Kaden's Luna

Kaden drops me home that afternoon and I walk into the house after waving goodbye. Locking the door, I rest my back against the hard wood and sigh in relief. A few seconds pass before I let out a happy, excited squeal as I dance on the spot.

“I assume you had a good time?”

I shriek, jumping out of my skin before glaring at Eva who is cackling like a maniac. “Evangeline!”

“I told you never to use my full name.” She snaps in mock anger before grabbing my hand and leading me to the couch.

“Tell me what’s got you so excited.” She asks as I place my bag on the coffee table.

“Um…Kaden asked me out.” I mumble shyly, playing with the hem of my shirt.

“Oh my god, when?!”

I frown at her in confusion. “Just there when -”

“No, you idiot! I meant when is the date?” She interrupts, her green eyes sparkling in excitement.

“Oh, it’s on Friday. He said he’ll pick me up at three.”

“We need to decide on an outfit.” She states, beginning to get up from the couch.

“No! It’s the day after tomorrow, we have plenty of time.” I pull her back down before taking off my shoes and tucking my feet underneath. “How was your date with Maddox?”

A bright blush graces her cheeks and I squeal in excitement, shaking her arm. She shoves me lightly, muttering for me to “shut up,” and that “it wasn’t like that.”

She tells me that they just went out to the café for food and what she had, stating that she wasn’t a fan of the cappuccino she decided to try out. Then she rambled on about how Maddox paid for their meals when she went to the bathroom and how it was sweet but annoying at the same time.

“Why do you find that annoying?” I ask, resting my cheek on my hand.

“Because…” She trails off, her words coming out in a quiet mumble when she spoke again. “It’s not like we were on a date or anything.”

“Would you want to go on a date with him?” I ask, trying to stifle the smile threatening to bloom on my lips.

She shrugs half-heartedly, avoiding my gaze as she picks on the end of her sweater. “Maybe…”

I squeal excitedly, tackling her into a hug. She cries out as she loses her balance and falls backwards, taking me with her. We both stare at each other before bursting into a fit of laughter. I sit back up and pull her up, fixing the cardigan that had slipped of my shoulder.

“I’m so happy for you.” I smile widely, thinking of how excited Maddox will be when she agrees to go on a date.

“Oh shut it, it’s not like he likes me too or will ask me out anytime soon.” She rolls her eyes, shoving me lightly,

“Hmm, you never know.” I sing, standing up and making my way upstairs.

“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?! Luna Winters get back here right now!” She yells, making me laugh as I run to my bedroom and lock the door before she can catch up to me.

Maddox comes home around three and mumbles out a greeting when he meets me in the kitchen. I greet him in return before adding the noodles in the stir fry that I am cooking. When I look at him, he looks down and I decide to ask him what’s wrong.

“You okay? How did lunch go with Eva?”

“I’m still in the friendzone if that’s what you want to know.” He sulks, crossing his arms as he leans against the counter.

“Don’t worry, things like these take time. I’m sure if you keep trying you’ll win her over.” I encourage, keeping the fact that Eva likes him to myself.

If Maddox knew then he probably won’t try as hard and Eva deserves to be taken out on a date and treated like a queen. I only hope he won’t kill me later when he finds out I knew all along.

“Yeah, I’ll be like forty when she finally opens her eyes and sees that I like her.” He grumbles, popping a strawberry into his mouth.

“Positive vibes only please.” I smirk, placing the pan in the middle of the dining table along with two plates and a glass.

“You’re right, I’ll have her falling head over heels for me by next week!” He jokes, joining me at the table and helping himself to the food. “Do you have work today?”

“Yes, it’s a night shift from five to ten.” I groan, expressing how much I hated night shifts.

“I can pick you up if you want?” He offers and I’m about to say yes when I remember that Kaden had told me he would be picking me up until my bike doesn’t get fixed.

“No, that’s okay. My friend is giving me a ride.” I smile and he nods, telling me about a bar he was thinking of checking out with a couple of his college friends tonight.

We stay and chat for an hour before I must get ready. Maddox insists that he cleans up while I leave for work and I agree, yelling out another thanks as I rush out the door by four o’clock.

In no time at all I am walking through the entrance of the hospital. I meet my supervisor, Henry, at the front desk and as usual he gave me a never-ending list of tasks I have to complete by the end of my shift.

“Everything on this list needs to be done otherwise you stay back, got it?” He grunts when I nod before walking off, mumbling under his breath.

I sigh and look at the first thing that needs to be completed, groaning softly when I see that it’s filing the two stacks of paperwork left on my desk. Deciding to get through my tasks one by one, I take a seat at the desk and pick up the first paper.

Filing paperwork was easy enough as the stapled pages were marked with coloured flags so that I knew exactly which folder to put it in. But it was the lengthy process of just sitting there, hunched over the stack and the only movement being when I got up to grab a folder I needed that was frustrating.

It took me about thirty minutes to arrange the paperwork into the various folders but it was one thing crossed off my list. The next task was to fax letters to different companies and I easily got through it before I moved onto the next chore.

5 hours seem to fly by and I easily tackle the tasks Henry has set out for me to do. Although my legs are aching from running around the various departments in the hospital, I am relieved that I will finally be able to go home.

And just like he promised, Kaden walks through the automatic doors at exactly ten o’clock. He is dressed in a black hoodie with black denim jeans and white sneakers. The hood is pulled up and it casts shadows onto his face, making him look dangerous.

He looks around the reception area before noticing me and walking towards where I am kneeling on the floor with twelve large boxes of medical supplies around me, waiting to be sorted into their respective cabinets. Kaden always walks with confidence, like he is so sure of himself and nothing could hurt him without paying for the consequences.

“Hey, are you not done yet?” He frowns, tilting his head to the side like a puppy.

“Um…Henry informed me about these medical supplies last minute, it’s just going to take me thirty minutes and – Kaden!” I squeak when he grabs my hand and pulls me up before dragging me towards the door, picking up my bag on the way. “Please, I need to finish my work!” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He stops abruptly, making me crash into him. I gulp in fear when I am graced with his angry expression, not being able to meet his gaze. “Didn’t I tell to stop working overtime?”

“Yes well, didn’t I tell you that he’s going to give me a bad report that’ll cost me my grade?” I mutter back, wrenching my hand out of his grasp and crossing my arms over my chest with a heavy sigh. “Kaden…what do you want me to do? Go in there and tell him to screw off?”

“Precisely.” He nods, fixing me with a determined look.

“I am being sarcastic.”

“And I’m being serious. He’s making you work more hours than what is allowed Luna, you look exhausted.” He steps forward and caresses what I’m sure is a dark circle under my right eye. “I’m taking you home.”

His tone is firm and leaves no room for further argument as he pulls me towards the exit. I protest and plead, even digging my shoes into the plush carpet but to no avail. Kaden is much stronger than me, I didn’t even stand a chance at stopping him.

Just as we are about to exit the hospital, a voice calls my name from behind, making me freeze in fear. I turn slightly to see Henry marching towards us with an angry expression, his eyes flitting from me to Kaden.

“Luna! You can’t just leave those boxes there, go back and finish the task I gave you.”

“I-I was doing it but -”

“Really?” He mocks, crossing his arms over his round stomach. “Because it looks like you’re ditching work.”

“Her shift is over, it’s ten. You’re the one who told her last minute, she’s been here for five hours and it didn’t cross your mind once?!” Kaden grits out, the anger building within him evident with the way his muscles tense.

Henry scoffs and rolls his eyes. “I have a billion other things to do. When I tell you to do a job, I expect it done before you leave, Luna. Get back to those boxes.”

“Well, f*cking give her time to complete it otherwise leave it for her to do on her next shift!” Kaden practically growls out, his grip tightening on my hand.

“Luna…I won’t say it again. Do you want that report form by the end of this semester or not?” He taunts, making me shake my head and step forward.

Kaden straight up snarls at me in protest, making me stop and stare at him with wide eyes. His blue eyes are now stormy and dark, reflecting the anger he truly feels. I don’t know why this mattered so much to him.

“Get in the car Luna.” He orders dangerously, handing me my shoulder bag.

“W-What, no Kaden I -”

“What did I say?” He arches a brow, daring me to argue.

“B-But -”

“Luna…” He warns, shooting me a knowing look making my gaze shift from Henry to Kaden multiple times before I slowly nod.

“What the – Luna! Get back here and -” Henry starts to protest as I walk towards the entrance.

“Oh, shut the f*ck up, will you? Whiny pri*k.” Kaden rolls his eyes before turning back to me. “Go Luna, I’ll be out soon.”

I nod hesitantly and swing my bag over my shoulder, taking one glance at Henry over my shoulder before walking out of the hospital. I make my way to the familiar Mustang parked in the front car park, a worried sigh escaping me as I lean against the door of the vehicle.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long and Kaden is confidently striding out of the hospital with his hands in the pocket of his hoodie.

“Get in.” He smirks at my curious gaze and rounds the car, opening the driver and getting in.

I stand there frozen, wondering what he had done and in such a short amount of time. The sudden growl of the exhaust snaps me out of my daze and I see Kaden leaning forward with the window open.

“Luna, get in before I leave you out here.”

I immediately open the passenger door and get in, putting on my seatbelt as he reverses out of the parking space and exits the hospital grounds. I sit quietly as we drive down the path that leads to the exit but when we merge in with the traffic on the main road, I decide to speak.

“I still have a placement…right?”

“Not likely.” He muses, turning around a corner and stopping at a red light.

“Kaden.” I groan, letting my head hit the head rest as I close my eyes. “Please, tell me you’re joking.”

“Okay, I’m kidding. When you go back to work next time you’ll find a bruised supervisor but other than that it’s all good.”

“They’re probably going to contact my University.” I sigh, dread filling me at the thought of losing my placement so close to finals.

“Not exactly.” He smiles at me before accelerating when the light turns green. “He’s weak, it only took me one threat before he was begging for me to let him be. So, I set my own conditions.”

“What conditions?” I frown in confusion, turning away from the window to look at him.

A smirk tugs at the corner of his lip. “Just to treat you well and not have you working overtime anymore…otherwise he would be expecting more visits from me.”

“Oh…thank you.” I whisper, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Anything for you Luna.” He murmurs, grabbing hold of my hand and giving it a squeeze before clutching the steering wheel.

After that we are silent, the soft music in the background lulling me to sleep. I yawn for the third time and lean back in my seat, closing my eyes. My body aches and I crave a hot bath to soothe my tired muscles but at the same time I just want to go to sleep.

“Tired?” Kaden chuckles softly and I open my eyes to see him glance at me.

“Very.” I hum, putting my hair up into a ponytail. “I hate working night shifts.”

“Well I hope Henry sets his priorities straight and puts you on daytime shifts only.”

“What priorities?” I laugh softly, turning to face him as I rest my head against the head rest.

“Of wanting his body to stay in one piece or ending up in the emergency unit.” He grins at me, turning the corner to my neighbourhood.

I chuckle, nodding in agreement as he parks the car right outside the house. Eva’s bedroom light is on so I knew she is home, Maddox probably at the bar with his friends right now.

“Thank you for picking me up and helping me with the Henry situation.” I speak when I meet him at the front of his car.

“Anytime Luna.” He smiles, grabbing both my hands and rubbing them when I shiver from the cold.

“I should probably head inside and let you get back too.” I sigh in content, loving the tingles that are dancing on my skin in joy.

“I’ll see you on Friday.” He murmurs, letting go of my hands as I back away.

“I can’t wait.” I reply with a shy smile. “Goodnight Kaden, let me know when you reach home so I know you’re safe.”

He smiles and nods, staring at me with a soft look in his pretty blues. “I will. Goodnight, Luna.”

I walk inside and shut the door, locking it since I knew Maddox has his own key with him. I hear Kaden’s car as he starts it again and drives away, trudging up the stairs before knocking on Eva’s door to let her know that I’m home.

When I didn’t hear a reply, I gently twist the door knob and open it to hear her snoring softly. I look hard to recognize her blonde locks since she is sleeping at the foot of her bed instead of where her pillows are. Chuckling, I turn off the light and close the door, quietly walking back to my bedroom.

Too tired to run a bath for myself, I decide to just change into my pyjamas and turn off the light before blindly walking to my bed. I scroll on various apps on my phone for around and hour and just as I have settled into bed, my phone vibrates and I check to see that I have received a message…from Kaden. My heartbeat increases and a smile instantly graces my lips as I unlock my phone and tap into our conversation.

Kaden: I’m back home. Sweet dreams little moon.

Luna: Goodnight. I add a smiley emoji and press send.

I sigh happily and pull the blanket tighter around me, closing my eyes and slipping into the land of dreams.