Page 22 of Daddy's Treat
He easily holds me up while kissing me with everything he’s got. This has kind of become our thing. Well, not the whole running and jumping part. The picking up is totally a thing, though. The height difference makes smooching a bit of a problem. I’ve found that coaches arefantasticproblem solvers. There are all kinds of added benefits to being held like this when we kiss… most of them happen below the waist.
We finally break apart, and he sets me on my feet.
“Hi.”
Kade smirks in amusement. “Hello, shortcake. Excited to see me?”
If my blinding smile isn’t answer enough, the enthusiastic nod gives me away. Kade tells me he needs to hang around and make sure all the equipment is put up, and then we can get out of here. I have no idea where ‘out of here’ is, but I can’t wait.
Kade sets me up in his office when I tell him I’m stressed about my test. He does his best to reassure me, but the only thing that will make me feel better is seeing my grade. Which is why I’m sitting behind Kade’s desk, studying, instead of being glued to his hip while he does his coach thing.
I’m not really sure what it is that makes me realize I’m no longer alone. Maybe his clothes rustled, or he made some other unconscious sound, but I look up from my books to find Kade standing in the doorway. He’s casually leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He gives me a little shrug. “Watching you.”
“See anything interesting?”
“You have no idea, shortcake.” A shiver works its way up my spine. He sounds hungry, and I don’t think it’s for food. “Ready to get out of here?”
Without a word, I close up my books and shove them in my bag. Kade crosses the small office and picks up my bag before I have the chance. The now-familiar warmth I feel every time he does little things like this for me spreads through my chest. He takes my hand and leads me out to his car.
I’m not surprised when he drives us to his house. We spend most of our time together here when I’m not hanging out at the practice field while he works. We’ve got a comfortable routine. We cook dinner together, eat together, clean up together, cuddle on the couch… sometimes watching TV, sometimes making out like teenagers. It’s nice. It makes the fact that my feelings for Kade are moving at lightspeed a little less scary.
After dinner, we are sitting on the couch, he’s got some sports channel on that is recapping the game they just played and discussing how well the Wildcats will do against the Titans in the championship in two weeks. I’m grateful that Kade doesn’t try to force his love for football on me and doesn’t get annoyed when I pull out my books and start studying.
I’m thinking about how much I love that Kade doesn’t try to change me as my heavy eyelids close. I feel Kade get up from the couch, but I’m too tired to do anything about it. I snuggle into his arms when he picks me up and carries me to his bedroom. I swear I hear him sayI love you, as he presses a kiss to my forehead, but I’m back in dreamland before my brain can make sense of what my ears think they heard.
* * *
Tuesday seemsto drag on and on. I have a late class on Tuesday and Thursday, so I don’t get the chance to see Kade, though we do text several times throughout the day. Wednesday seems to fly by, and before I know it, I’m trying to figure out what to wear to meet his family. I finally decide on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a pretty pink blouse my mom bought me for my birthday. I’ve never actually worn it because it’s cut a lot lower than I usually prefer, and the material is soft and flowy. It’s basically the exact opposite of my usual t-shirts, tank tops, and sweatshirts.
I’m so nervous, I even curl my long brown hair and give my lashes a quick swipe of mascara, the only makeup I own other than lip gloss. One last look in the mirror and a little pep talk that this is going to be great, and I’m ready to go.
The house is packed with people tonight. Apparently, having a few of the guys over ended up being a full-blown party. Not that it’s unusual. It happens a lot really. It’s one of the many reasons I hate living here. Kade will be here any minute, so I decide to wait outside. I do my best to sneak past the partiers, but I’m stopped by a very drunk Candi.
“Why if it isn’t Coach Kade’s little whore.” She says it loud enough that several people turn to see who she’s talking about. While Candi is busy laughing at her little joke, one of the football players who has been less than subtle about his feelings for me comes up behind her and puts his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
He looks me up and down salaciously. I am seriously kicking myself for not putting my coat on before leaving my room. I didn’t want to wrinkle my shirt any more than necessary. Wrinkles don’t sound so bad right now.
“Hey, Carsen, come take a look at this!”
Carsen is the quarterback that Lucy has been seeing. He’s also become my biggest tormenter next to Lucy. Though Lucy doesn’t make me feel dirty every time she looks at me. Carsen makes me feel like I need a bleach bath anytime he’s near.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here? If it isn’t Coach’s side piece, all dolled up.” He sucks his bottom lip between his teeth as his eyes roam over my body.
I shift uncomfortably because I don’t like him looking at me like he’s a predator, and I’m his prey. “Who would’ve thought you actually have a nice set of tits under there?”
The guy hanging all over Candi snorts. “Only if you like ‘em small.” He grabs one of Candi’s big, fake boobs. “Me, I like something to grab ahold of.”
Nausea fills my stomach. I’m half tempted to run back to my room and lock myself inside. I don’t want to be here anymore, but they are blocking my way to the door and my escape. I’m saved by the bell. Literally. The doorbell sounds distracting both Carsen and Candi’s man scarf.
“I need to get that,” I say, hating the almost fearful note in my voice. None of them move out of my way so I can get the door.
When Lucy skips over to it, I know why I’ve been waylaid. Lucy sent her minions to distract me so she could flirt with Kade. I can’t hear what she says to him over the noise of the party, but I can see his annoyance. His eyes seem to zero in on me like he knows exactly where I am in the crowded room.
Instantly, I relax. Nothing is going to happen because Kade is here. I’m not sure what I thought was going to happen, but this particular encounter has left me uneasy. It was different than just calling me names and saying disgusting things about Kade and me. The way Carsen looked at me… I shudder. I don’t even think a bleach bath can erase the memory of the last five minutes.