Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1)(54)

 

Cade glared at Juliette, seated on the edge of the bed in the guest room. In a way, Cade was thankful her friend was around when they got there. She didn't want Harley thinking anything was off. But who was she kidding? Nothing got past Harley. The kid was smart.

 

Juliette and Harley stayed in their pyjamas the entire morning after breakfast. Jax didn't seem to care that Juliette had taken over his kitchen, and made no moves to leave his place, even after she had clearly overstayed her welcome. Zee was uncomfortable. It was almost comical how often Juliette had ignored Zee's signs to take a hint and leave. It should have been enough to make Cade laugh or at least calm her down, but it wasn't.

 

Jax and his marriage idea nagged in the back of her head, even as Cade excused herself and went into the guest bathroom to take a much-needed shower. But when she was done, her mind was still reeling from what Jax had said.

 

"What's up, Cade? You only talk to yourself when you're irritated at something you don't want to talk about." Juliette plopped back down on the bed, still in her pyjamas, stretching over the fluffy pillows.

 

Could Cade tell her? Should she?

 

Cade eyed the open bedroom door, then her relaxed friend. It was escape or talk. Cade walked over to the door and quietly closed it before joining her friend on the bed.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

"Do you think she'll say yes?" The voice was clear over the phone.

 

Jax pulled at his hair. It might be a bit too long now. He would need a haircut soon. He wondered how Cade would want it to look. Did she like his hair this length or should he go shorter? She certainly enjoyed tugging at it last night.

 

Ah, Cadence. He wished she would just give in.

 

Her silence in the car and as they reached the penthouse jarred him. It was stupid of him to expect her to jump into his arms and shower him with kisses while she said "yes, a thousand times yes!" That only happened in the movies. And so, Jax couldn't help but call his very close friends.

 

"I don't know," he breathed into the phone.

 

Luke laughed first. "You could have thought of a more romantic way of asking."

 

Marco added, "Yeah, take her out of her flooded apartment and throw her in the jet and bring her to Paris or Rome, then propose."

 

"You guys are morons. I don't know why I called you." His friends and the rest of the band members were en route to their next concert destination. In less than a day, Jax would have to join them.

 

Would that be enough time to convince Cade to say yes to his question?

 

Surely, she could see the merit. If she didn't take his money as payment for watching over Harley while she was gone, she could lose her permit to stay in Canada. It had already been proven that his and Harley's life turned into shambles when she wasn't around. They needed Cadence. He and Harley did.

 

Harley. She would be crushed if Cade had to leave again. They'd just gotten her back.

 

"Jax, you still there?" another voice came through the other line. Jax recognized it as JP's. Out of all of them, he was the only one who found true love, gotten married, and had kids with Beth. Even after and years together and three children, JP's love for his wife never waned. Jax should have directly called him if he needed sound advice.

 

Jax coughed once. "Yeah. Can you take me off speakerphone? I need to talk to JP."

 

Grumbles filled the line, followed by JP's relaxed tone. "Calm down, guys. This is serious talk." Then JP addressed Jax, "Are you serious about this?"

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

"Yes, I'm serious about Cade. It will work. If we get married she'll be able to stay in Vancouver with us-"

 

JP interjected, "She will never agree to it. You're stupid to think she will. Jax, why do you think I married Beth?"

 

Jax grumbled under his breath. "I don't know. Because she was pregnant?"

 

"Are you-" JP inhaled deeply. "No! That's not the reason. I love her, Jax, I loved her then and I love her now. That's why I married her. You have to think things through. Marriage is no joke, and it isn't a means to getting a green card or whatever Canada's version of it is. You have to ask yourself, Jax. Do you love Cadence?"

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Harley was beyond the moon. Everything was shaping up to what she had hoped. She hadn't caused the flooding in Cade's apartment, nor did she expect her father to come home earlier, but it all worked out smoothly.

 

They were just following their hearts' desires, and Harley was thrilled to be a witness.