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"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything." —Katharine Hepburn

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Chapter 94
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|Four Months Later|

I murmured a string of curses as I watched the app. My Uber was supposed to be here a while ago, but if he didn't get here soon, I would be late for the meeting. I should have just saved the money and walked, but it was too late, now.

Just as I refreshed the page for the umpteenth time tonight, it finally loaded. I felt my stomach drop at the cancellation. Canceled. The damn thing was canceled and now, I wasn't going to make it to the campus in time for my meeting.

Unless...

I glanced at the wall, the one I shared with Kade. Immediately, I shook my head.

For the past four months, his determination didn't die. Every morning, he walked me to work, and then was there when I got off, a cup of tea and food in hand before he walked me home. He did the same for my classes. Her never missed a day or was late. He had his car, but since I refused to ride with him, he escorted me around. Neither of us said a thing, and I accepted the company after a couple of weeks. It was slightly comforting.

He continued on with the post it notes, as well. Every morning, there was one waiting for me with a message. Each one was specific in what he missed, and he never repeated the same thing. I would take it off, but never ripped them, again. I would never admit this aloud, but I kept them. In fact, a part of me began to warm up to the notes after a while. I couldn't deny that excited feeling I got every time I woke up, knowing that it was waiting right outside.

It was actually funny, remembering his speech in his kitchen a year ago. He told me that he didn't do flowers, that he didn't do chocolate or anything of that nature. Yet, for the past four months, I was buried in all of it.

Outside of my door each morning were flower bouquets, specifically with apology notes attached, as well as chocolates with names I couldn't even pronounce. Every week, I had a case of jewelry. I tried to sell some of them for my books and rent, but I couldn't keep up with the amount he sent my way. In the midst of the flowers and candy, he threw in other gifts. A laptop, a flat screen. Every week, he had every single one of my favorites book, limited edition and signed by the author, sent right to my apartment.

He kept up with the book reports, as well. I didn't even have the time to read all of the books I threw in, but apparently, he did. Every Saturday morning, he was at my door with a summary, and everything else I had demanded in the book store.

Every time I wanted to rearrange my things, he was right there. Since I changed my mind on my decor a lot, he would come over and get it all done without so much as a sweat. Once, i made the mistake of voicing that I wished I had different colored furniture. The next morning, he had an entirely new set in my favorite color, delivered right to my apartment. He never complained about anything, not once.

I hated it.

At least, I told myself I did. I don't think the effort made me angry, I think the idea of it working is what did.

Each time he smiled, each time he grew hopeful that I would touch him, that I would forgive him...I was afraid I did. Every night, I laid awake and questioned his true motives, but I found nothing malicious. I didn't know anyone who would go as far as he was going without good intentions.

I waited after my knock. Seconds later, the door was pulled open.

Kade's eyes traced me over for any harm that, before returning to mine. Just at the gleam in them, I had to restrain myself from falling too deep.

"Hey," I said, slowly. I scratched the inside of my wrist as I sighed. After months of refusing his efforts, I felt wrong asking for help, now. "I was wondering if you could give me a ride to campus. I have a meeting with my advisor about my schedule, and well, my Uber canceled so—" I jumped back as he shut the door.

My forehead pinched in confusion as I stared at the wood. I wasn't sure if I was rejected or—

The door opened seconds later. "Come on, sweetheart."

Kade brushed past me, motioning to follow. I did, hurriedly glancing at the time on my phone. I should get to my advisor's office right on time.

The silence stretched on as we walked to his car. Once we were in, I glanced around the space.

I hated the comfort that crept upon me. But, that was until the last memory in it smashed all types of familiarity.

Kade said nothing as he drove the car. I dared myself to make conversation, but then I realized that I didn't have to. We weren't in a relationship. I didn't even know if we were friends.

The meeting with my advisor was quick, and nearly effortless. I only needed to change some of the timings in my schedule.

Afterwards, I thanked her, then retreated back to Kade, who was waiting patiently by his car. His smile rose at the sight of me, one I fought to not return as he pulled my door open for me.

Once we were both in, I turned to face him. "Thank you," I forced out before I thought anything else of it.

Through the dark, I saw him nod. "Don't thank me, sweetheart. You could have just taken my keys if you wanted."

When he moved in, he gave me a key to his house, as well. I never used it, but I did still have it. I didn't like the idea of just walking into his space, though.

I raised an eyebrow, fingers tangling with my seatbelt. "It's your car."

"It could be yours," he shot a suggestive glance toward me.

With Kade, I knew now that he very much so took things quite literally. If he moved across the country for me, then I knew without a doubt, that giving me his car would be nothing to him.

Immediately, I shook my head. "I'm not taking your car," I dismissed.

Kade shrugged, locking his hold on the wheel. "It's not taking if I'm giving it to you, sweetheart. Or, I can take you to a lot tomorrow morning, and let you choose your own. Whichever you prefer."

I gaped at him. His expression remained just as sane as he turned to face me.

"No," I argued. "It's not going to happen."

Even though I didn't ask for any of his gifts, he had given enough. A car was entirely different than a bouquet, or a television.

Kade sucked in his bottom lip in order to hide a grin. His hand went behind my seat as he began to reverse. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."

***

I glanced back at my mess with a smile. I ordered a couple of crafts to do over video call with Jax just for fun, and as messy as the cleanup would be, I loved the process. We hung up a while ago, but I hadn't begun my cleanup just yet.

Just as I went to wash some of it off, I heard a knock sounding out at my door. I wiped my hands along a rag before making my way to the door.

I tugged it open. "I'm—" I paused once I saw him.

Kade held out a set of keys to me, and I responded with a step back. "What are you doing?" The gifts had continued on, but this one was more direct than the others'.

"The keys," he stated with a small smile, dangling them. "To your car."

My eyes widened until the action hurt. I staggered back until I was to the window.

My fingers jammed through the blinds. A dark blue sports car sat alongside his.

My fists tightened into balls as I jerked around to face him. "What are you doing?" I hissed, glancing back at the shiny car, again. "I told you not to buy me a car."

Kade shut the door behind him, casually eyeing the mess I made before meeting me. "I didn't buy you a car, just like you asked. I bought myself a new one, and you can have my other. If you want to trade it in for a different color—"

My eyes widened at him. This was all way too much. He just gave away his car, something that was worth nearly fifty thousand dollars, as if it meant nothing at all.

"No," I interrupted him, pointing at the door. My insides burned with frustration at him. "I don't care about you or any of your loopholes, get out."

His hopeful expression grew dreadful. "I wanted to..." he paused to draw in a breath. "I didn't want you to be tired after work. I told Marianne—"

My eyes closed in on him at her name. "What?" He blinked at me in confusion before a look of realization passed him.

I felt my feet glide along the floor until I was in front of him. My gaze caused his own to fall as he shifted. "Kade, how in the hell do you know Marianne?"

His chest flattened as he sucked in a breath then released. He tightened his jaw before finally saying, "I'm her boss."

My lips parted in shock as I stared at him. He was my supervisor's boss, which meant...I drug my eyes across his distraught figure, anger lining every single one of my features.

"You're the reason I got the job," I whispered. "You own the company, don't you?" The words came across as accusation rather than a question. I could see the answer right through his guilt lined expression.

It made sense, now. I wasn't even sure how I missed it. Kade had mentioned that him and his mother were both given his father's businesses.

It all clicked. I didn't need an interview. The workers there were far too nice to me because they knew, or they thought they knew, who I was to Kade. In the break room, ever since I started, were my favorite snacks, my favorite drinks and things of that nature, that I considered a coincidence at first. I was given any hours I wanted, I was allowed to work on my college work during my shifts despite the formality of the business, and the pay was way too amazing for the light workload. It was all because of him.

His face fell. "No, you were the reason. You've been amazing at the position without any help, Kimberly," he attempted, his expression growing pained. "I told you I took over my dad's businesses as soon as I was eighteen. Once I found out you were leaving, I wanted to help—"

I jerked away from him. "I don't want your help!" my voice rose against the anger. "I want you to leave me the hell alone."

His breath seemed to stall as he heard me. I watched his dread turn into angst, his lips falling into a frown. Guilt filled me to the brim, so I turned my back to him to hide it away.

I turned back around as the silence threatened to swallow me whole. "You didn't..." I stopped myself, sucking in a breath in order to soothe my own anger. "You're not doing anything, okay? You're just wasting your time. I just need time to think, and I can't do that with all of this." I motioned toward the flowers on my counter, the flat screen, toward all of the gifts and effort he had made.

His eyes fluttered shut at my words, his chest trembling under the pressure. He delivered an understanding nod before turning.

I watched him set the keys on the counter before he said in the softest of voices, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I promise I am, and I always will be for hurting you." His pained eyes raised to mine. "And, I'll spend every minute proving that, if you let me. I'll gladly use every second of my life telling you, showing you that I always have, and always will love you."