Alicia whispered, “Is your father home?”

Cade tilted his head, clearly confused by Alicia’s question.

With a sigh, Alicia told the dog to be quiet.

The house was quiet, enveloped in silence.

It seemed that Caden wasn’t really home.

The light in the entrance must have been left on all morning – a habit they both shared.

Relief washed over her, mixed with a pang of sadness.

Was it always going to be like this? Should they just spend days avoiding each other, only to pretend nothing had happened when they finally crossed paths again?

The following days were lonely.

Alicia spent every night alone, her anger giving way to longing.

At first she missed him and the sound of his voice.

𝐿𝑎t𝑒st ch𝑎pt𝑒rs in g𝓪lnoνels.𝓬𝓞𝓶

But soon she found the situation almost absurd.

With Caden’s unyielding pride, she knew he would never be the one to make the first move.

He would rather enjoy the quiet distance than confront her problems.

That afternoon her phone buzzed with a message from Blake.

“I’ll be in Warrington soon.

Are you free for dinner?” Alicia blinked, momentarily taken aback.

Blake had been assigned by Caden to another city as General Manager and rarely visited Warrington, maybe once a month at most.

It felt wrong to refuse, so she agreed.

Blake’s reply came quickly.

“Could you come to the airport? I’m picking out a present for Ray, but I’m not sure he’ll like it. You know, he listens to you best, so I need you to come with me your opinion.”

“Sure,” Alicia texted back, a small smile forming on her lips.

Just then her phone rang.

It was Gerry.

“Alicia, how about dinner tonight?”

“Maybe another time,” she replied.

“I’m busy tonight.”

“Come on,” Gerry urged.

“Caden’s here too. He asked me to invite you.”

Alicia paused, her expression hardening.