"I talked to Cade." Kristy rolled her suitcase to the corner and sat down on the couch across from Caroline. "He didn't flip out like I thought he would."
"He didn't? Really?" Disappointment ate at Caroline.
"Don't get me wrong, he was definitely not happy about you leaving early and not saying goodbye."
"What did he say?" She frowned, trying and failing to hide her eagerness to know his reaction. "Did he look upset?"
"Sure. I mean, he wanted to know why. I told him what you asked me to, word for word. He seemed to understand."
Either Kristy was being annoyingly vague on purpose, or she really didn't have anything else to report. Caroline nodded.
"Well, that's good. I guess that's it then." She couldn't mask the obvious sadness in her voice. Cade hadn't asked fifty questions like she figured he would. I guess it wasn't as difficult for him to let me go as I thought it would be.
Kristy noticed her disappointment, but didn't press the issue. Very unlike her. "Yeah, I guess that's it. Oh yeah, I ended up flying back anyway."
"What? Why? How am I gonna get my car back up here?"
"When I told Cade my plan to drive it back up here for you, he didn't like that idea." Kristy smiled with a reminiscent look in her eyes, alerting Caroline's curiosity. "He said he didn't feel comfortable with me making the long drive alone, and if he didn't have work he would've driven me himself and just flown back."
Kristy fanned herself with her hand and a dreamy expression. "He's very chivalrous, isn't he? Worrying about my safety, and offering to drive all that way when he didn't have to. . .so sweet." Kristy shuddered, "Mmm, probably best. All those hours in a car alone with that hot, Cajun beefcake. Whoo, I don't know if I could handle that.” Caroline felt the sickening jealousy climbing her entire body. "Anyway, he wanted to make sure everything was okay with it before I left. He said something wasn't right with the transmission, that he would fix it, and your dad could drive the car when he comes up for the wedding."
"That was thoughtful of him. I guess Trevor didn't think to have the transmission checked."
"Yeah, I guess not. I tell ya, I wish Cade felt the same about me as he did for you, 'cause I'd be all over that." Kristy laughed, but all Caroline could focus on was how Kristy had used the past tense regarding Cade's feelings for her. "Well, I'm beat. I'm gonna go take a shower and wash the day away."
Caroline swallowed back her disappointment along with her tears. This was for the best. "Thanks for doing this for me, Kris. All of it. I owe you big."
Kristy hugged her. "You're welcome. I love you, and you know I'll do whatever I can to help you, but yes. . .you owe me big." She gave Caroline a quick kiss on the cheek and walked into her room, closing the door behind her.