Bully stepbrother

47. Eyes don't speak

MADISON

I played DJ on our road trip to Santa Cruz. With the windows down, music filled the air, our hair dancing freely. Caden's hair was lustrous, while mine was a mess. Mentally, I sighed, thinking, "So help me, God."

Santa Cruz was just a forty-minute drive thanks to Caden's powerful car.

Every now and then, Caden flashed me a nurturing look over his sunglasses or held my hand when his phone wasn't demanding his attention.

"Let's do something," he suddenly says as I narrow my eyes at the quiet parking lot he's slowing into.

"Caden?" I shake my head, denial flaring even as fear pushes in, loud and insistent. My subconscious has been whispering this for a while now. He's going to dump me here.

"Come out." He jerks his chin toward my door, his eyes on me.

"I'm not getting out." My voice comes out wobbly, tears burning at the back of my eyes. I did this to myself. I let my guard down again.

A bothered frown pulls at his face, his brows hardening. He's going to kick me out. My breath comes faster, every second heavier than the last.

"Babe, what? Hey." He cradles my face, and my heart just stops. I flinch before I can stop myself, a sharp jerk he definitely feels.

His frown twists into anger, but it's not aimed at me. It feels like it's aimed inward, at himself. His tongue sweeps over his lips as he lets his hand fall away from my cheek.

"You flinched when I touched you," he whispers.

"I didn't," I rush out.

"No, you did, Mad." He swallows hard, and his gaze drops to the space between us.

"It wasn't your touch," I admit. His head lifts, and his eyes are suddenly clear and a little desperate. "It's the instant shift in your mood. You just tried to kick me out, and then you were cradling my face." My voice fades as he rubs his eyes, his shoulders rising with a deep inhale.

"It's hard to control that part of me." He looks straight into my eyes. "But I was never going to dump you on the road. I will never leave you anywhere that's not home." He says it like a vow, and I let out a shaky chuckle, but his face stays serious, maybe even hurt.

"I'm sorry," I blurt, and his eyes widen.

He shakes his head and lets a small smile grow. "You don't ever have to apologize to me. I'm the problem. You always make things better." He exhales with a thoughtful smile, and hearing him admit that does something to my chest.

My lips part, but words don't show up. I'm too stunned. Caden abruptly pushes his door open, letting a rush of fresh air sweep through and wash out some of the tension. He steps out like nothing just happened.

I watch him circle the hood toward my side. I give in, open my door, and climb out.

"What are you doing?" I ask, shrugging, but he just clasps my shoulders and gently steers me toward the driver's side.

It hits me. Empty parking lot. Me behind the wheel of a car that Caden actually trusts me with.

"Caden, I'll probably crash your car," I warn as he settles me into the seat.

"That's why you're going to have your seatbelt on. Apparently, not driving is also unsafe," he says the last part weirdly. He pulls the belt across my chest, his cologne drifting over me, lighting up thoughts that should absolutely stay buried. I turn my face toward the window, feeling every tug and click of the seatbelt, hyperaware of him, until I'm buckled in and he's adjusted my seat.