Tutus & Cowboy Boots (Part 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it’s
obvious that whatever is going through her mind isn’t fine. Do I go talk to her? Do I go home? I’m not sure if that is the new or old Cadence out
there. Screw it. I
close up the barn and walk toward her.
    As I approach, I take in her amazing body
and how it flawlessly moves to the beat. I can’t take my eyes off
of her and as I get closer, I can see the determination on her
face. She sees me out of the corner of her eye, but doesn’t stop
dancing. Instead she smiles, and I stop at a safe distance as I
wait for the song to end.
    On the final beat, I take a step toward her.
“Does this have to do with you being fine?” I question.
    She places her hands on her hips as she
catches her breath and places the music on pause.
    “Maybe.”
    “Want to talk about it?” I ask.
    “Nope,” she says and just like that the old
Cadence is back.
    Taking another step toward her, I grab her
iPod, and hit play. I’m shocked that I know the song. It’s a slow
one and definitely not country. I take her by the hand and pull her
in close as we sway to the beat without saying a word.
    When the song ends, I pull away from her.
“I’ll pick you up at six,” I say as I back away and let her finish
what she started.

Chapter 7
    Cadence
    Holy cow! Literally. A cow
moos from the fence line when Barrick walks away. What was that? Right now
every thought I had about my future, Mom, and Dad has disappeared.
All I can think about is Barrick Carpenter and what he has done to
my world—he’s rocked it.
    It takes a few minutes for my mind to focus
on anything but him walking toward his truck. When he opens the
door, he looks my way and smiles. I swear I melt into a puddle on
the ground. I take the happy place I’m in and focus on my routine.
Barrick’s sweet gesture has given me inspiration for my duet with
Jade. I finally know what this piece is missing. Heart.
    When I can no longer stand the cold, I walk
to the house. I’m surprised to see Gran sitting on the front
porch.
    “That was amazing, Cade,” she says.
    “Thanks.”
    “Have a seat,” she says as she hands me a
cup of hot tea. I’m freezing and take it graciously. “I’m not sure
what goes through that pretty little head of yours, but I know one
thing. You express it with dance. You’ve always done that. I know
your mama going on a date is big news, but there’s something else
you’re not talking about. Don’t say it’s your dad either.”
    Taking a deep breath, I know I might as well
tell her because she won’t let it go until I tell her what’s wrong.
“I might have forgotten to do something.”
    “Oh Lord, please tell me you’re not
pregnant!” she says with no filter.
    “Hell no, Gran! Why is your mind always in
the gutter?”
    She shrugs her shoulder. “What is it, then?
You’re starting to worry me.”
    “Okay, between hating life, Dad’s shit,
Lauren, and everything else, I have no idea what I’m going to do
after graduation.”
    She shakes her head as she places her hand
on my knee. “Honey, you’ve got time. What are you wanting to
do?”
    “I have no clue. That’s the problem. If you
would have asked me two weeks ago, I would have said pack up and go
back to the city as soon as I graduate. Now with everything that
happened in New York I don’t know.”
    “Cadence, sometimes life
throws us a curveball so we slow down and take a step away from the
plate. It helps us see what we are really meant to do. Take a
little bit of time for yourself and focus on what you want right
now.”
    Gran doesn’t say anything else. Instead we
rock on the swing quietly until Mom barges through the screen
door.
    “Cadence, there you are!
Can we talk a minute?” she asks as Gran stands. Can we talk inside? As if Mom just
read my mind, she smiles at me and says, “Let’s go in.” I stand and
follow her to the living room. As Mom fidgets while trying to find
the right words to say, I help her.
    “Mom, it’s okay. I want you to be
happy.”
    “Aw, Cade,