Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 53 - Caden

"Hey Cade. What time does your flight land in NYC tomorrow?"

Glancing down at the text message from his best friend Dustin, Caden replied, "Hey Dusty. Our flight gets into JFK airport around 3pm, but I have to help mom at the auction house for a couple of hours. With dad being unable to travel, I have to fill in for him." Seeing the dots as they bounced, indicating that Dusty was sending a response, Caden grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge before he ran the towel that he had been using throughout his workout, over his sweat drenched face.

Seeing Dusty's response, Caden sat down on one of the black leather chairs at his kitchen island as he read the message. "Okay. Well... we are all set at the club. Mitch, Ryan and I already reserved the table. The club opens around 11pm, and from what Mitch said, it's hard as hell to get into, but he said he has a connection there, so we shouldn't have any issues." Downing the remainder of his water, Caden tossed the empty bottle into the recycling bin, before he sent a reply. "Sounds good. What time will you guys be by the hotel to pick me up?" As the dots bounced around on the screen again, Caden pulled the plate of salmon and asparagus that he had left over from the night before, and after grabbing another bottle of water from the fridge, he sat down to eat.

Seeing the response from Dusty, Caden lifted the phone and read the response, "We'll swing by around 11pm to get you. That should get us there between 11:30 – 11:45 depending on traffic. Mitch's dad is actually allowing him to use the Bentley that night...can you believe it?!" Chuckling to himself, Caden shook his head after reading Dusty's text, because Mitch's dad was a hard-ass, and the fact that he was allowing Mitch to drive one of his prized possessions, was shocking.

Mitchell Andrew Bradshaw III was one of Caden's best friends and was also filthy rich. Mitch's family was "old money", like.... four generations back kind of rich. Apparently, one of Mitch's great, great, great, great grandfathers from like a gazillion years ago had a hand in founding the New York Stock Exchange back in the day, which meant that Mitch would never have to work a day in his life. Caden had met Mitch several years ago, through his best friends Dustin Lombardi and Ryan Jacobsen, who were also wealthy, while at a party in Martha's Vineyard one summer, and after that trip, Mitch had been inducted into their trio.

Responding to Dusty's latest text, Caden said, "I can't believe that he let Mitch near it, especially after he banged up the Maserati that he bought him for his birthday a few months ago." Shaking his head at the memory of how Mitch had gotten drunk at a club to celebrate his 26th birthday, and had driven the latest "bribe", Mitch's words not Caden's, that he'd received from his father, at a higher rate of speed than his intoxicated brain could handle, into a guard rail, Caden added, "Let's make sure that Mitch is not behind the wheel tonight!" After sharing a few additional text messages and solidifying their plans for the following evening, Caden lifted his fork and dug into his leftovers.

The next morning, Caden was awaken to the sound of his phone chiming his mother's ringtone. Groaning, he glanced over at the clock and saw that the time was 7:45AM. Letting out an exhausted sigh, he rolled over and grabbed his phone from his bedside table. Swiping to answer the call, Caden's voice was groggy when he said, "Hey mom. Is everything okay?" Hearing rustling on the other end of the line, Caden heard his mother as she said, "Hey sweetie. Hang on a second..." Hearing the excited sounds of puppy barking, Caden couldn't help but smile, because he knew that his mom was in the middle of sending their two-year old Labrador puppy, Batman, out into the backyard for his "morning potty session." Caden chuckled to himself because it was in that moment that he realized that he needed to indulge in a "morning potty session" of his own. Rolling out of bed, Caden quickly headed to the bathroom, muting his side of the conversation while he relieved himself.