Chapter 30 In Town

Chapter 30 In Town
Tate

I didn’t wait for Kade and his friend.

It was pointless by the way.

Yeah, I had stayed back because I was worried about him, but clearly that had been a bad decision.

I headed toward Leo’s room, knocking softly before pushing the door open.

Leo was lying on his bed, propped up by pillows.

And sitting beside him was her.

The girl who had introduced herself as Kade’s girlfriend the first day we met. Isabella.

The small smile on my face faded as both of them looked at me.

“Hey, bug,” I said gently.

Leo barely looked up from the tablet in his hands.

“Hey,” he replied, his voice flat and distracted.

If he weren’t a kid, I would’ve said he was exactly like his brother.

Another pair of eyes followed me as I walked in. I dropped my bag on a chair and sat down carefully.

I turned toward her.

Unlike the last time, she was fully dressed up — smoky eye makeup, long lashes, glossy pink lips. Her hair was perfectly styled like she had somewhere important to be.

Which if I guessed correctly, was here. To see Kade.

But nonetheless, she was pretty. Really pretty.

“I didn’t realize employees were selective about who they greet,” she muttered, examining her manicured nails like they suddenly fascinated her.

I said nothing. Because honestly, I had nothing to say.

And I definitely wasn’t interested in entertaining someone determined to provoke me.

When she realized I wasn’t going to respond, she pressed her lips together and crossed her arms staring at me.

“Just so you know,” she continued, “I’m betrothed to Kade. One conversation with his mother and you’d lose your job.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

First girlfriend. Now betrothed.

Pathetic.

“Mum won’t.” Leo spoke suddenly.

I looked at him in surprise. He didn’t even lift his eyes from the tablet, but somehow he defended me.

And that spread warmth through my chest.

Isabella looked slightly offended.

“What do you know, little boy?” she muttered, ruffling his hair before turning back to me. “That shouldn’t make you comfortable.”

I tilted my head slightly.

“I’m not a threat to you,” I said calmly. “Why do you feel the need to attack me?”

I genuinely wanted to know. I wasn’t interested in her man, her title, or whatever claim she thought she had. I was here to do my job.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically.

She reminded me of those popular high-school bratty cheerleaders. Beautiful and had boys flocking around them, despite their terrible attitudes.

It wasn’t exactly hard to figure out she used to be one.

“Who said you were a threat?” she replied and I pursed my lips.

Right. Ofcourse, she’d deny it.

The door opened before I could respond.

Brayden walked in first, followed by Kade.

Kade’s eyes landed on Isabella immediately, and something in his expression shut down — cold, unreadable.

Meanwhile, Isabella practically bounced off the bed, throwing herself toward him with a bright smile that looked as fake as her tits.

I pressed my lips together and looked away.

Leo suddenly sat upright, staring at Brayden like he’d seen a ghost.

“Is that really you?” he whispered.

Brayden opened his arms instinctively, then hesitated, remembering Leo couldn’t move easily yet.

Instead, he stepped closer and leaned down, wrapping Leo in a careful half-hug.

“I’m sorry,” Brayden said quietly. “I should’ve checked on you sooner.”

Leo gave a small shrug.

Brayden pulled back, giving him a playful look. “Still can’t walk?”

Leo smiled a little. “It hurts less now.”

“That’s good,” Brayden said, patting his shoulder. “Get better soon and I’ll take you somewhere.”

Leo’s eyes lit up.

Brayden quickly raised a finger before Leo could say anything. “It’s a surprise.”

Leo quickly pressed his lips together, trying not to smile too wide.

I didn’t realize I was smiling too until my cheeks began hurting.

It was sweet.

Not Brayden. Leo.

Hushed voices near the door pulled my attention back to the other two people in the room.

Isabella was whispering something to Kade, clearly annoyed and her back was turned towards me.

Kade leaned against the doorframe, expression dry as usual but there was something else —annoyance.

And then he lifted his eyes and they met mine.

For a brief second, but I could swear his gaze softened. He looked away and I turned back toward Leo trying to concentrate, just as my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I had put it on silent earlier while waiting for Kade. I didn’t want my mom calling nonstop about another dramatic situation she’s probably —if not definitely lying about.

I was convinced Julie hadn’t actually gone missing.

I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen.

It was an unknown number.

I hesitated for a second before swiping the green button and pressing the phone to my ear.

I waited for whoever was on the other end to speak.

“Hey, Tatum.” The voice was familiar. Very familiar.

I frowned. “Julie?”

“Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “I’m actually calling from a burner,” she added quickly.

My brows pulled together, confusion settling on me.

“What?”

“I was outside your apartment like five minutes ago, but you weren’t home. Are you still at school?”

I blinked, sitting straighter.

“I’m here with some stuff,” she continued. “Hope you come back soon because… I’m moving in with you.”

I blinked again. What?

“Are you being serious right now?” I asked.

She had only visited my apartment once — twice and that was  a long time ago. How did she even remember the address?

“I am,” she said and judging from the tone of her voice, she really sounded serious.

She really was in town.

I rubbed my forehead slowly.

Yeah.

Fuck my life.