiness shining in her eyes is any indication, he’s treating her the way she deserves.
I’ll learn to trust him, I’m sure.
He doesn’t strike me as someone who deliberately hurts other people. The way he’s constantly touching my friend, smiling whenever she says something witty or smart; how he lets her be herself, encourages it even, and is content to not be the only orbit in her life, shows his feelings more than words ever could.
“All right then.” Lizzie claps to get everyone’s attention. “Now that all introductions have been made, reunions have happened, and threats have been uttered, how about we have some lunch?” Looking at me, she adds, “I know you’re usually starved after a session with Lucifer.”
I disentangle myself from Kade’s arm, walk to Lizzie, and intertwine my arm with hers. Happiness radiates through my chest at the vision of all these people gathered in the same place. My past and my future colliding to make a wonderful kaleidoscope of people who have been, or are becoming, some of the most important ones in my life.
It’s funny how life works sometimes.
Had I been asked a week ago if this was possible, I would have laughed and said everyone was counting down the days until I’d be leaving. A week ago, I was denying my attraction to the one person who had mastered pushing all my buttons.
I never expected a simple phone call made from a hospital bed because I was backed into a corner could lead to finally finding parts of myself again.
My past.
My father.
Kade.
Too bad nothing ever lasts, and someone is always hell-bent on destroying any resemblance of happiness I experience.
Chapter Twenty-One
Later in the evening, I follow Kade to his house in Lizzie’s car I borrowed since he has an early appointment. I walk through his door, mentally exhausted after an afternoon spent with my friends and family.
It’s a beautiful A-frame house about five minutes out of town with wooden doors and walls, sparse furniture and decorations, but still having that homey feel to it. It’s inviting and warm, like the place itself is telling you to take off your shoes and stay a while.
Or at least that’s how I feel the minute I walk through the door.
His house is on a little lake in the woods. I honestly did not picture him living in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but trees and wildlife. It’s serene and peaceful. A place you come to recharge your soul and get away from the hustle of people.
The place itself is just big enough for one, maybe two, and has a spacious, open plan kitchen and living room with a cozy fireplace. I get the feeling you’d be hard pressed to find a house in Montana without one of those.
I walk farther into the house, my stocking-clad feet barely making a sound, and notice a staircase to the right leading up to a loft, and what I assume is the bedroom. I’ve never actually been in an A-frame, but I like this one, the cozy and minimalistic style that still invites me to relax.
No annoying neighbors blasting their music are ever going to bother Kade.
As I walk into the living room and to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake, I imagine for a moment what it would be like to wake up in this place for the rest of my life. Grab a cup of coffee and stare at the lake, letting my thoughts wander, and relax after a stressful season of traveling and competing. Or sit on the deck during the summer months and let the sun warm my skin while staring at the trees swaying in the breeze.
The image of that future invades my mind so intensely I lose my breath. It’s then I realize that’s exactly what I want. It’s not some fleeting fantasy we all entertain every once in a while, what it would be like if our lives would turn out a certain way but knowing it’s just a pipe dream soon to be forgotten.
No, for the first time in my life a clear vision of my future enters my mind. One I realize I desperately want. I want to be here, in this house, in this town, with Kade.
For twenty-four years, I’ve lived for the present, never the future. I didn’t dream what my life would be like past the next competition, the next tournament, the Olympics. I didn’t want to, because I was terrified to lose the dream like I lost my family, until now. I didn’t set goals for my private life. I knew what I wanted to
