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So sorry for the late update! Enjoy! 🤍

"The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day."— Charles R. Swindoll
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Chapter 24
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If a stranger had witnessed my reaction, they would have depict I had been a victim of a accident. That was how badly I was freaking out.

The short, bulky man—who was dressed in security attire—glared at us. Once his big eyes landed onto my shaky figure, I thought I felt my heart flee from my chest.

His voice bounced off the walls. "Are you two deaf? I said what in the hell are you doing out here?" he yelled, this time a bit louder.

Before I could comprehend, Kade had took my hand in his. My shoulder slammed into the man's shoulder, the contact causing him to fall over.

Kade and I continued to run down the hotel's staircase, and my frantic breathing was the only thing that had managed to reach past the shock. Walking wasn't as difficult, but running about killed me.

When my speed fell, Kade continued to run. I gawked at the fact that he had left me, but at this point, I was breathing out a year's supply of air.

"Jump!"

My head snapped up at Kade's demand, and though my heart rate was to the roof, I felt it fall right back down to the floor. I looked over the railing of the staircase I was currently in, to see Kade one flight down.

Oh hell no.

From here, I could see him. "Why the fuck are you just looking at me for? I said jump!" Kade shouted at me.

My face was a dead giveaway at my fear. It wasn't a far jump, but it all depended on the man at the bottom. The man that hates me. I'll be damned if I break my neck because of him, too.

My head pulsed as I shook it. "I can't!" I yelled back.

His eyes fell, a curse spewing from his lips. "Kimberly, I swear to god, if you don't jump—"

"Not right now, Kade!" I shouted, my nerves overcoming me.

"Kimberly!" he scowled at me, then sighed so loud, it echoed in my ears. "Listen...just trust me, okay?"

I looked at him, and even though we were a distance from each other, I could still see clearly. A soft, pleading look was burned in his eyes, and I couldn't decipher the racing of my heart from fear or from hope.

I squeezed my eyes shut to soothe the burning before focusing on him. "How can I trust you won't drop me?"

He stared back at me, our eye contact never fading. "You can't know for sure unless you jump. I won't let you fall, okay?"

The security guard's voice alarmed me immediately. "I can hear you! You two are coming with me!" From what I heard, he was only a staircase or two above me, so I needed to get moving.

"Jump!" Kade shouted at me, his tone formed into a plea.

I closed my eyes, my fear drumming along in my ears. "Trust him and jump, Kimberly," I whispered to myself.

I opened my eyes at the same time my body went over the railing. I waited for the hard impact that was expected, but nothing came. In fact, it was the opposite.

Warm arms were wrapped around my shaky figure so tight, it felt as if he were trying to merge us. The mixture of aftershave and a minty freshness wandered into my open nose, and I breathed it in as a way of comfort.

My eyes continued to squeeze together, almost painfully. I didn't want to open them, and I wasn't intending on doing so. If I was dead, I wouldn't know. Perhaps this was the afterlife—

I heard the deep timbre of his voice, right past the thunder of his heartbeat. "I got you," Kade said. I felt my body bounce and thump against his as he ran us to god knows where. Hopefully the exit. Wherever we were going, we would get there quickly if Kade maintained this speed.

After listening to his frantic heartbeat, I felt us finally halt to a stop. I was far too afraid to open my eyes to check out my surroundings.

I didn't know I was crying until I felt the salty liquid hit my lips. I had no reason to cry, but the tears weren't reasoning with me.

"Stop crying, we're okay."

I swiped them away quickly. I expected some type of forlornness, but there was none. For a moment, it halted in its place but once I felt the pride settle in my bones, in my body, in my heart, I felt it sting. I did it.

I heard the door to his car opening before my body softly hit a plush seat. I dared myself to open my eyes, and slowly, they peered at Kade.

His face was tight with concentration as he left one hand on the roof of the car, the other tilting my face up to him. "You're okay?"

I nodded, my words entirely halted. The electricity of his fingers on my chin burned so deep, and once he was as aware as I were of it, he pulled away.

Kade shut my door, and walked over to the drivers' side. I continued to stare at him as he cranked the car up then left the dust dancing behind us.

I wasn't sure how long it'd been. Somewhere in the ride, I still couldn't comprehend what had happened. One minute we were making up stories, then the next we're being chased by a security guard and jumping staircases.

Well, I knew one good thing that did come out of this. I had proved I could be daring, that I could break the rules. It wasn't much but it was the pride that blossomed in my heart was indescribable.

"I did it," I breathed out.

This earned a weird look from Kade. "What?"

A laugh tore past my lips. "I did it, I broke the rules! I snuck into a hotel, and ran from a security guard all in one night." A heavenly smile danced across my lips as I ran a hand down my face.

Kade nodded, eyes stuck on the road. I frowned at his blunt reaction.

"You broke the rules—yes—but don't make a habit of it," he said in a hard voice.

My frown deepened at his words, and I turned toward him. "What are you talking about?"

Instead of a response, the car skidded to a stop. I looked around, and brought my look back to Kade.

"I've never been here," I said, motioning toward the restaurant. I knew we had to still be out of town.

He said nothing, just opened his door then rounded to my side. He opened my door, and I murmured a thank you before looking at the restaurant.

I bit my lip at how expensive the building looked. By it's stainless exterior, I was sure it would take me years just to pay for one meal.

Kade held open the door for me, and we entered the restaurant. Immediately, we were greeted by a formally dressed young woman. Her attire consisted of a tight knotted low bun, along with a tight dress that reached the beginning of her pale knees.

The girls' eyes were suck on a tablet, but her voice was directed at us."Hi! Welcome to the Chimera Lush restaurant, do either of you have reservations for this fine night?" Her voice sounded as if it belonged to a pixie, sweet and quiet.

Kade was standing too entirely close to me. His heat bounced right off of mine as he stepped even closer. "No reservation, but the name is Kade Ryder."

I looked to her name that was sewn perfectly into her dress. Cindy, was what it read.

I saw her body grow tense. Cindy's concentration switched from the tablet, and up to us. Her throat bobbed as she met eyes with Kade.

Kade crossed his arms, nodding once at her. "Well?"

I shot a sympathetic glance toward the girl. She was frozen in her spot, her eyes jumping between us.

Finally, Cindy ran a hand down her dress. "Sorry sir," she apologized.

After breaking a hard stare from him, she scanned the tablet again. Her eyes found mine this time, and I offered a soft smile toward her. She returned it, her demeanor relaxing a bit before she turned slightly widened eyes back to Kade.

"Yes sir, we found the best seats for you and your girlfriend," Cindy told him, smiling.

I backtracked at the label I had been given. How in the hell?

"I am not his girlfriend," I announced at the same time Kade nodded. They both completely ignored me.

"Yeah, thanks," Kade said to her.

She nodded eagerly, offering a shiny smile to the both of us. "No need to thank me. Only the best for the Ryders, sir."

I frowned at that. By everything I had seen,I had no trouble seeing that he was wealthy. But, it seemed his family name was known and respected in other places as well.

Cindy walked us through the crowded restaurant, and I made sure to stay close to them both. The place was huge.

"This is fine," I began once I saw a vacant table.

When we didn't stop, I frowned. We continued to walk through the delectable smelling restaurant.

Cindy pushed through a set of silver doors. "Here we are," she said.

I returned the smile and took a seat. Once she took our drink orders, I searched the quiet room. No one else but ourselves were in the room.

"Uh," I turned my eyes back to Kade, who was already watching me. "Where is everyone?"

He ran a hand down his jaw. "Our table is private."

I watched over him carefully, but the man was like peeling an onion. "Why?" I asked slowly. "That must have been a lot of money."

He shrugged, pulling his menu closer to him. "You're uncomfortable around a lot of people, it was worth it."

The heat in my cheeks increased. "It was fine."

Kade rested his elbows along the table, shaking his head. "Just say thank you and move on."

I blinked, my words jumbling together. "I...thank you."

I scanned the menu, and by the end of the first page, I wanted to retreat. By the displays of the food, it all looked so delicious, but also so incredibly expensive.

I looked to Kade. "Are you sure you want to eat here?" I questioned.

His expression was the exact duplicate of a blank sheet of paper. He continued to study the menu before putting it down when the waiter walked to our table.

"Hi! My name is Marlin, and I will be your waiter today," a ginger headed man dressed in fancy attire said. "What can I get you?"

I smiled up at him. "Just a wa—"

"We both would like your #67 with clean cut fries," Kade interrupted.

I glanced down at the menu I was holding and scanned it for the order he had just placed. It was for a rib-eye steak, but that wasn't what left me so staggered, it was the price.

Immediately, I placed the menu down. "Kade, no," I shook my head.

His dark brows drew into a frown as he looked to me. "What?"

I waited for the waiter to leave our table, then began speaking. "It's too expensive."

Kade snorted, leaning back into his chair. "Not at all, love."

My mind was too fogged up. The prices were absurd, who would spend this type of money on someone they despised so much? "Why are you doing this?"

His fingers were typing rapidly across his screen. "Can you just enjoy it?"

I rolled my eyes and continued to look around. The ambrosial scent continued to wrap around my senses so well, my stomach began to rumble. I smiled at the beautiful scenery of the restaurant.

My eyes fell across Kade. "How'd that girl know you?" I broke the silence with a wandering question.

"Susie. She likes to be that caring person you see on tv, so perfect."

I frowned. "She seems nice, though."

He said nothing at that. Instead, we continued to bathe in our silence.

***

"Tell me more about your mom," I said to a quiet Kade.

He didn't hesitate. "She's a bitch, there you go."

I shot a glare at him as I leaned against his car door. The position was equally comfortable and comfortless. "Don't call your mom that." I glanced out the window. "You have no idea how truly lucky you are," I murmured.

A moment of silence before he said, "Tell me about your mom."

I said nothing.

"Exactly that," he said.

After we left the restaurant, he had driven me back to my home. Instead of getting out, I had began to question him about his past, something that he didn't seem too comfortable about. But he had mine right in his hands, so I was owed this, at the very least.

"Where's your dad?" I blurted out before cursing myself. Immensely, I felt my skin whiten with guilt at the question.

Instead of the outburst I expected from him, a sick grin wandered onto his lips. I swallowed my words back and waited for him to answer.

One hand remained on the wheel while the other stroked his bruised knuckles. "Rotting in a jail cell."

Oh.

"You should go and get inside before your brother comes to find you," Kade warned, shaking the grin from his lips.

I knew that was it. His dad seemed to be a rough topic, even more than his mother.

I stared at his quiet expression. He made sure to never let an emotion slip past the cracks. I wondered how he mastered it so well.

I got out of his car, but before I shut the door, I turned. "Thank you for tonight."

Wasn't this what girls did in the movies?

I frowned as he averted his gaze from me. "Yeah," he responded with a nod.

Kade's eyes were concentrated on the steering wheel in front of him. Strands of black hair grazed over his eyes like a cape, though the moon's light illuminated over one half of his face, making him look like the boogeyman. His beauty was breathtaking.

I cleared my throat. "See you later, Kade." Shutting the door, I turned around and walked to my front door.

My hand shook around the key I was holding, My struggles only increased once I felt the weight of his eyes on the back of my head.

I felt a wave of relief yanked off of my shoulders once I pushed the door open. I hurriedly went inside, and locked it behind me.

I jumped once I saw a figure sprawled out on the couch. It was pretty late, so I expected everyone to be asleep.

Ryland swung two legs over the couch, his eyes squinting at me. "Finally."

I smiled; I already knew what he was about to say. "I'm not late."

Before he could respond, I walked away. My legs felt like mushy marshmallows, sinking right into the floor with every step I took.

The door shut behind me, though the sound barely reached my ears. I was too stuck on what happened tonight.

I snuck into a hotel, jumped a flight of stairs...Kade helped me and took me to dinner...he was nice to me.

"This has to be another dimension," I whispered to myself breathlessly, a small smile upturning my lips.

My bed seemed to be nothing to me anymore. As I pressed my head against the pillow, it still felt as if I were floating on cloud nine rather than laying still in the bed.

Just as I was dazing off into a sleepless slumber, I felt a vibration against my side.

Anyone who has my number should be asleep right now. Squinting. I raised the phone to my view, and read the message.

'Go to sleep, sweetheart. Goodnight.'