by Mona Kasten
I shook my head. “For my bed, Kaden. My bed.”
With these words I left him standing there, and headed for Dawn.
A racket outside my room startled me awake. My heart pounded. Then I heard cursing from the hallway.
I sighed with relief. It was Kaden, who had finally come home at the fine hour of 3:30 a. m.
More clattering; then something hit the floor with a massive thud. Kaden swore at the top of his voice.
Suddenly there was only silence. That was more unsettling than the string of explicatives I’d just heard. After a few minutes, the silence began to worry me, and I got out of bed. I went to the door and opened it a crack.
“What’s going on?” I hurried over, my arms crossed over my chest.
Kaden lay on his stomach, stretched out in the hallway. Now I saw where the rattling had come from: While trying to remove his shoes, he must have knocked into the jackets and fallen, ripping out a few coat hooks on the way.
He let out a muffled groan.
I sighed and knelt down beside him so I could remove his boots from his feet. No sooner had I managed that, than he began to kick.
“Leave me,” he muttered. He tried to stand but only managed to prop himself up with his back against the wall. His head sagged to the side, his lips were parted, and his eyes were closed.
“You can’t sleep in the hallway,” I said.
He wrinkled his nose and tried to shoo me away with his hand.
Sighing, I shook my head.
“Come on, Kaden,” I murmured, leaning down to wrap an arm around his waist and put his hand on my shoulder, so he could support himself.
“Leave me alone.” This time his voice was loud and clear.
“Get a grip and let me help, for God’s sake!”
Stubborn, I got him standing. I barely managed to maneuver him through the living room. With every second step he banged into another piece of furniture. It almost seemed like he was doing it on purpose.
Finally in his room, I helped him spread out his blanket. I was becoming an old pro at this. I’d done the same thing for Dawn a couple of hours before. Then I went in search of aspirin and a bottle of water.
As I reentered the room, Kaden was wrestling with his belt. His shirt and socks were strewn on the floor. I put the water on the nightstand, just as he fell backward onto the bed. Wearing only tight boxer shorts. I looked away.
“Here, take these,” I urged, holding the pills out to him. He shoved them in his mouth and swallowed them dry. The sight of this made me queasy. I handed him the water bottle. “Now drink at least down to here,” I indicated the topmost groove.
“You realize I’ve been drunk before, right?” Kaden said with a crooked grin, placing the bottle to his lips.
“Can I leave you alone now?” I asked.
Kaden set the bottle down on his nightstand. A sly grin played on his lips. With his tousled hair and laugh lines around his eyes, he looked irresistible. I wanted to turn away, but couldn’t take my eyes off him.
He must have done some weight training. Oh yes, I was pretty sure of that. Such defined muscles didn’t come from hiking. I stared at his naked torso, the pattern on his biceps, his belly, and the narrow path of hair that disappeared under the band of his underwear. Damn. What a body.
“You’re checking me out,” Kaden observed, sitting up. He looked pleased with himself, almost excited.
“What?” Caught in the act, I tore my eyes away and shook my head vigorously. “No I’m not. I’m just trying to make sure you’re still breathing.”
“You turn red when you lie. Did you know that?”
I covered my cheeks and moved away from his bed, so I could get back to my room as fast as possible. “Whatever. Go to sleep.”
“You know it’s true!” he called out, laughing. Self-satisfied, he crossed his arms behind his head. Narcissistic asshole.
“Good night, Kaden.”
I turned my back to him and headed for the door.
“Allie?”
I paused and turned back to look at him. His grin had disappeared.
“I lied,” he said. The words came hesitantly, as if his tongue were heavy. His voice was deeper than usual.
“What do you mean?” I asked as I turned out the living room light.
“That dress,” murmured Kaden. “It looked amazing on you.”
Grinning, I made my way down the hallway and closed my door behind me.
Chapter 8
The next morning I awoke to a tickling sensation on my neck. I blinked sleepily, but I was so beat from the night before that I could barely open my eyes. I decided to turn over and pretend it wasn’t there.
A deep laugh broke my reverie.
I groaned, grabbed a pillow and threw it blindly toward the laugh. “Get out of here!”
“I come in peace, bearing coffee.”
My ears pricked up, and I struggled into a sitting position. A mug hovered in front of my nose. I looked past its brim directly into the eyes of an astonishingly fit Kaden. Only the paleness of his face betrayed a possible hangover.
“To what do I owe this coffee in bed, Mr. White?” I teased, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. As I lifted it to my lips, a familiar scent reached my nose. My eyes widened. “You even put creamer in!”
Kaden shrugged and collapsed into my desk chair. “I figured I owed you something after last night.”
“No problem,” I answered in all sincerity. I’d only done what any friend would have.
“I mean it. Thanks.”
“Are you turning into a softie, or what?” I asked frowning. “Or is there some kind of catch? A new rule? Do I have to read the fine print?”
“You’re blabbing again.” Kaden shook his head. His expression was serious, but his sparkling eyes betrayed his amusement.
I took a huge gulp of my coffee and sighed with pleasure. “How do you not have a huge hangover?”
“My head is pounding a bit, but I think the aspirin is starting to kick in.” He rubbed his forehead. “Actually, I usually take another medicine for hangovers.”
“And that would be?” I asked.
Kaden gave me a crooked grin. “Fresh air.”
I saw playfulness in his eyes and shook my head. “No way. I got blisters last time.” I rolled my eyes. “I need to get the right shoes if we’re going back to the mountains.”
Kaden pointed to my dresser. “Done. I already took care of that.”
I followed his gesture and stared. After checking quickly that I was wearing presentable PJ bottoms, I got out of bed and went to my dresser to see a pair of shoes sitting next to it.
Hiking shoes.
Stunned, I turned to him. “Did you buy these for me?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “No. Monica didn’t want them anymore. Ethan used to make her go with him, but nowadays neither of them gets out much. I thought they might fit you.”
“That’s so nice.” His thoughtfulness surprised me, and I found myself wondering if “being nice” was somehow breaking one of his rules.
“Nice is such an awful word.” He seemed uncomfortable. “Now get a move on. I want to go out!” He threw me the same sweater that I’d worn the last time.
I sighed as he left the room. And at the same time I couldn’t help smiling.
The weather was much colder this time, and I shivered as we made our way uphill.
“A little slower,” I panted, my hands on my hips. The stitches in my sides were nothing to laugh about.
“If we go any slower we won’t be up there until sunset, and then the view stinks,” Kaden shouted back over his shoulder, unmoved. He was ahead of me by about ten yards and made no effort to wait. The guy had no mercy.
This time he was taking me up a different route. I couldn’t believe how well he kn
ew his way—there were no well-trodden paths here, but he could find his way even without GPS. As if he had a sixth sense for this particular region.
I paused. There was a sound in the distance. It wasn’t loud, but it sounded like a bubbling brook or something similar.
“Come on!” Kaden had stopped walking and was tapping his foot. A motivational trainer would have nothing on him.
Which made me wonder. “Hey, what are you studying, anyway?” I asked between jagged breaths, once I’d caught up with him.
“Majoring in journalism. Minoring in graphic design.”
“That sounds exciting. What kind of job do you want?”
“No idea.” He sounded thoughtful. “My first choice would be covering the film industry, but I know how hard it is to get a foot in the door. Especially now, when print media is struggling. That’s why I’m taking lots of different courses to keep my options open.”
Wow. He’d never said so much at once.
“What about you?” he asked, looking back at me over his shoulder.
“I want to be a teacher.”
“What grade?” he probed, as he held back a branch that crossed our path so I could pass. He followed.
“High school.”
I felt Kaden’s eyes on me but kept on walking.
“That’s a pretty short answer coming from you, Bubbles,” he said sarcastically.
I shrugged. There wasn’t much to say about it. My parents considered my dream of becoming a teacher absurd. But I’d already made up my mind.
“Were you one of those girls who was bullied in school and now wants to change other people’s lives?” asked Kaden.
I stopped in my tracks. My heart pounded. “No.”
“Then maybe you were the star of your high school and captain of the cheerleader squad, and now you want to give back what you got,” he guessed again.
I felt ill. I really didn’t want to think about my school years, about who I had been. I remained silent.
Kaden interpreted this as encouragement from me, and kept on guessing.
“Or maybe you were one of those girls who did everything possible to get attention? Alcohol from older friends, wild parties, men and so on?”
“Shut up!” I hissed, clenching my fists. I spun around and glared at Kaden, my eyes narrowed into angry slits.
Bull’s-eye. He had guessed correctly. And the surprised look on his face told me he knew it.
“Allie.”
“No.”
He ventured a step toward me as I crossed my trembling arms over my chest. “I’m sorry if I crossed the line.”
I sniffed.
He grew serious and looked me in the eyes. “I really do want to know what makes you want to teach.”
I swallowed hard and looked away. I hadn’t shared the real reason with anyone yet. And I didn’t really want anyone to know. Particularly not Kaden.
“Okay, then I’ll start,” Kaden said abruptly. “If my father had his way, I would be getting a degree in economics and business so I could work in his company eventually, like my older brother Alex.” He shook his head and shoved his cap backward on his head. “He doesn’t care that I want to do the exact opposite. I’ve always had a passion for film and design. My mom pointed me toward journalism.”
This time I held the branches back so Kaden could pass under them.
“What did your dad say about it?” I asked after a pause.
Kaden dug his hands into his pockets. “He wasn’t too delighted. Told me I should pick a subject that would bring payback in the future. When I moved here, he cut me off from all support.”
“What?” I blurted out.
Kaden just raised his shoulders.
“Just because your dreams don’t match his doesn’t mean he should leave you in the lurch. I mean, you’re his son!”
“I can manage without him.” Kaden avoided my glance; he just reached up and fiddled with his cap.
“What an ass,” I sniffed, but regretted my outburst immediately. “Oh, I didn’t mean to say that. I only wanted … ”
“It’s okay.” He gave me a crooked grin and his caramel-brown eyes twinkled in the sun. “I like it when you talk that way.”
My cheeks grew warm as he looked at me. Crazy how many emotions could flow through one body within such a short time.
“I … I want to change the lives of young people.” The words came out of their own accord; they just tumbled out of me. I’d never told anyone about it before. “Naive, I know. But school years are the toughest time in life for so many. Aside from the fact that I also really like teaching, I want to be someone they can come to if they need to talk. I want to show them what’s really important in life. I want to … ” I hesitated. The rushing sound I’d heard earlier had grown louder, and I continued heading toward its source.
“What do you want to do?” asked Kaden, close behind me. He didn’t sound judgmental or bored, like my parents always were when I tried talking with them about my dreams.
“I don’t only want to teach them what’s in the lesson plan. There are so many values that aren’t part of the curriculum and that get lost along the way. So many teenagers have no one who cares, no one they can trust. I want to be that someone for them, someone they can come to if they need guidance. I just want to have a positive effect on these kids. To give them something that they might not be getting at home. And help them get back on the right track if they need it.”
Kaden had moved to walk next to me. He glanced at me sidelong, and my whole face felt red-hot. But the more I said, the better I felt. It did me good to share these thoughts.
“I like your plans,” Kaden said after a pause. “It’s hard to find teachers who put their heart into their work, who think seriously about their students.” He threw me another glance. “I think you’ll be a great teacher.”
“Do you really mean it?” I blurted out.
Kaden shrugged and grinned. “You know how to talk without stopping; I think that’s a good prerequisite. Most teachers love to hear themselves talk.”
I made a face at him and promptly stumbled on a root. Kaden grabbed my arm and supported me. Once my footing was sure, he let me go.
“Besides, then you’ll have the honor of playing the lead actress in lots of wet dreams.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Kaden!” I cried.
“With your legs, it wouldn’t be long before the drooling, pre-pubescent fuckers crowd into the front row.”
“Sounds like you know this from personal experience.” I couldn’t hold back my own grin any longer.
“Oh, I was harmless in high school.”
He frowned.
“But not anymore,” I ventured.
Kaden noticed my questioning glance. “No, not anymore,” he said, with a sly grin. “Harmlessness is overrated. It’s no fun.”
I shook my head. “Then it’s true, what they say about you.”
“What do they say about me?” he asked, suddenly turning to his right. The sound of water noise was even louder now, and he had to raise his voice.
I remembered the stories about Kaden that had made the rounds on campus, and decided not to answer his question in too much detail.
“They say you’re a heartbreaker,” I said, panting as I tried to pull myself up by a rock.
“Women always know what they’re getting into with me. But in the end, men are always the bad guy,” he said.
I rolled my eyes at him. “So I shouldn’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face. Fooling around without any commitments—it can’t last.” I yelled as I slipped and lost my hold on the rock.
A firm grip around my upper arm prevented me from falling. Kaden pulled me up to him, then released my arm again and looked at me, concerned.
I sighed. “You shouldn’t look at it that way. Girls st
art to like you, and they think about you. It’s normal. When I like someone I do the same.”
Kaden tilted his head. “So that’s why you put me to bed last night.”
“I put you to bed,” I answered, “because you couldn’t have slept under a pile of jackets in the hall. And you were keeping me up with all that noise.” I wanted to avoid Kaden’s intense gaze, but he didn’t give me a choice. Instead, he came so close to me that his forehead almost touched mine. And whispered, “You brought me to bed because you like me.”
“No.” I blurted. My voice was supposed to sound cool and unemotional. Thanks to Mom, I could usually manage that at the drop of a hat. Why not now?
“So what if you do like me? It’s your nature to be caring, you said it yourself. And I would bet you’re most annoyed by the things that are beyond changing.”
I swallowed hard. “What does that mean? There’s no hope for you? That you’re a broken soul?”
Not speaking, he let his eyes wander across my face. For an instant they paused at my lips before returning to look in my eyes. “Believe me, Bubbles. You don’t want to know,” he finally said.
Kaden had no idea how well I understood him at this moment. I really did. Every word he said could apply to my life. It was almost like he was talking about me, not about himself.
“You’re not broken, Kaden. Maybe just a little bent. That’s not irreparable,” I murmured. By now the sound of rushing water was so loud that I wasn’t sure he’d even heard me. We stood for a few moments just looking at each other, until Kaden shook his head and turned.
He took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. Then he took one step to the side so I could see ahead.
My mouth hung open.
Now I saw what that noise was. Kaden had brought me to a huge waterfall.
“Oh my God.” I whispered.
Water rushed through a gap in the stony face of the mountain, flowing down between a tangle of trees and bushes. Rays of sunlight ricocheted off the powerful jet of water as it tumbled down the cliff wall to a lake below.
“Come on,” Kaden said, gesturing with his chin toward the lake.
