Better (Too Good series) (34 page)

“No.”

“All right then. I will,” Mr. Miller replied, unaffected.

They all bowed their heads, and Cadence listened to the drone of her father’s voice. The prayer was mechanical and practiced; she’d heard it a million times, but her father always tried to inject some kind of feeling into it. Now, he simply went through the motions, like he didn’t believe a thing he was saying. It was disrespectful, and it baffled her.

They ate half of their meal in silence. Cadence wasn’t sure if her parents were waiting for her to open the conversation. She had nothing to say. And anyway, they invited her. Midway through her lasagna, Mr. Miller finally spoke.

“How are you getting on with your classes?” he asked.

“Just fine,” Cadence replied.

“Are you taking a full load?” her mother asked.

“Fifteen hours.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Mrs. Miller said.

It was odd. Her mother spoke to her like nothing had happened in the hospital room—like she didn’t completely ignore Cadence before she left. Like she didn’t have a complete attitude that she couldn’t get her way.

“And Millie’s? You’re still working there?” Mr. Miller asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s good,” Mrs. Miller said again.

Cadence sipped her ice water.

“And you’re being taken care of? I mean, you’re not wanting for anything, are you?” Mr. Miller asked.

Cadence smirked. “Mark’s taking care of me,” she said softly.

She saw her mother tense. The church parking lot scene flashed in her brain, particularly her mother’s refusal to say Mark’s name. It was “your son” and “that man.”

“It’s nice to see you back at church,” Cadence’s dad said.

“I don’t go for you,” Cadence replied. “And anyway, how can you even say that to me? You’ve never greeted me all the times I’ve gone.”

“I meant that I’m glad you’re going,” her father replied.

Cadence snorted. “Oh, I see. You’re hoping church will help me see my wicked ways?”

“You
are
living with a man, Cadence,” her mother said. “And you’re not married.”

“Are we done here?” Cadence asked. She moved to stand, but Oliver put his hand on her shoulder.

“Wait,” he whispered.

Cadence took a deep breath.

Mr. Miller cleared his throat. “I realize things between us have been strained.”

“Strained?” Cadence asked. “Things between us have been nonexistent. Not strained.”

“Nevertheless,” Mr. Miller said, “I realize I’m not being fair in some areas of our relationship.”

“Our relationship?” This time Cadence laughed. “Dad, we don’t have a relationship.”

“I realize that,” he snapped, and then composed himself once more. “And I’m not looking for one.”

Cadence reared back. “Then why am I here?”

“I wanted to do this one thing for you,” he said.

Cadence glimpsed Oliver. He shrugged and shook his head.

“What thing?” she asked.

Mr. Miller walked to the buffet and grabbed an envelope. He handed it across the table to Cadence.

“What is this?”

“As long as you go full
time and finish in four years, that should cover it,” he replied.

“What are you talking about?” Cadence asked.

“Your schooling. That money is yours, and I want you to have it. I want you debt-free when you graduate,” he explained.

Cadence was in shock. And then her shock turned to suspicion.

“What’s the catch?” she asked carefully.

“There is no catch,” her father replied. “That money is yours. It’s as simple as that.”

Cadence looked at the unmarked envelope. She was so tempted to open it and read the sum on the check, but that would be rude. Plus, a part of her felt like it would give her parents too much satisfaction. Why were they doing this in the first place?

And then she understood. Her father had only just said it—that he wasn’t looking to have a relationship with her. This was his pathetic attempt to absolve himself for hitting her then disowning her. Why couldn’t he just say he was sorry? She’d take a genuine apology over money any day.

“Is that it then?” she asked, fighting the tears.

“Well, we have dessert,” Mrs. Miller offered.

Dessert. It was ludicrous. This entire evening. She thought for a split second about leaving the money on the table and walking out. But then her brain overrode her heart. It didn’t happen often. She was usually more emotional than rational, but her brain took the lead and whispered important information in her ear.

Take the money.

Why?
she asked.

Because that’s the wise thing to do. Take it
.

But they’ll hold it over my head.

No, they won’t. You’ve made no promises. You’ve signed no deals. Take the money. Take it for Mark.

Mar
k!
she thought.
Mark’s schooling! I’d forgotten.

But now you remember,
her brain said.
This will be your father’s only apology. Accept it, then walk away.

Cadence nodded, and her mother jumped u
p for the kitchen. Her mother thought she was agreeing to dessert when she was really agreeing to take the check. It wasn’t the heartfelt apology she hoped for. It wasn’t the acceptance she craved for so many months. But it was a future—a future for both her and Mark. And she couldn’t worry about whether her parents wanted to share in that future. She thought about what was right for the man she loved, so she ate her mother’s cake, thanked her parents for the check she tucked in her purse, and said goodbye.

And she never looked back.

“Are we there yet?” Avery whined from the backseat.

Cadence giggled and flipped the page of her latest novel.

“What the hell are you reading?” Avery asked when no one answered her.

“Nothing you’d like,” Cadence replied.

“Oh, is it like classic shit?”

Cadence held up the book, displaying the front cover.

Avery leaned forward to take a look. “Eh, never heard of it.”

“I know.”

“I read other stuff, Cadence. Okay? You know as well as I that I’m the smartest person in this car.”

“It’s not a car. It’s an SUV,” Dylan corrected.

“Dylan doesn’t like when I call his SUV a car,” Avery said to Cadence. “What difference does it make?”

Cadence shook her head and continued reading.
It was her first official summer read, and she wished Avery would leave her alone. Exams ended a week ago, and they all decided to escape to the beach. She and Avery were exhausted from school. Mark needed a pick-me-up before his summer courses started. Dylan was sick of the people who visited his shop and walked out empty-handed.

Avery huffed. “Why are bitches always in the back?”

Mark laughed.

“Baby, you know I don’t treat you like a second-class citizen,” Dylan said. “I put you in the back because it’s the safest place to be.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “Cadence! Pay attention to me! I’m bored.”

“Look out the window,” Cadence replied absently.

Avery snatched her book and tossed it in the trunk.

“Damnit, Avery!”

“Oh, get over it. They live happily ever after. That’s all you need to know,” she said.

“God, you’re such an annoying
bitch right now.”

“If you two don’t cut it out
back there . . .” Mark warned.

The girls giggled.

“What?” Avery said. “You gonna spank us like you did Cadence that one time?”

“AVERY! You weren’t supposed to tell!”

“You told her that?” Mark asked. He turned around and glared at Cadence.

“Dude, are we talking like sexy
, playful spanking or you’re-really-in-trouble spanking?” Dylan asked.

Mark ignored him. He watched Cadence’s mouth move, forming the words, “I’m sorry.”

“The second one,” Avery said.

“Holy shit,” D
ylan breathed. “Are you guys, like, into that whole BDSM stuff?”

“Oh my God,” Cadence replied. She turned to Avery. “I hate you right now.”

“What? I think it’s totally hot. I wish Dylan would spank me when I’m bad,” she said. And then she sighed, frustrated. “Somebody get me outta this car.”

“You?” Cadence replied. “Somebody get
you
out of the car? I don’t wanna be anywhere near you right now. How about somebody get me out of this car?! I can’t believe you told. You weren’t supposed to tell!”

“Do you tell Avery everything?” Mark asked.
It wasn’t fear that permeated his voice. More like mild concern.

“She sure does. That’s what BFFs do,” Avery replied.

“Not anymore they don’t,” Cadence snapped.

“Oh, calm yourself down. You’re such a prude, Cadence. I mean, good grief.
I would think that after your boyfriend bent you over the bed and wailed on your ass . . .” She couldn’t finish. She burst out laughing instead.

“Shut up, Avery!” Cadence cried.

“Dude, you bent her over the bed?” Dylan asked.

“How else do you spank someone?” Mark replied.

Avery gripped her stomach and doubled over.

“Everybody just shut up about my spanking!” Cadence screamed.

The front seat erupted with laughter. Avery wheezed, head tucked between her legs. Cadence sat with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Go on then,” she said sulkily. “Laugh it up. You know, I could barely sit the next day.”

Another burst of laughter. It drowned out DJ Shadow’s “Redeemed.” Cadence watched Avery, slightly alarmed. She heard people could die laughing, but come on. Really?

“Breathe!” she screamed at Avery.

“I . . .” She drew in a ragged breath. Cadence cringed at the sound. “I n-never told . . . you how f-fucking f-f-funny I . . . thought that was!”

“Whatever,” Cadence mumbled. “You acted all offend
ed like you were mortified he did that to me. Like I’d been abused or something.”

Avery wiped her eyes and took another long breath. “I just did that for your benefit.”

Cadence rolled her eyes.

“You know you straight up deserved that shit,” Avery went on.

Mark was notably quiet in the front.

“Changing the subject now,” Cadence said.

“Fine. Just don’t be doing all that kinky shit at the condo. The walls are paper thin,” Avery replied.

They headed down
Interstate 75 on their way to the Gulf Coast. Dylan’s parents owned a beach condo, and they nabbed it for the week.

“I still can’t believe your parents made us pay for it,” Avery grumbled.

“Hey. We’re adults, remember? Adults pay for stuff,” Dylan explained.

“But they’re your parents,” Avery pointed out.

“Yes. And they have a mortgage,” he countered.

Avery waved her hand dismissively. “Mortgage shmortgage.”

“What happened to grown-up Avery?” Cadence asked. “I thought you were all like, ‘Oh, look at my plans for the future and I’m saving all my pennies and—’”

“Fuck that,” Avery replied. “That was over the day I moved in with Dylan
, and he wanted me to help pay rent.”

Cadence burst out laughing.

“You wanted a younger girl. You got her,” Avery said to Dylan.

Mark chuckled.

“As long as you wear those bikinis for me, I’ve got you covered,” Dylan replied.

Avery brightened. “Oh my God, Cadence. These
bikinis!” she squealed.

“The ones that go up your ass?” Cadence asked.

“Yeah.” Avery giggled. “I bought you two.”

“What??”

“I guessed your size,” Avery went on.

“Bikinis are expensive, Avery,” Cadence said.

“Uh huh. What’s your point?”

“My point is that you shouldn’t be buying me any!”

“You’re not hanging out on the beach with me in your frumpy get-ups.”

“Excuse me? I do not have frumpy bikinis! They’re cute.”

“They’re boring. So I bought you a few that say, ‘Hi, my name is Cadence, and I don’t mind if you wanna look at my ass. Go ahead. Take a peek’.”

“Oh my God.”

Mark chuckled and turned around. “Where are these bikinis, Avery?”

“In a bag in the back,” she replied.

“Can you get to them easily?” he asked.

Avery grinned maliciously and unbuckled her seatbelt. She hung over the seat searching until she spotted the shopping bag.
She sat back down and pulled out a purple sequins two-piece. She handed the bottoms to Mark.

“Okay, you see that piece of elastic running down the center?” she asked.

He nodded.

“That goes up her ass and pulls the bottom in to show off some of her butt cheeks.
Not thong style. It’s much more coquettish.”

“Coquettish?” Dylan asked.

“Yeah. Like, sexy, flirty demure,” Avery explained.

“That doesn’t even make any sense,” Cadence said. “Demure means modest.”

“Yeah, that’s why only
part
of your ass hangs out,” Avery replied.

Mark
chuckled and pulled gently on the elastic, then watched as the material bunched up once he let it go.

“I am so not wearing that,” Cadence said.

“Well, now I don’t know,” Mark said thoughtfully. “You do have a cute ass.” He fingered the side ties.

“Mark! I cannot walk down a family beach wearing that!”

“I am,” Avery said.

“That’s because you have no common decency.”

“Maybe you oughta just try it on first before deciding against it,” Mark suggested.

“Here’s the other one
,” Avery said, handing the bottoms to Mark.

“Oh, I like this one. Very Pocahontas,” he said.

Avery laughed. “Fringe is so in. Won’t this top look adorable on her?”

Mark nodded.

“Adorable? Those bikinis are for hos,” Cadence said.

“Hey now. What are you saying? That I’m a ho?”

Cadence pursed her lips.

“O. M. G. I would think that a girl dating a kinky motherfucker like Mr. Connelly would be into showing off some skin,” Avery said.

“I’m a kinky motherfucker?” Mark asked.

Dylan shook his head. “Dude, I try. All the time. It doesn’t work.”

Mark laughed.

“And not only that, but God knows you need to loosen up
, Cadence!” Avery went on.

“I’m not done with my twelve steps yet! I’m not ready to show off my ass!”

“Twelve steps? Oh my God, are you in AA?” Avery breathed.

“No, they’re my own twelve steps.”

Avery stared at her friend. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Cadence tried hard not to laugh.

“Um, okay. If they’re your own twelve steps, then they don’t count. You’re wearing these bikinis, and we’re getting hammered every night.”

Cadence giggled and shook her head. “You have to be the worst best friend on the planet.”

“I have to pee,” Avery said, ignoring Cadence.

“Hold it,” Dylan replied.

Cadence never did get to continue the book she was reading. They had about thirty minutes left until their arrival, and Avery chattered the entire time. Once they reached the condo, Avery had one thing on her mind: getting wasted.

“Now here’s what I’m thinking. You boys sit right there on the couch, and Cadence and I will put on a bikini show for you.”

“No!” Cadence cried.

“I like it,” Dylan said.

“Ditto,” Mark piped up.

“I don’t want your boyfriend looking at my ass!” Cadence said to Avery.

“I’m only gonna be looking at Avery,” Dylan replied. “Don’t worry.”

“No. No no no no no.”

Avery huffed. “Mr. Connelly, make your girlfriend drink and wear these bikinis.”

Mark smirked and walked over to Avery, plucking
the fringe bikini from her hand. He led Cadence to the bedroom and closed the door.

“Mark, I don’t wanna wear that,” Cadence said.

“Shh. You don’t have to wear it on the beach if you don’t want to. But how about you just put it on for me?”

She thought for a moment
, then nodded.

He started with her tank top, pulling it carefully up and over her head. He unhooked her bra and tossed it on the floor beside her shirt. He knelt before her and unbuttoned her jean shorts, sliding them down her legs slowly. Next her panties, and
he sat back on his heels, drinking in her nakedness.

“How did I get so lucky?” he asked.

“I was young and vulnerable,” she teased.

He looked up at her and smiled
. “Well, lucky me.”

He tied her bikini top first.

“I look ridiculous,” she said, fingering the fringes falling over her breasts.

“Not at all. I love it,” he replied.

He pulled the bottoms up her legs next, tightening the ties on either side of her hips. He turned her around and tugged on the back, letting the fabric nestle deeper into her crack.

“Mark!”

He swatted her hands away, then turned her around so that she could see herself from behind in the mirror.

“Now why wouldn’t you wanna show that off?” he asked.

“This looks like lingerie!” she squealed.