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Cade didn’t say much as he took my hand and began leading me away from the school grounds.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice a whisper, careful not to shatter whatever fragile space we occupied.
“It’s far,” he murmured. “But I want you to meet her properly.”
Her.
Honey.
My heart thudded at the thought. I swallowed the sudden dryness in my throat and followed him in silence.
He opened the passenger door of his car and waited until I climbed in. The interior smelled faintly of cedar and his scent, which comforted me instantly.
He didn’t speak at first as he started the engine. Instead, he reached over and gently pressed my head back against the headrest, his palm lingering there.
“Rest,” he said quietly. “We have a long drive.”
I turned to him and said honestly, “Cade, I… I don’t think I can.”
His hand moved to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You can,” he assured softly. “Just for a little bit. I’ll wake you when we’re there.”
How was I supposed to rest when I was being taken to see the person he loved? My heart raced–not because I was meeting someone else he clearly held dear, but because everything about Cade still felt like a puzzle I was desperate to solve.
The car rolled down the highway, golden afternoon light slipping through the trees. My mind spun with questions, each one louder than the last.
But then, at a red light, something unexpected happened.
Cade reached over, lifted my chin with two fingers, and kissed me.
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Just like that.
The kiss didn’t taste like goodbye. It tasted like a promise.
When he pulled back, I searched his face with wide eyes.
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“Everything’s going to be okay,” he said, his voice calm, his thumb brushing gently against my cheek.
And somehow, I believed him.
I exhaled slowly, and my body relaxed. The ache in my shoulders softened. My fingers, which had been anxiously fidgeting in my lap, fell still. I hadn’t even realized how sleep–deprived I’d been these past few days–how heavy everything had begun to feel without him.
Just like always, Cade’s presence was the strange paradox I couldn’t explain. He made my head swirl with questions, but he also made me feel safe.
Sleep tugged at my lashes despite everything I told myself.
He was still driving. He looked tired too, and I wanted to tell him to rest. To pull over and sleep for a while. But my mouth didn’t manage to form the words.
Before I knew it, everything faded to black.
******
The brush of something warm on my forehead stirred me awake.
A kiss.
I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the soft late–afternoon light.
Cade stood by my door, already outside the car, holding it open. His expression was soft, but not as gentle as his eyes.
“Hey,” he said. “We’re here.”
I sat up slowly, my heart still tangled in sleep. “How long was I out?”
“About two hours,” he replied, offering his hand to help me up.
I took it, bewildered by how steady and sweet he could be. Was this how he treated all the
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girls he liked? Was this how he treated Honey?
The thought twisted something deep in my gut.
I stepped out and inhaled deeply.
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We were surrounded by trees. The building behind him resembled a wide, beautiful facility -neither too modern nor too sterile. It looked like a countryside manor. There were people strolling around, quiet and calm. Some were accompanied by nurses, while others sat on benches beneath flowering trees.
Everything felt peaceful.
“Where are we?” I asked, my brows furrowing.
Cade looked ahead, then back at me. “It’s a treatment home,” he explained. “Not exactly a hospital. More like… a place for people who need time. To feel okay again.”
He paused, then nodded toward the path.
“Come.”
And so, I followed.
Not because I wasn’t scared.
But because he asked.
Because I wanted to know everything.
Even the parts he never spoke about.
Even the
parts of him that belonged to someone else.
The place looked like it belonged in a painting. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, casting shadows across the cobblestone path. Everything was quiet–peaceful in a way that made your thoughts settle, like all the noise of the world had been put on pause.
Cade led me forward until we reached the front doors, a soft chime echoing as we stepped inside. The scent of fresh linens and lavender welcomed us. It was pristine without feeling cold.
“Cade?” a warm voice called out.
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apron. Her gray
hair
An elderly nurse emerged from the hallway, wiping her hands on her was tied in a low bun, and a softness lit up her expression as soon as she recognized him.
“Cora,” Cade greeted.
“Oh my goodness,” Cora gasped, stepping closer. “You were just here three days ago, weren’t you? What brings you back so soon?”
Cade offered her a sheepish smile. “I needed to see her again.”
“Well, she’s fine now, sweetheart. Her condition has stabilized,” the nurse said with a nod. “She’s been talking non–stop about you. Oh-”
Her eyes drifted toward me, and I straightened slightly, suddenly aware of how out of place I might seem.
“And who’s this pretty lady?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say, but Cade answered first. “Someone special.”
Startled, I turned to him. He didn’t meet my gaze, but his grip on my hand tightened just a bit.
The nurse beamed and gave Cade’s arm a small, encouraging pat. “Well, it’s about time. I’m happy for you, Cade. You deserve someone to keep that heart of yours warm.”
A lump formed in my throat.
There was something about this place–so strange, yet undeniably calming. The way the curtains fluttered in the hallway. The way soft piano music drifted faintly from somewhere down the corridor. It didn’t feel like a hospital; it felt like bliss. Isolated, yes, but not lonely.
“Come,” Cade said, gently tugging on my hand.
I hesitated, my eyes drifting toward the nurse, who smiled and gave me a tiny wave before disappearing into another hallway.
Cade looked at me again, softer this time. “Let’s go see Honey.”
My heart caught at the mention of her name.
Honey.
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He spoke her name with such familiarity and warmth that it made something ache deep within my chest. I frowned slightly, unsure if I should still be holding his hand–uncertain if it was appropriate to keep touching him like this in front of someone he clearly loved.
But he didn’t let go.
He kept walking, and I followed.
We stepped into a room that looked nothing like what I had imagined. It was bright and colorful, with soft white curtains that let sunlight pour in like melted gold. There were drawings on the walls, a vase of fresh lilies on the bedside table, and pillows adorned with mismatched, cheerful patterns.
And standing at the window was a girl.
No… not a girl. A woman, probably older than we were.
She was beautiful.
Delicate features, skin smooth with the color of mahogany, and wide eyes that sparkled with a kind of innocent joy. Her dark hair was braided down one side, and she wore a lilac cardigan over a simple dress.
As soon as she saw Cade, her face lit up.
“Cade!” she cried out.
She dashed across the room with surprising energy, throwing her arms around him. He caught her easily, smiling as she kissed his cheek and held onto him tightly, giggling.
I stood there, frozen.
Watching.
I lowered my gaze, my hands clutching the strap of my bag as I took a slow breath.
Then she peeked over Cade’s shoulder and noticed me. Her expression changed immediately. She shrank back slightly, shyly, stepping behind him and hiding herself as a child might behind her older brother.
Cade reached for her hand and gently tugged her forward.
“She’s fine, Honey,” he reassured her, using that same soft voice I had only heard when he
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spoke to me.
“It’s alright.”
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He turned to me, his other hand still lightly brushing against hers. “Arden, this is Honey,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. “My sister.”
