Gambling It All

Chapter Twenty

"So, you're just going to run away like Cowardly Custard?" Cade sleep roughened voice said from behind Dixie, making her whirl around in surprise and shock.

She sighed and put her hands on her hips, squinting in the dim light of the early morning sun. "How is it possible you are even up at this hour? When I made flight arrangements out of Denver, hired the car, and then went to bed, you were hip deep in tequila with the boys and making up alternate lyrics to 'Wheel in the Sky' by Journey. For what it's worth, I think you should probably hang up any designs you have on joining a band as a lyricist, and I'm just saying that as a friend."

Cade half heartedly flipped her the bird. "No wonder Metallica hasn't been returning my calls. But more importantly, are you running away like Cowardly Custard?" he repeated, and she rolled her eyes slightly.

"Are you still drunk?"

"No, I'm just very hung over and not in the mood to talk you off some ledge this early in the morning," Cade said, disguising a yawn and running a hand through his unruly blond hair.

"No ledge," Dixie said brightly. "Both feet are solidly on the ground, and heading for the airport. I'm going home. I'm not running away, I'm not being cowardly, but I'm thinking that right now, Nicky and I don't have a relationship enough to work together. Maybe, in time, we can come to an agreement, but right now, I truly think it would be detrimental for me to work as his trainer. And believe it or not, I'm really bummed about leaving."

"You guys fought?" Cade asked simply, sinking down on the front step and watching her.

"Um. Yeah. To say the least," Dixie replied softly, her chest constricting at the thought of the words they had said to each other in the darkness. "It started off really... and then it got really... and then it really wasn't. You know?"

Cade nodded sagely. "That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. You know that, right?"

Dixie sighed in frustration. "Yes, I know that. We almost hooked up, then we fought about it, and then we broke up before we ever went out. And if you repeat that to anyone, I will deny any and all knowledge and then I'll break both your legs. Well, I probably won't do it myself, but I'll hire someone to do it for me."

"You were gonna hook up with Gamble?" Cade asked, trying to sound nonchalant and failing miserably.

"Like you didn't see that coming ages ago," Dixie said, finally flopping down beside him on the stoop, the hired car still not in sight on the property. "You've been plotting it from the start for him and I to hook up, and don't even deny it. I'm on to you."

"I won't deny it, but I'm kinda pissed it didn't take. You guys would be adorbs together."

"God, you are still drunk if you are using the words 'adorbs'," Dixie said, wrinkling her nose in distaste. "What are you, a fifteen year old girl? Adorbs?!"

"What did you fight about?" Cade asked, ignoring her accusation.

He's an emotionless automaton, I'm scared of intimacy, and we're too stubborn to do anything about it so instead of trying, we just going to, you know, not try," Dixie said, noting how idiotic the fight sounded in the plain light of day.

"Sounds pretty true to me," Cade confirmed and Dixie poked him in the ribs once.

"Gee. Thanks."

"So what?" Cade replied, flicking her ear in retaliation for the poke. "You work through it, you fix it, and then you get together and get started on happily ever after. And you, missy, need to get over your hang-ups about your—"

"Don't," Dixie interrupted and Cade shrugged, his eyes meeting hers.

"You do. I swear by all that is holy, it's not as bad as you think it is."

"I know, and I'm working on it, but..." Dixie trailed off.

"Just tell him. He'll understand – God, if anyone would understand what you went through, don't you think it would be him?"

"I don't know, Cade. I don't know where we are. So until I do, I'm leaving. Tell Earl thanks for the birthday party, and thanks to you too, because I know it was your brain child in the first place. So thank you." She leaned over and kissed his stubbled cheek as the sleek black car pulled into the circular drive, a driver hopping out as soon as the car was parked and began loading her luggage. "Go back to bed, kiss Jackie good morning, and then tell her to call me later so I can tell her what's going on. I know her flight home isn't until later tonight, according to what I remember from what she told me last night."

"How on earth would I kiss her good morning?" Cade asked, his voice a tad too innocent.

Dixie cocked her head and rolled her eyes at his plot. "Please. I totally know you guys went to bed together. Spare me the innocent act. And please call her afterwards – I don't want you being 'that guy'. We hate 'that guy'," Dixie added and Cade smirked.

"I promise," Cade said, slowly standing, then turning and tugging her to her feet by the hands before pulling her into a warm, crushing hug.

I know he's difficult, but he's a good man, and I think you guys would be so good together, and I'm not just saying that because I want to world to pair off. Don't dismiss this forever, just go to your neutral corners work through your shit individually, and then get back together. You'll see... it will all work out in the end."

"I hope so, but until then, take care of yourself, and please take care of him," Dixie said, her voice soft. "I'll see you on the flip side, yeah?"

"Love ya, Dixieland," Cade said, releasing her and giving her a wide smile. "And that's not the tequila talking, I swear."

"Love ya, Creeper," Dixie echoed before turningand loading up the rest of her luggage for the long trek back home.