The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,84

a menace.

THE CHOREOGRAPHY THAT SAVANNAH, Brady and I have put together is like nothing I've ever done before. Somehow, we managed to mix different styles of dance into one, and I can't wait to perform it in a few weeks at the recital. I was supposed to leave for Juilliard a couple weeks early, just to get ready and really learn the area, but Sav assured me there's no point and convinced me to stay here.

"Sav, that kick could be straighter."

She whips her head around. "Brady, you could be straighter."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, I am a fit of giggles and can barely concentrate on what I'm doing. Brady, however, doesn't miss a beat.

"Eh, I kind of tried that when I fake dated you for nearly half a decade. You scared me off women for life."

Savannah mocks him with her face. "Ha ha, you're such a comedian."

The song ends and all of us nail the final move. We're exhausted, that much is obvious, but the second I notice Cade standing in the doorway, I perk up. He looks like he was watching us for a while, with the way he's so casually leaning there.

"Ayo, your boyfriend’s back," Sav teases.

My eyes widen as I realize she just said the “b” word and we’ve never talked about labels. Cade chuckles and steps up behind me.

"Your boyfriend, huh?"

I swallow hard. "I never said that. She's just...I didn't...Ugh!"

That makes him laugh. "Relax, babe. I'm kidding."

He kisses me hello, not caring who's watching. Then again, he probably knows that I tell Brady and Savannah everything, and being as I've been here every day rehearsing, they're bound to have heard it all by now.

"Ready to go?"

I nod and walk over to grab my bag. When I go to leave, Brady calls out.

"You'll be here tomorrow, right?" he asks.

"Yes," I respond. "But I won't be here—"

"Saturday, because your boyfriend has a surfing competition," he cuts me off. "Yes, we know."

I wince at that word again but mask it with a smile. Cade drapes his arm over my shoulders and leads me out the door. When we climb into his Jeep, he gives me a strange look. I'm not sure what to make of it, so instead of overthinking it, I ask him.

"What?"

He eyes me suspiciously again. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?" I question, and I couldn't be more confused.

"Squirm when someone says the word boyfriend."

Oh. I take a breath to ease my nerves. "We just never talk about titles, so I wasn't sure exactly how you feel about them."

He gives me a look that makes me want the ground to swallow me whole. One that makes me question if I was thinking we're becoming something that we're not. After what feels like an eternity, he starts laughing.

"My God, you're uptight today." He leans over and kisses me quickly. "You're the only girl I want anything to do with. I think that would make you my girlfriend, don't you?"

A light blush coats my cheeks. "Okay."

He puts the car in drive and pulls away, snickering at my shy reaction. "I have an appointment to get a tattoo. Do you want me to drop you off at home, or do you want to come with?"

The idea of Cade's perfect body being inked with tattoos is enough to make me want to fuck him in the backseat. He's already hot, even without any, but I've always thought they were hot.

"Is that even a question? I want to come."

His grin widens, and he makes a right instead of a left. He reaches toward me and interlaces his fingers with mine. It's such a simple gesture, but one that I don't take for granted. There aren't many times we're able to do this—none when we're at home, if we're not in my room—and I just want to enjoy it while I can.

"So, what are you going to get?" I ask him.

He rubs his thumb back and forth over my hand. "A wave on my biceps."

"Fitting."

I don't think I could pick a more Cade tattoo than that, unless of course it was a surfboard. Speaking of surfing...

"Is it going to be healed in time for competition?"

He shrugs. "Not entirely, but it'll be at the point where I can get it wet at least."

I graze my free hand over his arm. "Won't it be sore though?"

Glancing over at me, he narrows his eyes playfully. "What are you trying to say? That I'm weak?"

"You said it, not me," I tease.

If anyone else