All the Little Secrets

CHAPTER 24. POISON AND WINE

Chapter 24. Poison & Wine

Becca and I spend a lot of time on the dock not saying anything, both wrapped around each other for comfort. The night gets colder as time passes, but we don't move. Footsteps capture our attention as we turn to the noise. Cage is standing there in a hoodie and sweats, holding another hoodie in his hands. Becca and I both stand.

"See you in the morning," she whispers and I nod. She then pulls me in for a long, tight hug. I hug her back as we find peace for the first time in our months of drama. She pulls away and approaches Cage, who she also pulls in for a hug. Their hug is shorter, more bittersweet.

When she walks away, he doesn't glance back at her. He holds out his extra hoodie to me. I take it silently and slip it over my shirt. He reaches over to help me pull my hair out of the back of the hoodie, slowly running his fingers through my hair.

"Cage..."

"I'm sorry I lost it before," he says quietly, his hands dropping to his side. "You didn't deserve that."

"Or I did," tears begin to form again. "The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you."

"I know, come here," he says, hugging me. "I get why you told him - I just wish you would've talked to me about it first."

"You're right," my voice is muffled. "I'm so sorry."

Cage sighs as he begins to stroke my hair again. The feeling soothes me.

"So - you guys kissed?"

"Yeah."

"What does that mean for us?"

I'm not sure what he means by this question, so I answer safely. "We still have our plan, and I don't see us stopping now. Not till this is over."

"Agreed," Cage says quietly as he holds me a bit tighter. "I was hoping you'd say that."

I look up at him in the dark, making eye contact.

"Nothing changes between us, Cage. We stay best friends no matter what. Promise?"

"Promise."

Cage takes my hand and I let him as we walk up to the mansion. The mansion is dark as we head up the stairs and into my room. After a long, winded lecture from my mother about the birds and the bees, she reluctantly agreed that Cage can sleep in my room as long as he sleeps on the floor. When I tried to argue that Marco and I always slept in the same bed together, her response was, "Well, you never dated Marco, did you?"

Touche, mama.

"I'll find some blankets for the floor," Cage begins, but I shake my head.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor."

"But your mom said -"

"I know what she said." We stare at each other on either side of the bed. "It's fine," I say firmly. "We're just going to sleep."

Cage nods as he begins to undress to his briefs, and I look away a moment too late. He smirks as he takes off his shirt, exposing his chest. I change in the bathroom into a tank and comfy shorts. When I go back into the room, Cage is at the door of the bedroom, looking at Liam who leans against the frame.

"Hi," my heart begins to pound as I stare at the beautiful, distraught boy staring back at me.

"Hi," he repeats with nothing more.

Cage stands and gathers his shirt and sweats. "I'll sleep on the couch."

"No, you don't have to," I protest.