Page 80 of The Draft

“Did he speak to you about Madison?” Did I look angry? Because I was feeling a fire burning through my veins at the mere thought of Madison and Henry together.

“Why are you so interested?” Cade took me in, and I just had to go with it, at this point.

“Because maybe you’re looking at this all wrong. Maybehe’swhy she’s been acting strange. Maybe they’re having a relationship behind your back.”

“Uh, Cade.” Before Cade could answer, Alex said his name about two pitches higher than his usual tone. Peering at us from behind, he gripped my seat as he glanced between us. Then, clearing his throat, he said, “Cade,” much deeper now.

“Yes?” With his sunglasses on, Alex couldn’t see Cade’s bruises, but I doubted he’d ask about them anyway since something seemed to be bothering him. He was sweating and gulping constantly like he was a fishout of water.

“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation about Madison.” Oh, no. Had I underestimated my teammate? Was Alex about to out me? Had he finally figured out what was actually going down at the diner?

Cade raised a brow, so it was visible over the rim of his sunglasses. “Yes?”

Running a shaky hand through his hair, Alex looked like he was about to faint.

“I told you not to do this,” Scotty murmured from the seat next to Alex, flicking through his phone instead of watching him. Now I definitely knew it was about me because Scotty sounded disinterested, and he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with my current dilemma.

“Madison and I had a moment.”

Silence.

Oh, that was where he was going with this?

Cade didn’t move for a second and he seemed surprisingly calm about the confession. That might have to do with the abnormal amount of sweat on Alex’s forehead, though.

“A moment?”

Cade dropped his chin so he could look at Alex from above the rim of his glasses. I was shaking my head in disbelief because I told Alex it wasn’t a big deal the other day, and yet here he was, spilling his guts out, waiting for his punishment.

“I asked Madison out.”

“You did what?”

Alex raised his hands. “It was completely by accident.” Then he pointed at me. “Dash was there.”

Cade immediately drew in a sharp breath and looked at me. Even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I noticed the edges of his lips had turned up as though he was finding this funny. “Dash? And you didn’t tell me?”

I was embarrassed for Alex, but what could I do without outing myself? “It wasn’t a moment. Alex is exaggerating,” I explained.

“You sure? Because from what it sounds like, we might have just figured out why she’s been acting so strange. Alex and my sister have been secretly dating.”

“No. No. That’s not what happened. Madison and Dash were together.”

I wanted to sink into my seat and pretend I wasn’t listening because Alex was just digging a deeper and deeper hole.

“They were?”

“Yeah, they’re throwing you a…” Alex shook his head, realizing he had said too much. “Never mind.”

“What are you and my sister throwing me, Dash?” That smile was now in full force, and all I could think about was that stupid inflatable dinosaur bounce house. I needed to accept that was in my future.

“Doesn’t matter,” I responded gruffly.

“You’re right. It doesn’t. What matters is that she and I flirted, and I asked her out as a joke, but I don’t think she took it that way. Now I think I might be dating your sister, and I didn’t want you to find that out through anyone else but me.”

Cade was still very calm for a guy who had anger issues. “Okay, well, thanks for letting me know. You’ve got nothing to worry about, but I appreciate you coming to give me the heads-up.”

Alex’s shoulders relaxed, and just as he started to dip down back into his seat, he popped up again. “Wait. There’s more.”