Page 53 of Wilde Ride

He held up his bottle. “Of all the people I thought would be finished first, I’m not him.”

I giggled. “I’ve got my notes down, Lilibeth.”

Levi held up his swatch. “I do as well.”

After we mixed and bottled up our new scents, I pulled out my phone and frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Lilibeth asked.

“I tried to get Ensley to go out with us, but she’s declined. I asked where she was, and she told me.”

Sadness filled his eyes. “What day is it?”

“It’s the tenth,” Lilibeth answered.

Caden and Levi exchanged equally concerned looks.

“What’s with the tenth?” Lilibeth asked.

I drew in a breath and let it out. “Ensley’s best friend from high school, Grady, passed away on this date ten years ago.”

Lilibeth put her hands on her chest. “Oh my gosh, that’s so sad. What happened?”

Caden walked away. He and Grady had also been close, even though they were a few years apart.

I cleared my throat. “He, um, he took his own life.”

Now Lilibeth’s hand covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I never should have asked.”

“You didn’t know,” Levi said. “Everyone actually thought they’d end up together, even though they were just friends back then.”

“Ensley didn’t want them to ruin their friendship by dating. She’s never really gotten over his death.”

Lilibeth slowly shook her head, then looked toward Caden. “They were friends?”

“We all used to hang out together. Me, Caden, Ensley, and Grady. Ensley blames herself because she started dating someone, and Grady wasn’t happy about it. But neither would ever cross that line. Of course, no one really knows why Grady did what he did. He was always the one in the group trying to make everyone laugh. It came as a complete shock.”

“Again, I’m so sorry.”

Levi glanced back at Caden. “I guess it’s time to go.” Levi bent and kissed me on the cheek, totally catching me off guard. All I could do was smile and nod. He looked at Lilibeth. “I had more fun than I thought I would. You two have a good evening.”

Lilibeth walked toward the front door where Caden was standing, wearing a brooding expression. “I’m so glad you both came, and I hope you had fun, too, Caden.”

“It was…different.”

Laughing, Lilibeth unlocked the door. “God forbid you admit you had a good time, cowboy.”

Caden smirked, then opened the door. “See you around, sweetheart.”

Before Lilibeth could reply, Caden was out the door. She did however mumble asshole, which almost made me laugh.

Levi tipped his cowboy hat to both of us and called out, “See you around, Em. Thank you, Lilibeth.”

“Sure thing. You guys behave tonight!”

I watched as Levi walked out the door, and Lilibeth shut it. I let out a breath and closed my eyes for a moment. I had to fight not to lift my hand and touch where he’d kissed.

Quickly turning, I started gathering the bottles of scents to put them back.