Chapter 63
Chapter 63 Keep It Secret
Lana’s POV
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True to his word, Kade stayed glued to my side the rest of the day, accompanying me to classes wasn’t even enrolled in. The professors looked at him twice, but didn’t argue, No one, it seemed, was be enough to correct the Alpha heir.
His diligence spoke to his seriousness, though, and I began to suspect the danger against me might be real. Especially since he had been ignoring me for a couple of days, now to suddenly be glued to me. was too fast a turnaround to be some kind of game.
And I didn’t think Kade would purposefully joke about any real danger to my life. He was a playboy and a charmer, but he had protected me enough to know he at least valued my life.
Maybe even more than just simply valued…
I shook my head, not wanting to read too much into anything.
At the end of the day, Kade walked me back home. As we reached the front door, I toyed with the necklace I wore, running the pendent back and forth over the chain.
Kade, glancing sideways at me, noticed at once. “You shouldn’t be wearing that p>
“Why not? It’s mine p>
“What if someone saw it p>
I stopped. “What would be so wrong with that p>
He took a few steps before stopped and turning back to face me. “You don’t know anything about that necklace, or the symbol on it. What if it means something you don’t want advertised? The wrong kind of person could see it and make assumptions p>
“What if it’s not bad, though? Maybe someone would see it and know what it is p>
“It’s too dangerous p>
“How would you know that?” I asked. “Unless you know what it is.” I felt a little desperate as I stepped toward him. Holding his eyes prisoner, I implored him. “Do you know what it is, Kade p>
“I’m not certain,” he said.
“But you have some idea p>
He didn’t reply.
“Tell me,” I said. “Please p>
“Put the necklace away,” Kade told me. “Don’t wear it out. It’s too precious to lose, isn’t it? And who knows how old that chain really is. If you don’t want to lose it, you should keep it safe p>
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“Kade p>
“I knew what it was, I would tell you,” he said, but I didn’t know if I believed him. It felt like he was keeping a secret, which normally wouldn’t bother me. We weren’t really dating, so it was okay to keep some secrets from each other. But he had promised not to lie.
I tucked the necklace back under my shirt.
“Did Caleb see it?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” I said.
“Good,” he replied, then turned and entered the house.
“Why would that be good? Kade?” I followed him into the house, but he wouldn’t answer me. He walked into his bedroom and closed the door after him, almost on my nose. “Fine,” I snapped, annoyed with him.
With a huff, I swerved away and went back to my own room.
I didn’t want to listen to Kade on principal alone. I hated feeling like he was keeping things from me. But. If the necklace would put me in danger, maybe it was worth stashing for now. I didn’t want to lose it either. Kade had at least been practical in that way, reminding me that the chain was likely old and worn.
Carefully, I unclasped it. I didn’t want to leave it behind though, even if I could agree that wearing it might be a bad idea. Instead, I grabbed my purse and unzipped one of the interior compartments. For now, I hid the necklace inside and zipped it closed.
I had work that evening, so I quickly changed. When I stepped into the common area, Kade was still in his bedroom. Maybe he’d forgotten my work schedule. I was still annoyed with him, so I headed for the front door anyway, ready to walk if I needed to.
I unlocked the front door, and Kade’s bedroom door flung open.
“Where do you think you are going on your own?” he asked.
“To work,” I said with no inflection.
He walked toward me. “Didn’t you hear me when I told you that you can’t go anywhere without me p>
“I’m not going to campus. I’m going to work p>
“I wasn’t just talking about campus,” Kade said. “When I said anywhere, I meant anywhere. Work. Campus. If you go to the shopping mall, I had better be right there at your side p>
“Isn’t this all a little much? I mean, this isn’t sustainable, Kade. Are we supposed to stay attached to each other forever p>
His jaw clenched, and my heart raced. For a moment, I envisioned an unlikely future – a dream – where Kade wanted to stay by my side as we grew old together. Quickly, I shook those thoughts away. What was I even thinking? That wasn’t just an impossible thought, it was ridiculous.
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“Not forever,” Kade said, his voice detached and somewhat neutral, which sobered me as keenly as if he
d dropped a bucket of cold water over my head. “Just until Caleb backs off.” He seemed to remembe himself then, and started to smile, “Or until you wanted to be mine for real p>
His smile didn’t reach his eyes, so his usual teasing fell flat. Something was clearly bothering him, but with how distant he’d been acting, I wasn’t confident he would tell me what it was if I asked him.
I rode on the back of his motorcycle as he drove me work. When I got off, I held onto the helmet, ting it under my arm. He lifted the visor of his own, still seated on the bike.
“I’ll be back to pick you up after,” he said. “Stay inside until you see me parked right here p>
“You are worrying too much,” I said.
“Humor me p>
I turned, waved over my shoulder and entered the shop. Behind me, I heard Kade rev up his motorcycle and start to drive away.
Grace was already behind the counter as I approached. I remembered the scene from earlier today with a prickling dread, but she just smiled and waved.
A customer, one who was near the window, called out. “Was that your boyfriend? His bike is sweet. Is it new p>
I hesitated. It didn’t seem right to call Kade my boyfriend, even if that was what he was pretending to be. I was supposed to tell people he was, to keep up the ruse. Still, given our resent hard patches, it didn’t feel right.
“That is her boyfriend,” Grace cut in. “But I don’t think the bike is new p>
The customer pouted, and I didn’t think it was because the bike wasn’t new. This woman had her own interests, and like most women, those interests all involved Kade.
A flash of jealousy rose up in me, but I immediately quashed it. What was wrong with me?
The customer finished their coffee and left. By the time she did, I was back out at the counter with Grace, after having put my helmet and purse in the staff room.
“You could have told her Kade’s your boyfriend,” Grace said. “Why did you hesitate p>
I shook my head. “I want to keep boundaries up.” That was getting harder to do, lately.
“You can do both. After all, it is pretend… isn’t it p>
When I didn’t answer right away, Grace looked at me. “Lana p>
“Right. Yes. Of course it’s pretend p>
Whatever Grace saw or didn’t see in my face told her what she needed, enough for her to jump to her own
conclusions.
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Chapter 63 Keep It Secret
“Lana… are you falling in love with Kade p>
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