Read Online Deceptive Cadence by Katie Hamstead - Free Book Online Page A

friends. That terrified me. “I’m sure there’s someone who’s interested in you. After all, you’re way cuter than I am.”
    She smirked. “Yeah, but you’re blonde, aren’t you? Guys prefer blondes.”
    “Oh my gosh.”
    She shrugged and folded her arms. “Whatever.”
    I sighed. “Geri, you’ll always come first for me.”
    Her expression softened and she met my gaze. “Yeah, you too, Cadence.”
    I smiled and hugged her, relief washing over me when she hugged me back. “Come on, let’s get this over and done with.”
    “Brian’s not bad, you know,” she said as we released our hug. “I doubt he’d be a jerk like Tyler and Justin.”
    “I know. Brian’s a nice guy.” My breakup with Brian had been the least dramatic, but I crushed him. He’d leave me notes apologizing for not being a good enough boyfriend, begging me to take him back. The poor boy had been so smitten that when I moved onto my next boyfriend, he hid in the boys’ bathroom and cried. I had no desire to do that to him again. “That’s why I can’t date him. I don’t want to ruin him.”
    Geri shook her head and twisted a curl around her finger. “Wow, Cadence. This Austin guy must really be special.”
    I grinned like an idiot. “Yeah, he is.”
    We headed out to the rink. Brian and Sean waited for us with food and drinks.
    “Oh, geez,” Geri muttered.
    I dug into my pocket. “We can’t let them pay for it.”
    “Why not? Free food!”
    “Because he’ll get the wrong idea.”
    She grumbled and pulled out her money. We tried to hand the money to them. Sean took Geri’s without even batting an eye, while Brian flat out refused to take mine. “No, Cadence. Really, it’s on me.”
    “No, I don’t want you to pay for me when I can pay for myself.”
    He pushed my hand back. “I mean it. It’s fine.”
    When he turned to walk toward the table, I shoved my cash into Geri’s pocket. She smirked and chuckled. “Thanks, Cay-Cay.”
    We sat to eat and had a great time chatting together. But I couldn’t help noticing Brian shuffling closer and closer.
    Sean sneered and nodded toward the entrance. “Look who’s out of the loon house.”
    We glanced over to see Melanie and James walk in. I spun back around before they could see me.
    “Why are they coming this way?” Brian asked.
    I squeezed Geri’s knee. She looked me over and scowled.
    “Hey, Cadence.”
    I jumped at James’ voice in my ear. My head smacked against his and I yelped.
    “Wow, that wasn’t the reaction I hoped for.”
    “Hey, leave her alone,” Brian responded. He leaned closer to me and touched my head. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” But I didn’t want to be there any longer. I jumped up and hurried back onto the ice with Geri rushing to catch up.
    “Cadence.” She grasped my elbow as we glided along. “What’s the deal with Melanie and James? They’re like creepy stalking you or something.” She gasped, then giggled. “Maybe they’re part of some weird cult where they don’t shower and they need a sacrifice.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “Wow, that’s cruel.”
    She giggled harder. “I know, right? But seriously, what’s their deal?”
    “I dunno.” It was all new to me. I’d barely interacted with Melanie before, and never even looked sideways at James. I wondered what changed.
    Sean and Brian glided up either side of us. Brian took my hand while Sean took Geri’s.
    “Hey, Cadence,” Brian began. “You wanna race now?”
    I didn’t. I knew he wanted to separate me from Geri, but racing was my thing. Just like in every other sport I played, I turned crazy when someone dangled competition in front of me. I couldn’t refuse a challenge. “You know I’m gonna kick your trash, right?”
    He laughed, surprised. “My trash, huh?”
    Again with the terms a few years in advance . I grinned and covered. “Yeah! You’ll be so humiliated because a girl kicked your butt that you’ll jump in a dumpster to escape from the