Page 119 of The Draft
“But the signal isn’t saying it’s there.”
His phone started beeping like a fucking metal detector as he moved his hand around. What the fuck kind of app was this? He took a few steps, and my heart was beating faster than I ever thought it could. What a way to go, dying of a heart attack because your best friend’s sister was naked in your room.
“Cade, there’s something I’ve got to tell you.” He wasn’t listening, even though I was willing to confess everything right now and accept the beating I’d get for it. As Cade stood behind me, I knew this was it. The tension in my shoulders was building, and I was doing everything I could to try to remain calm.
“Weird. The signal is showing that the phone is inyourroom.”
He still sounded confused. Of course he would be, because why would I have lied about anything?
I swallowed. “How about I go and check?”
Standing next to me, I felt it. For the first time in our friendship, he didn’t trust me. He knew I was hiding something, and unfortunately, when Madison started singing Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” in the shower, we were all but done.
“Is that Reporter Girl?” His lips were flat, and his face was stone cold. I couldn’t figure out what he was feeling, so I took a step back and cursed the pizza box taped to my door. It was the only reason he could hear her, after all.
“Cade, there’s something I’ve got to tell you.”
Without asking, he opened the door, and as if on cue, Madison strolled out of the bathroom with one of my towels wrapped around her body and a beautiful smile on her face.
Damn, that was a sight that would never bore me.
“Madison. What thefuckare you doing in Dash’s room naked?”
She jumped, grabbing the top of her towel as she looked at her brother in shock. “Cade. I-I-I…what are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Cade glared over his shoulder, looking at me in a way I never expected. Disgust. He was disgusted with me, and I couldn’t say that I blamed him. “Or do I need to ask you, Dash?”
He turned, staring me down fully now, and I closed my eyes, taking adeep breath, ready to admit everything.
“I’m in love with Dash,” Madison blurted out before I could take one for the team. Her words replayed in my head, making my stomach drop. It was the first time she’d said she was in love with me, and although it felt nice, it wasn’t exactly the best way to hear it.
Cade let out a sarcastic laugh, pointing at me with his thumb. “You’re in love with this idiot?”
“He’s not an idiot.”
Cade had taken several steps forward, but I didn’t move. A part of me knew exactly what was coming and didn’t want to leave. In a way, I knew I deserved a punch in the face.
“Oh, Madison. Can’t you see it? He’s cheating on you.”
Cheating? Wait, what?
Before I could deny anything, Cade’s fist met my jaw first, and my chin was pushed up into the air. The hot coffee I was holding spilled all over my shirt, and I heard the crack of the orange juice glass as it hit the floor.
“Cade!” Madison shouted.
I couldn’t see what was happening because my head was spinning. My mind went blank, and the only thing I could feel was the excruciating pain in my jaw. I knew Cade was strong, but I didn’t realize he could throw a punch like that without trying.
I felt Madison’s arms wrap around me as her hand rested on my cheek. “Dash, can you see me? Shit. His nose is bleeding, and there’s blood coming out of his mouth. Get me a towel.”
“You still want to help him?”
“I swear to God, Cade, if you don’t get me a towel right now, I’m going to take the one I’m wearing off and use it to clean Dash.”
“Fine.”
The pain in my jaw started to subside, only to push through to my brain. “Ouch,” I muttered as I lifted my hand and rubbed my head.
“Dash.” Her voice was frantic but had a soft edge to it. “Thank goodness.”