Our Secret To Keep.

Chapter Thirty-Five - I Refuse

Kade

I stand still, trying to come to terms with what the hell just happened. Does she really want to end things? I can handle Beth, well, I can try, if it means Blythe and I can continue. Beth doesn't need to find out. My eyes dart between the bedroom and the bathroom, deciding what to do. Should I grab my things and leave or go to the bathroom to talk to Blythe? I don't want Beth to ruin this because she doesn't understand boundaries. She clearly needs some help. I have met a lot of women in my life, but none have ever stalked me. How do I deal with that?

Sighing, I run my fingers through my hair and head towards the bathroom. I am not giving up that easily. I try to open the door even though I know in my gut she has locked it. I knock loudly.

"Blythe, please come out. I am not leaving until you do." I say firmly, hoping my tone would coax her out.

"Kade, please go away. You know this is for the best." She replies.

"No, come out and talk to me. You can't say something like that to me and disappear to lock yourself in the bathroom."

"Kade, please leave." She sighs.

"Nope," I reply, taking a seat on the floor and resting against the bathroom door. "Is this what you really want? For us to end things?"

"No, but it's for the best. You know that. Why are you being so stubborn?" she whines.

I chuckle at her whine. "Come on now, you should know by now how stubborn I am. I am as stubborn as you are. Blythe, I am not leaving. You have two options: one, you stay in there and hope I leave, which I won't. The second, you come out and face me. Either way, I am staying put."

Blythe won't want to stay in there all day. She has to come out at some point.

Blythe doesn't say anything, only groans. I wait for her to respond, but she doesn't. After a couple of minutes, I hear her unlock the door, and I move away from the door. I get on my knees to face her as she comes out.

Blythe glances down at me. "Why are you kneeling on the floor?"

"Because I was sitting against the door, but didn't want to fall into the bathroom when you opened it."

Blythe shakes her head and walks away, heading for the kitchen. I sprint to my feet and go after her. She is making a start on a pot of coffee. I sigh, taking my place behind her. I rest my hand on her hips and bring her around to face me. She glances up at me through her long lashes, tears on her bottom lashes. I reach in and wipe them away.

"Kade, why are you making this harder than you need to be?"

I caress her cheek with my thumb. "Because you don't want this. I don't want this. I am not going to walk away and forget like it ever happened. I refuse. We shouldn't have to stop because of Beth. I understand the situation, I really do, but she shouldn't be the reason we end this. Beth can't keep thinking she can get everything she wants, Blythe."

Blythe closes her eyes and moves into my touch. "Why not? This is casual, remember? Why won't you walk away? Do you know how much trouble this will cause if Beth finds out? If my father finds out?"

"Blythe, this isn't about them. You can't keep working your life around other people. This is about us, no one else."

I feel like most of her life, Blythe has spent her time thinking about everyone else but herself. She shouldn't be giving Beth that kind of control. They are not kids anymore.

"There is an us?"

"Yes, obviously," I reply, furrowing my brows.

Blythe draws in a breath. "Us refers to two people who are together, not casually hooking up. Why are you so determined to keep this going?"

I thought that had been obvious, but guess not. Am I the only one in this?

"Do you really think this is still casual between us? You haven't felt any shift between us?" My words are shaky due to nerves. It will be an embarrassment if it is just me.

Blythe's eyes divert to the ground. "It doesn't matter. It won't work."

Blythe dips under my arm, trying to run away from me again. I don't allow her to get far. I grab her from behind and pull her back to me, turning her to face me. She gasps, looking up at me.

"You don't know that."

"It wasn't part of the plan, Kade. It has never been part of the plan." She whimpers.

"If you look me straight in the eye and tell me you don't want to be with me, that you don't have any feelings for me, I will walk away, and we can go back to only working together."

Blythe opens her mouth, but no words come. She shakes her head.

"You can't, can you?"

"No. This won't work, Kade. It is going to end in a lot of drama and pain. You don't want that. No one wants that. There are reasons why neither of us does relationships."

"None of that matters. It will be worth it, no matter how it ends."

"I don't know if I can," she whispers, chewing her lips nervously.

I push the hair from her face. "Yes, you can. We continue how things were and slowly work our way up to anything else. You can do anything you want, beautiful, if you try."

I reach in and kiss her softly. Blythe wraps her arms around my neck and melts into the kiss. I smile, parting from the kiss and take a few steps back.

"Take your time to think about it, okay?"

I don't want to pressure her or put her on the spot. She has so much going on already. She doesn't need me adding any more stress to the already growing bundle.

"Where are you going?"

"I am leaving. You need time to think, and I don't want to be here while you do. It will be too much pressure. Call me once you decide what you want. I am not going to give up that easily, Blythe."

I reach in and kiss her forehead before I disappear to the bedroom to change into my clothes. By the time I am done, Blythe is by the front door waiting for me.

"Thank you for not pushing. I promise I won't make you wait too long." She says softly.

With one last kiss, I exit her place. I will need to walk since Blythe picked me up last night. I glance around, making sure there is no sign of Beth before I get on my way. I will be on edge even more so after the conversation I heard between Beth and Blythe this morning.