Page 62 of Cross Checked
It made it worse because Luke used closeness like a weapon.
Cade used it like concern.
“I notice the way you move, Bliss,” he said quietly, using my name in a way that felt like a hand closing carefully around the truth. “That’s why you watch exits and hate sudden noises.”
My chest tightened so fast it physically hurt. I looked away immediately toward the mirrored wall because suddenly looking directly at him felt impossible.
“He did more than betray me,” I admitted softly before I could stop myself.
The second the words left my mouth, panic followed immediately.
“Pip—”
“That’s enough.” I shook my head quickly, heartbeat suddenly climbing too fast. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Immediately, Cade stopped.
“I’m sorry,” he said after a second, his voice quieter now. “I shouldn’t have pushed after telling you I would let it go.”
The sincerity in his voice almost wrecked me more than the conversation itself. I laughed weakly instead because I genuinely didn’t know what else to do with this man sometimes.
“That’s ironic considering I interrogate you daily.”
“Yeah,” he said softly, eyes still locked on mine. “But I’ve never had my heart broken.”
The softness in his voice nearly split me open because suddenly I wasn’t looking at Captain Mercer anymore. Not the cocky hockey god everybody worshipped around campus. Not the future NHL golden boy everybody expected to become untouchable someday. Just Cade. Someone raised inexpensive empty rooms who openly admitted he didn’t think he understood unconditional love.
And goodness, my chest ached for him. Not with pity. Never that. With understanding.
I smiled softly despite myself. “I’m happy for you then.”
For a second, neither of us moved. The tension between us felt alive now, thick enough to make the gym suddenly feel smaller around us while the low hum of music vibrated softly through the speakers overhead. Cade’s eyes held mine for one long, unbearable second before he stepped closer slowly, carefully, like he was trying not to spook me.
My pulse jumped instantly.
He was so close now I could smell sweat and laundry detergent and something warm underneath it that was just him. My entire body reacted before my brain could catch up as he reached for my wrist with slow, deliberate movements that gave me every opportunity to pull away if I wanted to.
I didn’t.
His fingers wrapped gently around my arm before his thumb brushed softly across the fading bruise near the inside of my wrist, and the contrast nearly wrecked me on the spot.
Luke grabbed hard.
Cade touched me like he was afraid of hurting me more.
The realization hit somewhere dangerously deep in my chest while silence stretched tightly between us. I could see the pulse beating steadily beneath the skin near his wrist from how close he stood to me now. Close enough to notice the tiny scar near the base of his thumb. Close enough that if I leaned forward even slightly, my mouth would brush the center of his chest.
Oh my goodness.
My lips parted slightly before I could stop them, and Cade noticed immediately. His eyes dropped toward my mouth so fastheat spiraled low through my stomach hard enough to nearly knock the air out of me.
And it wasn’t even the attraction destroying me anymore.
It was the restraint.
The way his breathing had gone heavier without him touching me anywhere except my wrist. The way tension pulled visibly through his jaw like he was fighting himself in real time. Like he wanted to close the distance between us and was forcing himself not to.
One more inch was all it would take… One more inch, and I knew he’d kiss me and the terrifying part was I knew I wouldn’t stop him.
