Sweet Temptation – Excerpt
I smile now, thinking about him and Cade at a younger age, “How long have you been friends with Cade?”
His easy smile returns, “Since the first day of second grade. We were the most unlikely duo. I was a kid from a good family who had money, and well… let’s just say Cade was the opposite. One day, after school, three older kids were picking on him at the playground, so I walked up and beat the shit out of all three of them. I saved his life. After that he followed me around everywhere I went. No matter what I did I couldn’t get rid of him, so I thought: ah what the hell, I’ll be his friend.”
I stare at him a second before I burst out laughing, “You’re lying!”
He looks at me, affronted, “I am not! You should have seen me baby, I kicked major ass.”
I shake my head and continue to laugh, knowing he’s lying. “Ok, ok, it was actually the other way around, but don’t judge Cupcake I was small for my age, believe it or not. I didn’t get all this until closer to junior high.”
I have a hard time picturing Sawyer small for his age, considerin’ what a giant he is now. “So you followed Cade around till he became your friend?”
“Wouldn’t you?” he asks looking at me like I’m crazy, “the guy kicked the shit out of all three of those fuckers for trying to steal my new Pumas. I decided right there that this guy was going to be my friend, and I was gonna bring him everywhere I went, which I did. At first he tried acting like he didn’t want to be my friend, but of course it didn’t take long before he realized I wasn’t going anywhere. In the end he decided to give in, and we have been best friends ever since.”
With a big smile I wrap my arms around his neck, “That’s a great friendship story. I’m glad y’all met, and he was able to save your Pumas for you.”
Sawyer grins, “Me too baby. My mom had just bought those for me, she would have been pissed.”
I giggle again, but it fades as I tread into darker territory, “Can I ask you somethin’?”
“Anything Cupcake.”
“How did Cade’s sister die?” His expression turns to stone, his eyes cold and hard. I immediately regret asking. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
He shakes his head, as if pulling himself out of some sort of turmoil, “No it’s fine. It’s just… I have never told another soul this story, but I will tell you. You can’t ever bring it up to Cade though, ok? Because it’s something that will send him right over the fucking edge; it’s why he never talks about it.”
My stomach turns to lead and I swallow nervously, knowing what Sawyer is about to tell me is probably going to be the most awful thing I will ever hear in my life.
