The Guy Who Always Shows Up
Lizzy Carter had known Kade Lawson for almost as long as she could remember.
Which was exactly why she found it so annoying that lately, she couldn’t stop noticing him.
He was standing in her kitchen with her brother Evan, arguing about something neither of them seemed willing to agree on.
“You’re an idiot,” Evan said.
Kade leaned against the counter. “You’ve said that three times.”
“And I’ll keep saying it until you listen.”
Liz walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
“What are you two arguing about?”
“Nothing,” Kade said.
“Kade is being stupid,” Evan corrected.
Liz grabbed a bottle of water. “That clears everything up.”
Kade laughed quietly.
She looked over at him.
There it was again.
That stupid smile.
Liz quickly looked away.
Evan grabbed his keys from the counter. “I’m heading out. You coming?”
Kade shook his head. “Nah. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
Liz glanced at him.
“Where?”
Kade looked at her for a second.
“Work.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you have work at ten at night?”
“Since I got a job.”
“Suspicious.”
Kade smiled. “You’re suspicious of everything.”
“Because everything around you is suspicious.”
Evan laughed as he headed toward the door.
“Don’t start,” he warned them.
“We weren’t starting anything,” Liz said.
Kade looked at her.
“Definitely weren’t.”
Liz rolled her eyes.
Later that night, Liz left the house to grab something from the convenience store down the street.
She hadn’t even made it halfway there when she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned around.
A guy she’d seen around the neighborhood was walking several feet behind her.
Liz sped up.
So did he.
Her stomach dropped.
She pulled out her phone and tried calling Evan.
No answer.
Then another voice came from behind her.
“Liz.”
She stopped.
Kade.
He walked toward her, hands in his jacket pockets.
The guy behind her immediately turned around and walked the other direction.
Liz stared after him.
Then she looked at Kade.
“What are you doing here?”
Kade shrugged.
“Making sure you get home.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“I know.”
She frowned.
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Show up.”
Kade looked at her for a moment.
“Maybe you keep ending up places where you need someone.”
Liz crossed her arms.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
His voice was softer this time.
“Doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone.”
For some reason, that made her chest feel tight.
She looked away.
“Walk me home, then.”
Kade smiled.
“Thought you could take care of yourself?”
“I can.”
She started walking.
“I’m just letting you walk behind me.”
Kade laughed.
“Whatever you say, Liz.”
She smiled despite herself.
And neither of them noticed Evan’s car parked across the street.
He had seen everything.
