A Love Least Expected Read Online Free
Author: C. W. Nightly
at least temporarily. I would worry about Cade later.
Kylie and I had shared a dorm room for years, and as I looked around her apartment I recognized many of the trinkets she’d collected during her time with me. When I finished University and I had to move out, I couldn’t bear the thought of anymore roommates, I needed my own space. So when the time came I found a small loft style apartment I could afford and made the leap. No walls except for the bathroom made for a large open space and this morning I missed being surrounded by my things.
I set my mug down on the table, and standing I began folding up the blankets. I stuffed the pillows and blankets into the trunk and drained the rest of my coffee on the way to the kitchen before rinsing out my cup. It was time to go home, I grabbed my phone from the table content to see the rest of the night had been quiet and typed a quick text to Kylie telling her I went home. Next I called a cab and began burying myself in the layers of winter wear to avoid hypothermia.
As I headed for the door, I reminded myself why I’d chosen to hide out at my friend’s house in the first place and laughed. Sounded good last night accompanied by tequila shooters, this morning not so much. Cade would not have forced anything last night if I hadn’t wanted to. The problem was would I have wanted to?
I opened the front door then pulled it closed behind me and skipped down the few steps to the front door and waited for the cab. Today I would just relax. Stay home, get caught up on some of the shows saved in my PVR, maybe read a little of the latest romance novel I downloaded last week. I would definitely take a bath. Sunday sounded like a great day as I pushed out into the sunshine and bitter cold, hurrying towards the idling cab.
Chapter 5
Fifteen minutes later we were turning off the main road onto the side streets that lead to my building. From inside the warmth of the car, the sunshine was nice. February was known for being the greyest and most depressing month of the year. I closed my eyes and soaked up all the vitamin D I could from the back seat of the car.
The car slowed then stopped, and when I peeked we were in front of my place. I passed the driver my debit card, paid the fare and jumped out of the cab rushing towards the heat of my apartment. I was not a winter activity kind of girl.
As I reached the entrance to the building, I heard footsteps on the path behind me and I held the door open for whichever of my neighbors had braved the elements this morning. Only it wasn’t one of my neighbors.
Cade stood inches from me, smelling fresh and clean and cold. I stepped further into the building leaving him space to let the door close behind him.
“Cade what are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Pay, please don’t pretend nothing happened last night. Let’s just go inside and talk, or if you’d feel better we can go to breakfast like I planned.”
I looked down at the crumpled mess I was, there was no way I was going anywhere. Cade and I were both adults after all. We could have a mature conversation about the direction of our relationship. Of course, we could.
“Okay, Cade come in, but I need to shower.”
“Nothing new Pay, I’ll cook.”
He followed me silently up the stairs, but the weight of his stare on me was massive. My stomach fluttered, I was too warm inside my jacket, and my heart was beating too fast. My mind might have made its decision last night but apparently had forgotten to send the memo to my body. These reactions were not how one greeted a friend.
I fiddled with my keys to find the right one, nerves making me slower than usual, and let us into my apartment. I stripped off my outer layers and hung them on the hook near the door at the same time as Cade. His cologne wafted towards me catching me off guard. The fresh, clean musky scent tripped new sensory reactions. As he passed me his coat, I fought the urge to bury my face in
Kylie and I had shared a dorm room for years, and as I looked around her apartment I recognized many of the trinkets she’d collected during her time with me. When I finished University and I had to move out, I couldn’t bear the thought of anymore roommates, I needed my own space. So when the time came I found a small loft style apartment I could afford and made the leap. No walls except for the bathroom made for a large open space and this morning I missed being surrounded by my things.
I set my mug down on the table, and standing I began folding up the blankets. I stuffed the pillows and blankets into the trunk and drained the rest of my coffee on the way to the kitchen before rinsing out my cup. It was time to go home, I grabbed my phone from the table content to see the rest of the night had been quiet and typed a quick text to Kylie telling her I went home. Next I called a cab and began burying myself in the layers of winter wear to avoid hypothermia.
As I headed for the door, I reminded myself why I’d chosen to hide out at my friend’s house in the first place and laughed. Sounded good last night accompanied by tequila shooters, this morning not so much. Cade would not have forced anything last night if I hadn’t wanted to. The problem was would I have wanted to?
I opened the front door then pulled it closed behind me and skipped down the few steps to the front door and waited for the cab. Today I would just relax. Stay home, get caught up on some of the shows saved in my PVR, maybe read a little of the latest romance novel I downloaded last week. I would definitely take a bath. Sunday sounded like a great day as I pushed out into the sunshine and bitter cold, hurrying towards the idling cab.
Chapter 5
Fifteen minutes later we were turning off the main road onto the side streets that lead to my building. From inside the warmth of the car, the sunshine was nice. February was known for being the greyest and most depressing month of the year. I closed my eyes and soaked up all the vitamin D I could from the back seat of the car.
The car slowed then stopped, and when I peeked we were in front of my place. I passed the driver my debit card, paid the fare and jumped out of the cab rushing towards the heat of my apartment. I was not a winter activity kind of girl.
As I reached the entrance to the building, I heard footsteps on the path behind me and I held the door open for whichever of my neighbors had braved the elements this morning. Only it wasn’t one of my neighbors.
Cade stood inches from me, smelling fresh and clean and cold. I stepped further into the building leaving him space to let the door close behind him.
“Cade what are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“Pay, please don’t pretend nothing happened last night. Let’s just go inside and talk, or if you’d feel better we can go to breakfast like I planned.”
I looked down at the crumpled mess I was, there was no way I was going anywhere. Cade and I were both adults after all. We could have a mature conversation about the direction of our relationship. Of course, we could.
“Okay, Cade come in, but I need to shower.”
“Nothing new Pay, I’ll cook.”
He followed me silently up the stairs, but the weight of his stare on me was massive. My stomach fluttered, I was too warm inside my jacket, and my heart was beating too fast. My mind might have made its decision last night but apparently had forgotten to send the memo to my body. These reactions were not how one greeted a friend.
I fiddled with my keys to find the right one, nerves making me slower than usual, and let us into my apartment. I stripped off my outer layers and hung them on the hook near the door at the same time as Cade. His cologne wafted towards me catching me off guard. The fresh, clean musky scent tripped new sensory reactions. As he passed me his coat, I fought the urge to bury my face in
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