The Square Up (F*** On The Court)

Chapter Five

Kade

As I pull out of the parking garage, I point to the dashboard. “Plug in your address, bright eyes.”

“What for?”

“So, you can pack up your things.”

“Pack up my things? What on earth for?”

“Baby, I want you to stay with me. Once our love story hits social media, we’re going to be hounded by the press. If you’re with me, I can protect you. My building has top-notch security.”

Her eyes pop wide. “What? Oh, my God. I didn’t even think of that. That means your fans and my clients will know…the world will know. We need to stop this right now. I told you it was a bad idea.”

I reach for her hand. “Hey, don’t panic. I’ve got you, bright eyes. I will not let anything hurt you.”

“Kade,” she shakes her head. “This is all wrong. My family has ridiculed me for years. I honestly don’t know what came over me last night. I’ll be just fine.”

I jerk the wheel to the right, veering into the breakdown lane, and slam on the brakes. She’s just seconds away from tearing the ring off her finger, and a wave of panic crashes over me. I can’t let her go. As I picked out that ring, all I could think about was how desperately I wanted her to stay. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame, and the thought of losing her sends a chill through my bones.

“What are you doing?” Her hand flies to her chest.

I turn to face her, running a hand through my hair, trying to steady my racing thoughts. “I need you to promise me something.”

“What is it?” she murmurs, her gaze searching mine.

“No more talk about how this is a bad idea or how everything feels wrong. Commit to this with me, Abby. Commit to this ruse like you’ve never committed to anything in your life. Just let it happen.”

Her eyes search mine, the air between us crackling with a sharp current of electricity. “I’m scared, Kade,” she whispers.

I am, too—terrified she’ll leave me, petrified I’m not worthy of someone like her. But I can’t voice those fears. “Hold my hand.”

She stares at my open palm for what feels like an eternity before slipping her delicate fingers into mine.

“I’ve got you,” I say, gently squeezing her hand. “Let’s make this the time of our lives, okay?”

“If you’re sure…”

“Bright eyes, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” A wave of relief washes over me as I exhale deeply and shift the car into drive. “Now plug in your address, baby. You’re moving in with me.”

“Dinner’s here!” I yell down the hall.

I glance behind me to make sure everything is right. Purple blanket, check. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and cornbread check. Candles, check. Armageddon is cued and ready to go on the screen. Check.

Abby walks into the living room wearing an oversized sweatshirt and yoga pants. Her hair is pulled back in a long, sleek ponytail. She’s gorgeous. When she sees our dinner spread, she breaks out with a smile that has my heart pounding.

“All my favorites!” She squeals. “Kade, this is so sweet.”

Feeling ten feet tall, I puff out my chest. “Guess what I got for dessert?”

“If you say chocolate peanut butter cup cheesecake, I’m really going to have to marry you.”

“Chocolate peanut butter cup cheesecake.” I grin.

“How did you know?” She giggles. “We didn’t share our favorite desserts.”

“Wild guess.” I shrug my shoulders. “What would you like to drink? Water, diet soda, beer, wine, whiskey?”

“I would love a diet soda.”

“Coming up.” I walk into the kitchen. “Do you have enough closet space in your room?”

“Enough closet space? You could park my car in your spare closet, Kade. The room is perfect.”

I drop ice cubes into two glasses. “You’re my first guest.”

“Get outta here!”

“Cross my heart.” I hand her a glass.

“Come on. One of your centerfold dates never spent the night?”

“Never,” I sit down on the blanket.

“Really? You’ve never had a woman spend the night? I find that hard to believe.”

“I’ve had my share of women, that’s true. But I’ve never slept with them. And I’ve never brought them to my home.”

Her mouth drops open. “You’ve never slept with a woman, as in sleep next to one?”

“Never.”

“Wow. You’re full of surprises.” She sits down across from me. “What about family? Don’t they visit?”

I hand her a plate. “That’s complicated.”

“Babe, wait until you meet my family. They’re complicated.” She rolls her eyes.

My pulse skips a beat when she calls me babe. “Are you ready for complicated?” I drop a scoop ofmashed potatoes onto her plate.

“Yes,” she hands me a slice of cornbread. “Give me complicated.”

“Alright,” I settle against the sofa. “My mother got pregnant with me when she was sixteen. She married my father out of necessity, not out of love. They stayed together, which was a huge mistake. They never should have gotten married in the first place. My mother started to drink too much, and my father slept around too much. All they did was fight. Anyway, in my senior year of high school, my mother’s drinking was out of control. One night, she drank a fifth of scotch while my father was out with one of his girlfriends, and when he came home, she shot him. Then she turned the gun on herself.”

“Oh, Kade…that’s awful.” Her voice trembles.

“Nobody knows,” I reply, the weight of my past heavy on my chest. “I took my grandfather’s name before I graduated. It was probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever done. You can imagine the field day the press would have if they knew my story.”

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” she asks gently.

“Nope. It’s just me.”

Abby sets her glass down and wraps her arms around me. “Thank you for trusting me with your story. I’m sorry you’ve been so alone, carrying all of that by yourself.” She kisses me softly on the cheek. “But now you have me. I’m your family now.”

She leans back, picks up the remote, and starts the movie, but my mind is elsewhere. In that instant, as the screen flickers to life, I do the one thing I swore I’d never do: fall head over heels in love.