Losing an Edge (Portland Storm Book 13) by Catherine Gayle Read Free Book Online

not joking,” Sara said. “And once Cam finds out—”
    “He can’t find out,” I cut in. “I don’t want him to know.”
    “But… He’s your brother, hon. He loves you to bits. He needs to know.”
    “No, he doesn’t. Because everything you want to do to Guy, he honestly would do. And worse. So he can’t ever know.”
    “Why the hell did you tell me?” she demanded, throwing up her hands. “I’m not good at secrets. Not when it comes to keeping things about my husband’s sister away from him. Especially not something like this. You’re asking for a hell of a lot, Cadence.”
    “I asked you because you’re the only person I know who understands what I’ve been through.” At least with part of it.
    Sara had miscarried before. She could understand at least that part of things, although I doubted she’d ever been in a relationship like I’d had with Guy. But I needed someone I could talk to, someone who could help me sort through all the insanity in my head. I couldn’t go to my sisters or my mom. I’d fed them the same story we’d told the press about my ankle, and that was all they ever needed to know. They all believed I lived a charmed life, and I was perfectly content to let them continue thinking it. The same went for Cam. He couldn’t know. But Sara could…and she could threaten to feed Guy to the alligators.
    “Please?” I said, since she was still staring at me like I’d grown a few heads. “I just need someone I can talk to about it, but I don’t want to turn it into a big thing , you know?”
    “Honey, there’s no turning it into a big thing involved. It is a big deal. Huge. Are you sure he dropped you intentionally? It wasn’t an accident?”
    I’d been dropped accidentally enough times to be able to tell the difference, and if Sara really thought about it, she would realize that. “I’m sure. One hundred percent positive. He meant to do it.”
    She scowled. She didn’t flat out reject my pleas, but she didn’t exactly agree to help me out with my brother, either. This was going to be harder than I’d hoped.
    “And you’re going on a date with 501?” she asked. “Are you ready to date after all of that? Oh, who am I kidding? There’s no way.”
    “Tomorrow. And you’re right, I’m not even close to ready.” I was still trying to screw my head on straight again.
    “Well… At least he’s a good guy. Maybe you don’t trust your own judgment about men right now, but you can trust mine and Cam’s. It’ll be all right. Just don’t get in over your head, okay? Start out as friends or something. Is it too late to make it a double date? I bet Babs and Katie—”
    Right then, the front door opened and my brother walked inside.
    As soon as Connor saw his father, he raced over to hug him. “Daddy! We’re gonna feed the motherfucker to the agilators!”
    I turned panicked eyes to Sara, who was cool and collected as ever. “He means 501. If he tries anything with Cadence when they’re on their date tomorrow.”
    Something told me she was constantly coming up with quick excuses as to why Connor said some of the things he said.
    Cam narrowed his eyes at Sara, but he didn’t try to argue about it. He let out a hmph ing sort of sound and picked Connor up.
    I tried to remember how to breathe.

    “CAN WE FEED him to the agilators, too?” Connor asked, looking up at Anthony with a toddler version of an evil grin.
    “No, we can’t.” I had a hard time not laughing at this kid. I didn’t know how either Cam or Sara could ever keep a straight face with him. “We’re not feeding anyone to the alligators.”
    “Mommy said we could.”
    “Are there going to be alligators at the park?” Anthony asked, taking Connor’s coat from me and holding it out to help the little boy into it. “I’m scared of alligators.” He winked at me.
    “You’re scared?” Connor cackled while I busied myself with grabbing the diaper bag and lunch box filled with at least four times