The Fall

Chapter 21

Kaden 1 week later

It's been a week since Sage went into treatment and I'll be honest, I miss her. I know she's pretty upset about missing Thanksgiving, but it's for her own good. I still remember the look in her eyes when she said goodbye, the way she hugged me, her body soft and warm against mine. It was perfect, almost like she was mine.

"So my parents are begging me to come to Arizona for Thanksgiving and well... I thought maybe you'd come with." Lola's voice shatters my thoughts of Sage and guilt slams into me.

I gaze down at her, her green eyes wide with anxiety. How can I say no to her? Then I remember the Henderson clan is having Thanksgiving for the first time sans Sage and it's probably gonna be a shit show. "I wish I could, Lo, but I already promised Nana and Gramps I'd spend the holidays with them."

I feel like an asshole when disappointment flashes in her eyes and she shrugs, "It's okay, babe." She reaches up on her toes and kisses me, her tiny hands circling behind my neck to graze the short hairs at the nape. "Promise we'll have Christmas together, right?"

"I promise." I whisper against her plump lips and seal it with a kiss. "Let's grab a coffee and I'll take you shopping." Lola squeals and laces her fingers through mine, tugging me down the sidewalk.

Two hours later, my feet and possibly my credit card are aching. Now I know why dudes hate shopping with women, but I needed to rid myself of the guilt I've been living in lately. Surely, Lola picked up on the unintentional distance I've put between us lately. Yes, we still have sex, but I'm on autopilot most of the time and Lola doesn't deserve that.

"Yo! Kman, that you?" Kyle's voice calls out from the family room. The aroma of spices immediately fills my nostrils and I hum as I pull off my leather jacket and shoes. I detour to the kitchen on my way to the family room when I spot Rosie and Kendall in the kitchen. "What's all this?" I ask, my mouth watering at the pre Thanksgiving spread Rosie prepares every year. "Where's Gramps and Nana?" I ask Kendall as I kiss her cheek.

"Oh they went to the farmers market." She chuckles and helps Rosie cut up veggies. "It seems as though Mom is determined to make her cranberry tarts this year and when she gets an idea it's best to let her have it." She rolls her eyes dramatically. "I've been craving your apple cinnamon bars, Rosie."

Rosie laughs as she pulls the baked ziti out of the oven. "I've made plenty with the boys bringing guests for dinner." She winks at me and I steal a few pieces on the counter and a beer from the fridge before going to the family room.

"Dude, you missed the game. Penhaven won by 20." Kyle greets me as he sits on the couch, his feet on the coffee table and holds his beer casually on his thigh. I take a seat on the opposite end of the couch and set my beer on the coffee table. "He may be an asshole, but you can't deny Kane's got an arm on him." I pop a piece of apple cinnamon bar into my mouth as Kyle nods in agreement.

"Coach emailed me about coming to conditioning next month." He mumurs and my gaze snaps to him, my brows raised in surprise. Kyle's been non committal about rejoining the team and if coach is reaching out to him, he must think Kyle's ready to get back in the game. "Well... Are you going to?" Ever since we were kids, Kyle and I talked about playing professionally on the same team. With everything that's happened to derail him, I'm worried my best friend might have given up on our shared dream.

Kyle chugs his beer and rests his arms on his knees before his baby blue eyes find my own and he sighs, "I know my head hasn't been where it should with all this bullshit with Sage, but if she can get her shit together then maybe I can too." He stretches his arms above his head and grins at me. "I think it's time I take my fucking spot back, don't you."