Writers block is a menace. I'm trying to get over it. Enjoy the chapter!🤍

"You always gain by giving love. —Reese Witherspoon​

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Chapter 49
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I slid the bowl that Teresa placed in front of me away from my body. My stomach rolled as the anticipation of today set in.

"Kim. Can you pass the syrup?"

I looked up from the table to see three sets of eyes staring back. I blinked multiple times, attempting to rekindle their words.

Ryland's eyebrow raised. "Could you pass the syrup?" His smile awoke my scowl.

"Sure," I said with a sarcastic shade.

I pushed the syrup toward him with extra force, smiling as it landed right into his lap.

This time, his scowl inspired my grin. "Oops."

Ryland shook his head, placing the syrup on the table. "You're lucky it was closed."

If only it wasn't.

I tried to let go of my anger, but every time that I thought over our last argument, it did nothing to settle my fury.

When I walked into the hall this morning, there was a change in him. He pretended that our argument had never happened, as if we were back to ourselves once again. We barely argued, and even when we did, they never went that deep.

I disregarded my dad's stare, and concentrated on happy thoughts. The only thought that I could cook up when it came to something happy, was the guy I'd spent all night rolling and turning over.

Last night was the start of something. Something far more beautiful that I could have ever imagined. Even when I tried to, all I saw was a bright light that hid the contents of the future from me.

I glanced over my brother and dad, reflecting Kade's past. We were connected, in ways that I had never imagined.

It was then that I remembered Ryland's attitude toward Kade. It all made sense in terms of the past.

It was crazy to imagine my dad in that life. In fact, I couldn't see it. I always thought that my dad never had a violent bone in his body. I wanted to ask so many questions, to let them both know that I was in on their pasts. But, something held me back.

I wasn't too sure if I were scared to ask, or if I was terrified of the answer.

I cleared my throat. "Dad, I need to get caught up on my class work, but I need the notes. Is it okay if I go to Ravens or Maggies after school?"

I was actually planning to see Kade, but I knew better in saying that.

He cheated on the slice of bacon for a considerable time. "As long as you come straight home right afterwards," he finally responded.

I nodded. "I promise I will." I stood up from the table, dumping the leftovers in the trash. "I'm heading out."

Teresa turned to thank my plate and then smiled. "Bye, Kim."

I smiled back, then walked out of the house with my music blaring into my ears. I gripped my bag tightly, my footsteps quick and steady.

The wind was smack cold against my skin. My body was covered with the thick material of my hoodie, and my jeans. My face, on the other hand, was unshielded from the unmerciful wind.

I decided on a long trail. Anything that would prevent me from coming face to face with my peers at school would be highly considered.

I knew that I stood up for myself against Amber, and I was proud of it. More than proud, actually.

But, I also knew that Amber's little followers wouldn't consider anything else other than her. Who knew what type of falsehood her and Natasha had already spread?

Just as I felt my stomach drop, I heard an engine's roar nearing me. It was so loud that I could hear it past the beat of my music. I turned at the sound, and immediately felt my blood run cold as I realized my own fucking stupidity.

Chivo.

I turned around, and quickened my steps. It was then that I realized Kade's warning on walking alone nowadays.

Just as my feet rushed in front of the other, the sound of a honk sounded out. I turned once-more, but what awaited me reassured my nerves. 

It was hard to see through the tint of his window, but I recognized the car from anywhere.

Kade lowered the passenger window. What awaited me was a scowl.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, the snap in his tone loud and clear.

I huffed, despite the rough thump of my heart. "I was walking to school." I didn't want to mention how quickly I'd forgotten his advice.

His eyes narrowed in on me. "You wanna get in? Or, would you like to be carried?" Before I could respond, he lifted a bag. "I got breakfast if that makes it an easier choice."

It took me a minute to register what was happening. Breakfast, car rides, Kade. Those realizations made the dead butterflies in my tummy awaken. Though, it would take me a long while to get used to all of them. 

I placed my bag on the floor, then got in. "I forgot about your 'invitation' to a ride."

I shut his door behind me, sighing as the warm heat hit me. I could see the traces of a chuckle behind his hard decor, but it remained hidden.

He ignored my remark, eyeing me as I clasped my hands together for more warmth. "You want it hotter?"

I nodded. "Please."

His adjusted the heat, pulling himself back once he found the perfect balance. My eyes traced up his arms, then up to his face.

Today he sported nothing different from the other days. A dark tee, and jeans. Same appearance, yet even more attraction.

It didn't take long to reach school. As he parked, I glared at the school building. I'd much rather be anywhere else.

Kade cleared his throat from my side, ripping me from my thoughts. "Chivo and I agreed on a date," he announced. "You won't like it, but it's the only option."

I straightened in my seat, body stiff. I awaited for him to finish, though by the drop in his words, I feared the consequences of curiosity.

"We agreed that I can have two more weeks to fight," he said.

"I know that already," I frowned, recounting over our conversation from last night. "Why would I be upset about that?"

He ran a hand down his face. "I have to fight not only him, but his line of men, too," Kade finished.

I gripped the material of my hoodie in a tight hold. I had no idea how many men that was, but I knew that it had to be quite a few.

"H-how how many men does he have?" I struggled to get the words out.

Kade's hand whitened around the wheel. "Five. One of them being Angelo."

On instinct, I shook my head. "What? Y-you can't. Six men...you won't be able to."

Kade shook his head. "I will. I have the training, and I've been fighting for nearly a decade now, sweetheart," he tried to disfigure my fear. "I'll be alright."

His reassurance didn't do a thing. "What if you get hurt or worse?" My eyes widened as the thought hit me. "I should come."

At this, Kades' eyes widened with conflict. I didn't expect for his next move to happen so quickly.

He turned to me, his hands grasping my cheeks. "No. Fuck no. You can't be there, and you won't be there. I wouldn't be able to think if something happened to you, and if it did... I'd burn that fucking place down with everyone in it."

He took a moment, the rage dying in his eyes and blooming into concern. "You'll be safer if you're as far away as possible from the danger, Kimberly."

I shook my head, encasing my lip with my teeth. "I don't care if I'm hurt. I don't want you to get hurt, either. This works both ways, Kade."

I couldn't prevent myself from leaning into the warmth of his palm. I sighed as his finger began to swipe across my cheek, the touch soothing.

His cool expression melted at me. "I don't want you to be angry with me, sweetheart," he said in the softest of voices. "But, I can't...no I won't risk it."

I sighed, my lips parting as I attempted to make my argument more logical. Nothing came up though, so, I tore away from his touch, instead propping myself against the seat again. We wouldn't agree on this right now.

I stared ahead, watching the many students pass. My eyes paused at the familiar waves of silky hair. Raven appeared, Maggie and Jax not too far behind. I watched closer, trying to suppress the buildup behind my eyes.

Her and I hadn't talked since our last conversation. I was no longer as angry over the argument, but I wasn't totally alright either. I never expected the judgement, but I'd gone too far with what I said, especially after she'd revealed everything about her dad. I should have confronted her disrespect but not in the rude fashion that I had used.

Just as Raven looked up, my eyes averted elsewhere to avoid the confrontation.

Kade read right through the interaction. "You and Raven good?"

I looked at him. "We're..." I searched for the correct word. "A little off, right now."

"Mhm," he hummed. "Levi told me that Raven called him crying about it. He said that if you two didn't make up by the end of this week, him and I would fight it out for you both." He chuckled afterwards, and I did the same. "Don't worry though. I've whooped his ass plenty of times, I got you, sweetheart"

I chuckled, nodding. "Tell him I appreciate his effort."

I bit my lip as he reached for my hand. I felt my mood lift as soon as we made contact.

"We just disagreed on some things," I attempted to explain. "Raven just...doesn't understand the concept of not giving into a guy like you." I said the words before I could comprehend anything.

Kade looked taken aback, his eyebrow arched. "What? You mean fucking?"

I felt my cheeks cloud with color, the wish to return home strengthening by the minute. "Yeah."

He nodded, before tracing over my thumb. "Don't listen to her about that," Kade mumbled. "You'll know when you're ready, and when you are, we can go from there, if you want. We take things at your pace, only."

My heart leaped in my chest. "It's difficult to keep you waiting sometimes." I felt weight lift from my conscious as I admitted it.

His response was quick, despite the long message in the words he spoke.

Kade snorted. "You're not keeping me waiting, sweetheart. Sex doesn't make shit, let alone us. We could hang out, and do nothing for hours, and I think...no I know that that's better than anything else. Having you at all is  more than enough for me."

I smiled. "Really?"

"Fuck yeah," he confirmed with a nod before smirking back at me. "Though, I can't stop myself from looking at my beautiful girl, and that nice—"

I smacked his arm, my laugh genuine. "Wow. You're such a gentleman."

His laugh followed, before his eyes found mine. "There's that favorite laugh of mine."

My laugh trailed off as I saw him lean in closer. I welcomed it, the feel of his lips cushioning against mine perfect.

"You want to have lunch with me?" he asked against my lips. "I'm not really asking, but this seemed like the most polite thing to do."

I nodded and chuckled like a mechanical robot, my actions now lazy. "I don't think I'll be able to make it to lunch."

He read my mind. "Amber won't be back for a while," he said, his fingers entangled in my hair. "And, you know I won't let anyone mess with you."

"You can't be there 24/7," I smiled at him. "She has friends, those friends have friends, and they're all my enemies."

"And, they're all little bitches who can all fall the same, god complex or not. Trust me on this, sweetheart," he warned. "They won't do shit to you once they see your hand in mine this morning."

I looked at him, eyebrow raised. I wore a confused expression.

Kade smirked, black tips barely grazing those beautiful eyes. "What? Did you really think I wouldn't let people know that you're my girl? I've been wanting to shout this shit from the rooftops since you let me call you my girlfriend."

I couldn't help my growing smile. It felt good to be called someone's girl, but being called Kade's girlfriend? It felt fantastic.

At my joyful expression, Kade's pink lips began to lift. Mine dropped when his did, too. But, it wasn't me. His eyes were directed behind me, and when I turned, I knew why.

Daniel stood a couple of cars away, in a plain white shirt and jeans. He was with a couple of his friends, though the group was large considering he'd only been here for a couple of days.

I looked at Kade, and I was glad I did. His head was propped on a clenched fist, his eyes no longer on Daniel. They went to me.

"I know I should have told you earlier," he forced out. "But, I'd hired him to protect you when I'd found out about Chivo."

My mouth fell. "What?" I thought over the night, though it was kind of fuzzy.

Kade nodded slowly. "I knew you hated me at the time, that you wouldn't want to be around me, but I wasn't going to leave you vulnerable, just out in the open for Chivo, so I paid the fucker to watch over you. That was why he was there. I'd warned him to keep his distance, except, he wanted to be a little smart ass, and try and flirt with you."

My back slumped against the seat. "That was why you said what you said," I breathed out the realization. "And, why you were so mad that night." I glanced up to him, my brow cocking. "Well, jealous."

His lips pulled into a scowl. "I was not—" he paused, mumbling a curse. "Fuck it, you know what? Fuck yeah I was. He had his hands on my girl. If you wouldn't have been there to see it, I would have ripped the fucker's hands from his body. I'd already scared you enough though, so I settled on a little smack instead."

"Little smack?" I repeated, fighting back a chuckle.

Despite the jealousy in his eyes, he grinned. "Just a little tap. For touching you, he was lucky as shit I didn't do worse."

I thought over the half without any violence. I couldn't believe I'd missed the sign so easily. I'd been so drunk, I'd decided to push it to the back of my head. Daniel had been way too nice, but then, at the diner, he'd done everything he could to voice his hate for Kade.

I looked to him. "What's he still doing here?"

Kade shrugged. "I guess he's keeping the role as a new kid. I don't give a fuck what he does as long as he stays away from you." His hands tightened as he glared daggers into Daniel. "And, he will."

I grabbed his other hand, slowly unclenching it with my own. His eyes snapped to mine, his harsh glare barely bearable. It slowly sunk into a softer surface as he looked to me.

I offered a smile. "You ready, boyfriend?"

I'd never had a real boyfriend. I'd dated someone two years ago, but it was a silly little waste. It was nothing compared to Kade. That was just child's play.

Kade nodded his head, but refrained from speaking. I only squeezed his hand tighter as I opened the door to his car.

Here we go.

When I stepped outside, the cool air hit harder than I expected. Kade rounded the car, netting me on my side.

I reached for his hand again. When we made contact, I felt his heat beat the cold.

Students were too busy rushing to their classes to notice the nerd with the schools' well-known player. I thanked the universe for this as I realized that this wouldn't be as hard as I anticipated. It'd probably just be another day.

Boy, was I wrong.