Chapter 34 Strawberries And Cream
ARDEN
“Do you know that guy!”
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I turned to the side, startled to see Owen emerging from the kitchen, a steaming mug of coffee in his hands. He prepared himself a fresh cup while I watched him absentmindedly.
“Are you not going to answer?” he prompted, raising an eyebrow at my silence.
I shifted my gaze to the table furthest from the counter and noticed Jaxon stealing glances at me intermittently.
“I wish I didn’t know him, I muttered softly.
Owen took a deliberate sip of his freshly brewed coffee before adding, “Well, his girlfriend must feel the same way. It looks like she’s ready to murder you with her eyes.
I turned my attention back to the group, and in a moment of perfect timing, Sienna shot me a glare, her mouth moving animatedly as she conversed with her friends.
“I don’t understand,” I murmured in frustration. “Why does she feel so threatened by me?”
Feeling Owen’s gaze piercing into the side of my face, I turned my head and raised my brows in inquiry.
He shook his head slightly. “I could take a guess as to why,” he muttered cryptically,
I tilted my head in confusion, ready to ask him what he meant, but before I could utter a word, the front door swung open and a new customer stepped inside.
Owen quickly retreated back to the kuchen, leaving me to don my professional smile. “Welcome to—”
but my welcoming words caught in my throat as my eyes met the newcomer. It seemed he, too, was taken aback by my presetice.
Cade walked in clad in his soccer uniform, his expression as unreadable as ever.
I pursed my lips and gave him a curt nod. “What can I help you with today?” I asked softly, striving to keep my voice steady.
Ever since the day of my heat, we hadn’t exchanged a single word, so seeing him like this made my cheeks flush. Thankfully. it appeared he had managed to put the awkward incident behind him.
de remained silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on me, and I tilted my head in confusion. I noticed again that his cheeks bure a slight flush–he had likely just come from training
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stated his order. “The strawberries and cream frappuccino,” he said.
I fought to suppress my emotions, but it seemed that my feelings slipped through the cracks. His eyes narrowed slightly as he observed me, and I looked up to meet his gaze.
“Do you have a problem with it?” he asked.
shook my head, a slight smule gracing my lips. “Not at all: What level of sweetness will that be?”
He cleated his throat and turned to the side, his expression suddenly shy. “The sweetest one.”
He had a sweet tooth, just like ma
“Alright, I replied cheerily For here or to go
logo he muttered, his voice sounding smaller now, almost timid.
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Chapter 34 Strawberries And Cream
A soft giggle escaped my lips, prompting him to lean one hand against the counter for support.
“You know, I really have a feeling that you’re making fun of me,” he said.
I looked at him, still feeling amused by his reaction. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Cade pursed his lips, and in that moment, he looked the most childlike and innocent I had ever seen him.
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“There’s nothing wrong with it,” I added softly, enjoying this light–hearted banter. “I like sweet things too–like strawberries and cream. Although, I don’t think I could handle the level of sweetness you’d prefer.”
With that. I set about preparing his drink, ensuring I got everything just right. I even placed a few dried strawberries on top before sealing it with the lid. I grabbed a straw and handed it to him.
He accepted it with a sulky expression, which only made me laugh harder, my head tilting back in amusement. I felt his gaze on me, and for a fleeting moment, I noticed a small smile begin to form on his face, too.
“So, you’re laughing at me now?” he asked, his tone breaking through my laughing fit.
“I’m sorry.” I said, wiping away the tears that had accumulated in the corners of my eyes. “It’s just that–I didn’t expect this. There’s nothing wrong with it; the contrast is just… pretty cute.
I said those words without thinking too much about them, so when the last word escaped my lips, I froze, realizing the unexpected confession. I turned to him with wide eyes, only to find that he, too, was taken aback by my sudden compliment.
“I–I mean, I stammered, searching for the right words but ultimately falling silent, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. It wasn’t like we were friends! How could I have said that!
However, the awkward tension that hung between us was abruptly shattered by the sound of something spilling.
“Oops!” I heard one of Sienna’s friends exclaim. I snapped out of my daze and turned to see her frantically attempting to clean up a coffee spill on the floor.
I pursed my lips, already suspecting that the spill was no accident.
After giving Cade his change, I grabbed the mop from by the lockers. As I stepped outside, I noticed that Cade was being cornered by the very friend who had spilled her drink.
I quietly approached the scene, doing my best to be discreet.
“Here’s my number, Alpha Cade,” she said, slipping a piece of paper into the pocket of his uniform. Her hand lingered there a second longer than usual, but I reminded myself that it wasn’t any of my business, so I focused on cleaning up the mess.
I bit my lip to stifle a curse. It was definitely deliberate. It appeared to have been poured before it actually spilled, increasing the area of the mess,
Sull, 1 Lept silent and perely sighed as I squeezed out the mop. I could feel Jaxon’s gaze on me as I worked, but I ignored hun, intent on finishing the task.
“There’s still some over here,” Sienna called out. I nodded quietly and walked to where she was stationed. However, the friend who had just given Cade her number pretended to lose her balance and suddenly pushed me toward the ground, feigning
The events unfolded rapidly. The floor was still slippery, and I couldn’t manage to regain my balance. I felt myself falling. anticipating the impact.
Yes, even as I braced for it, the fall never came. Instead, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back
om the brink
A small gasp escaped Sienna’s lips as I opened my eyes in confusion. To my surprise, the arms didn’t belong to just one person. While Cade held me at the waist, Jaxon gripped my hips, creating a bewildering entanglement
My eyes widened as I took in the scene, the two of them tightening their grips around me Sienna looked equally shocked
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Chapter 34 Strawberries And Cream
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perhaps even more so than I was, though I couldn’t fathom why–she was the one who got me into this predicament in the first place.
I turned to Jaxon and noticed his jaw was clenched, a telltale sign of his agitation. Then I shifted my gaze to Cade, who remained surprisingly calm, smirking at the unfolding drama
“You can let me go now,” I muttered, though my words seemed lost in the silent battle of their glares.
“Let her go.” Jaxon demanded through gritted teeth, his protective instincts flaring
Meanwhile, Cade merely tilted his head. a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Then, without warning, he pulled me closer, yet it wasn’t rough or bruising; it was more of a possessive gesture. He stepped back. allowing me to regain my footing
“Don’t worry. I’ve got her.
