Chapter 6

SIX

Wade

The sound of laughter fills the small living room, the kids' voices rising and falling as they playfully argue over the rules of the card game we're all huddled around. It's the kind of noise that would drive some people crazy, but to me, it feels like home. This place is my old foster dad's house and it's the one place where I've always felt like I belong. It's the closest that I've ever gotten to having a home and a family.

"Wade, you're cheating!" Jake, the oldest of the kids currently living here, accuses me with a grin.

He's twelve, with a head full of curly brown hair and a mischievous streak that reminds me of myself at his age. Except he doesn't have the distrustful look or attitude that I had at that age.

"Cheating? Me?" I feign innocence, holding up my hands as if I've been caught red-handed. "I would never."

"Yeah, right," Ellie, one of the younger girls, chimes in. "You're just mad because we're beating you."

I laugh, ruffling her curly hair. "Alright, you got me there, kiddo."

Ellie beams, clearly pleased with herself, and the game continues with renewed enthusiasm.

I glance around the room, taking in the sight of the kids, their faces lit up with joy, and my foster dad, Ray, watching from his worn-out armchair in the corner. He's got a soft smile on his face, the kind that comes from years of taking in kids who need a home, who need someone to care about them, and raising them to be decent people.

Ray's been doing this for as long as I can remember. He opens his door, his home, to kids like me, kids who didn't have anywhere else to go. I, and many others, owe him more than we can ever repay. He gave me a family when I didn't have one, a place to belong when I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere, and now, even though I'm an adult, I still come back here every chance I get, to help out and to give back in whatever way I can. He saw past my angry and standoffish exterior and took the time to try to get to know me, to help me. He's the only foster parent that ever did.

"Alright, I think that it's time to call it a night," Ray announces, pushing himself up from the chair with a groan. "You've all got school in the morning."

A chorus of groans and protests rises up, but Ray just chuckles and shakes his head. "Nope, no arguments. Up you go."

The kids start to gather their cards, grumbling good-naturedly as they head upstairs to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. I help round them up, making sure everyone's got their stuff before following them up to the bedrooms.

It's a familiar routine, one that I've done a hundred times. I help get the younger ones settled, making sure they've brushed their teeth before I tuck them in.

As I'm tucking Ellie in, she looks up at me with those big, curious eyes. "Wade, what have you been working on? You said you had a new project."

I smile, pulling the covers up to her chin. She's always been the one to show the most interest in my work so I'm not surprised by the question.

"I'm working on a building downtown. It's a big one, needs a lot of work, but it's going to be beautiful when it's all done."

Ellie's eyes widen with interest. "Are you doing it all by yourself?"

"Not exactly," I say, shaking my head. "I'm working with someone. She's a designer. Her name's Auden."

"Auden," Ellie repeats, testing the name on her tongue. "Is she nice?"

"She's… yeah, she's nice," I say, a little thrown by the question.

How would I describe Auden?

She's nice, but nice doesn't quite cover it, though. Auden is smart, talented, and there's something about her that makes it hard to look away, but I don't say any of that out loud. Instead, I just smile and say, "She's really good at what she does."

Ellie grins, a knowing look in her eyes. "Is she your girlfriend?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "No, she's not my girlfriend. We're just working together."

"Uh-huh," Ellie says, clearly not convinced. "You like her, though."

"How can you tell that?" I ask curiously.

"You talk about her. You never really talk about anyone. And it's the way that you say her name. You have a crush!"

"Maybe I do," I admit, surprising myself with the honesty. "But it's not that simple."

"Why not?" she asks, genuinely curious.

I pause, trying to find the right words. How do you explain to a nine-year-old that the girl that you're working with is the woman of your dreams and that you're too scared to make a move on her?

"Because sometimes, grown-up stuff gets in the way. But don't worry about that. You just focus on getting some sleep, okay?"

Ellie nods, clearly dissatisfied with that answer, but she doesn't argue and I lean down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. "Goodnight, Ellie."

"Goodnight, Wade," she murmurs, already half-asleep.

I turn off the light and quietly step out of the room, closing the door behind me. Ray is waiting in the hallway, a knowing look on his face as he hands me a dish towel.

"Thanks for helping out, as always," he says, his voice low so as not to wake the kids. "But you know, you don't have to stay and clean up tonight."

I raise an eyebrow, taking the towel from him. "Trying to get rid of me?"

Ray chuckles, shaking his head. "No, just thinking maybe you should go hang out with your lady friend instead of spending the night here with us old folks."

"You heard that, huh," I groan and he grins.

"Yep."

"She's not my lady friend," I protest, but even as I say it, I know it sounds weak. "And besides, she's out with her friends tonight."

"So why aren't you out with her?" Ray counters, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're still young, Wade. Don't waste your time worrying about what might go wrong. Take a chance and live a little."

I open my mouth to argue, but then I close it again, realizing that maybe he's right. Maybe I'm just making excuses, hiding behind my work because it's easier than facing whatever it is that's going on between me and Auden, but the truth is, I've been thinking about her all day. I can't stop thinking about her in fact, about the way she smiled at me over lunch, about the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her plans for the building.

Maybe it's time I stopped overthinking everything and just… went for it.

I glance at the clock on the wall, seeing that it's still early enough to catch her at the bar. If I leave now, I might be able to surprise her, maybe even convince her to let me join her and her friends for a drink.

Ray must see the decision in my eyes because he claps me on the shoulder with a grin. "Go on, then. We'll be fine here."

I shake my head with a smile. "Alright, you win."

Ray laughs, giving me a gentle shove toward the stairs. "Go on, get out of here. And don't come back until you've had a good time."

I toss the dish towel on the kitchen counter and head for the door, grabbing my jacket on the way out. The night air is cool, a welcome relief after the warmth of the house, and as I climb into my truck, I feel a mix of nerves and excitement settle in my chest.

It doesn't take long to drive into town, and before I know it, I'm pulling up in front of the Lucky Horseshoe Bar, the neon sign casting a soft glow over the parking lot. The place is already buzzing with activity, the sound of laughter and music spilling out into the parking lot as I step out of the truck and make my way inside.

The moment I walk through the door, my eyes are drawn to her. It's like I can't help it, like some invisible force is pulling me toward her.

Auden is standing at a small table, her back to me, talking to Lena and Arlowe. She looks amazing, her dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders, her smile bright and genuine as she laughs at something one of her friends says.

But then I see him.

Some guy standing way too close to her, leaning in like he's trying to sneak a peek down her shirt. He's got that cocky, self-assured look that I've always hated. The kind of guy who thinks he's God's gift to women. And when Auden spots him… well, she doesn't look like she's having a good time. Her smile is strained, her body language stiff as she tries to put some distance between them.

My blood starts to boil, and before I even realize what I'm doing, I'm striding across the room, pushing through the crowd with a single-minded purpose. I can't just stand by and watch this guy make her uncomfortable. I can't. I won't.

It's time for me to rescue my girl.