Page 26 of Caden

Mom should really understand how this works. It wasn’t like Olivia was her first child. Not even the first child to move out and have a life of her own. She said as much to Dad.

“She knows what she should do. She knows how to do it, but you’re her baby. Her youngest. It’s harder to let go knowing that there’s no one else to turn that instinct to. Try to cut her some slack as she struggles with this.”

Olivia clenched her teeth. And tried to calm down. She didn’t want to be unfeeling but damn. She had a life of her own and Mom needed to respect that too. “I’ll try. I promise. But it would be a lot easier if she didn’t let herself into my house, slam into my bedroom when I’m asleep and demand I get dressed and talk to her. Especially since she had to know I wasn’t alone. There’s no way she missed Caden’s motorcycle parked in front of the house.”

“She did what?”

Obviously, Mom hadn’t told Dad what she was planning or what she’d done.

Olivia spent the last few minutes while she prepared for work filling Dad in on Mama’s visit that morning. He wasn’t as upset about it as she had been, but he wasn’t happy either.

“I don’t know what came over her. I met your young man. He seemed like a very nice guy, well-mannered and well-spoken. Did she even talk to him at the wedding the other night?”

Olivia shrugged, knowing that he couldn’t see her but talking with her whole body was part of her personality. “I don’t know. I know she met him, but I don’t think she spent even five minutes with him. At least not that I saw.”

“And how did your young man take it? Cade was his name, wasn’t it?”

“Caden, but he took it better than I did. I’m surprised there wasn’t steam coming out of my ears. Caden stayed calm. He gave her valid points and challenged her to find any issues with anyone in his club since the trouble last year, as well as let her know that the men who were part of the trouble last year are no longer in the club. I don’t know that I could have been as calm as he was when someone was attacking my family. That’s how he sees the club, not as friends, but as his family and she came in here telling me, and him, how horrible they are and how I need to get as far away as fast as possible.” She shook her head as she stopped talking, trying to keep from losing her temper at Dad. He hadn’t done it. He didn’t deserve to be treated that way.

“You’re right. I don’t know many people who would stay calm when confronted that way. That man of yours seems to be a good one.” His sigh echoed across the line. “I’ll talk to your mother. See if I can get her to see things differently.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I’m not promising anything, mind you. But I’ll try. I don’t know if it will do any good. Sometimes she’s more stubborn than a wolverine.”

“Thank you, Dad. I’m sorry for dumping all this in your lap.”

“No problem, honey. That’s what I’m here for. I’m going to have to run. I’ve got an appointment with a student in just a few minutes.”

“I need to go anyway. I’ve got to leave for work. I love you.”

“I love you too, honey. Have a good day.”

“You too.”

They rang off and Olivia gathered the last of her things and headed to work, still mad about her mother’s stunt, but not quite seething like she had been.

19

Caden had a hard time getting the encounter with Olivia’s mom off his mind all day. No matter how frequently he pushed it from his head, it kept creeping in. It made work more challenging, but he managed to make it through with no major issues.

As he walked out of work, he dug out his phone and dialed Olivia, hoping she wouldn’t be asleep already.

“Hey,” came her voice over the line. “I was wondering if you’d call.”

“I said I would.” He looked out across the parking lot, wondering if continuing to see her would be the smartest idea. “You still up for me to come over or have you decided you just want a quiet night on your own?”

“I want you here, if you still want to come.” She sounded uncertain that he would want to be there.

That note in her voice, the one that made him think she wasn’t so sure he would still want to be with her, made him want to pull her into his arms and tell her how much he did want her. How much he needed her.

“I’ll be over in a few. I’m going to make a quick stop at my place.”

“Okay.” Her voice seemed small, unsure.

Caden hated hearing that in her voice. He assured her he wouldn’t be long, then rang off, put his phone away and stepped onto the bike. Had a couple of things to pick up at home, then he’d go make sure she was okay. He wasn’t sure what he would tell her about how he felt, hell, he wasn’t sure how he felt yet himself.

He did know that her mama wasn’t going to scare him off. Not from what Olivia made him feel. He liked that feeling, a lot. And it was worth a lot of grief to feel it more often. At least to him. Tomorrow he needed to reach out to the Kings, at least Cowboy and let him know what was going on. He might have brought more attention to the Kings from the Dickenson Police Department. Caden didn’t think it would be an issue, but he wanted to let the president know, just to be sure.