Kade's Conquest (COMPLETED)

5. The Dinner -1

Kade's POV 

"Wake up honey, the breakfast is ready", I hear my mom's sweet voice wake me up from my slumber. 

"What time is it?", I ask in a hoarse voice. My chest is aching a little, indication the pain meds are wearing off. 

"It's ten thirty. Is it paining?", she asks in a soft voice and I nod. 

"Let's get something in your stomach, then you can take the medicines", she says and helps me up by holding my good hand in a firm grip. Even though she looks small and all, she is a strong woman with a tight grip. 

I am not supposed to have a full-on shower as of yet because of the cast and the stitches, so my mom helps me sponge which is very awkward. I tried convincing her to to leave, but she just wouldn't budge. She had a lot of fun embarrassing me with my childhood memories. Thank goodness Violet didn't come barging in or it would've been more awkward. 

"You are all done honey. Let's go down", mom helps me to descend the stairs. I lean a little on her as my chest aches with every step that I take. I need to eat something so I can take my pain meds. I swear this is a pain in my ass. I can't wait to go back to my shoots. 

As we reached the dining table, my dad and Violet were already sitting there, talking about a case. As they saw me coming, Violet got up and hugged me while dad removed his glasses and slid the files aside. 

"Good morning son. How are you felling?"

"It is aching a little, but it’s nothing I can’t handle", I tell him and he nods his head. 

Our maid, Bianca, comes out with our breakfast which consisted of waffles, sandwiches, French toast and pancakes. 

"Is anyone joining us for breakfast?', I ask. The amount of food that is kept on this table is enough to feed at least six or seven people. 

"No. Why do you ask?", Vi says and starts filling her plate with small amount of everything. 

"This is way too much food".

"Son, you are home for breakfast so long so your mom outdid herself", dad chuckles and while the ladies just laugh. 

"Yeah, she sure did", Vi says and moans after taking a bite of the waffles. 

"Vi, Thea is coming tonight right?", mom asks her and she nods her head. 

"Yes mom. I talked to her a while ago and she has arranged her schedule and will be here by eight", she says and my mom nods in approval.

"What does she like to eat the most? I am going to cook her favourite dishes today".

"Mom, you know she isn't a picky eater but just remember that she is a vegetarian".

"Yeah I remember. The girl loves animals more than the humans", mom says and chuckles. I remember this. Thea, always had a soft spot for animals. She was a sucker for any kind of animal and that was one of the things that I love about her. Even when she was in the school, she used to go to animal shelters during the weekends and volunteer. She even helped them, financially with the money that she used to save. She is one of the purest souls I have ever met in my life and still I had to make her life hell when all I wanted for her was to notice me as other than her best friend's brother. 

The conversation about tonight's dinner continues around the table but I excuse myself. I wanted to take the meds and sleep for a few hours. The stitches are really starting to bug me now and I am going to ask Thea about it when she gets here tonight.

"Kade, dad and I are going to the court. You sure you will be fine? If you need anything, mom is downstairs, okay? Just holler", Violet says as she barges in like she lives in my damn room. 

"How many times have I asked you to knock before coming in? What if I was naked?", I ask, annoyed by the fact that she can't listen to one thing that I ask of her. 

"We are twins, Kade. I have seen you naked way too many times. I really don't care anymore", she says, dismissively. I roll my eyes in annoyance and reply with an okay. 

After Vi leaves me alone, I sit on my bed and think about all the things that I plan on talking to Thea about. Of course, I won't tell her how I used to really feel about her back then but I will clear the air between us for sure. I always liked her and maybe I still do but I want to know and understand her more. I had those feelings for her because of how pure and innocent she was. She always thinks about others first and that's one of the reasons, she wanted to be a doctor. I wish she had told me this herself, but no, I was an asshole at that time and I listened to her and Vi's conversation like the creep that I was. I wanted to get to know her but I was such a coward at that time that time and Violet wouldn't tell me anything because she was always pissed as I troubled Thea a lot. She knew that I liked her but she was selfish enough to keep Thea to herself and rightly so because I had ruined some of her friendships because I couldn't keep it in my pants. Now that I am a whole new person, I swear to all that is good, I will make everything right tonight, if she just gives me one chance. 

 My train of thoughts is broken by my phone which starts ringing. I just sigh and pick up the phone using my good hand. The screen displays Lisa's name and my mood immediately turns sour. This girl, just can't take a hint and back the hell off. She thinks we are in a relationship while we were just a fling. She is one of the models in the industry and we worked for a brand endorsement together and since then we have been in contact. We slept together a few times and I took her as my date for one of the fundraisers that was arranged by my parents' company. 

I ignore her call and just lay down on my bed and close my eyes. As I was about to sleep, my phone rings and it's Lisa again. I grunt in annoyance but pick up the call this time.

"Hey baby!! How are you feeling now?", Lisa's obnoxiously loud voice greets my and I groan. I have no idea, why I even slept with her in the first place. She is so loud and desperate. 

"Lisa, I have told you to not call me that", I tell her with an edge to my voice I can't deal with her now. I just took the meds and I am sleepy as f**k. 

"Baby, I am just worried about you. I heard what happened, but I was out of the country so I couldn't come to the hospital", she ignores what I just said and continues to tell me all about her trip. 

"You know what Lisa, I have already told you this but I will repeat again so you better listen carefully because I won't repeat again", I say in my no-nonsense voice and I can hear her gulp audibly. 

"WE ARE DONE. We are no longer together even though that wasn't the case since the start. We slept together a few times and that's it. Nothing else, got it? Don't call unless it is related to work", I tell her and before she could reply, I hang up and put my phone on silent. I really need sleep and keeping my phone on silent is how I will get some. 

After what seems like minutes, I hear someone asking me to wake up. I open my eyes slowly and Eli is standing right next to my bed with a smile on his face. 

"Good evening, your highness", he says with a teasing smile and I groan groggily and rub my eyes while looking at the clock. It says and six and I sit up straighter. Damn, Thea will be here in about two hours and I am not even ready yet. 

"When did you get here?", I ask Eli, who sits on the edge of my bed. 

"An hour ago. Your mom asked me to wake you up and she is busy with the dinner preparations. You better get up and get ready", he says and leaves my room after helping me on my feet. I feel so dependent on people these days that it feels insulting sometimes. I am so used to being on my own since I was a kid, that this feels foreign. 

I can't a shower as of yet, so I just sponge myself and decide to wear a black t-shirt with a dark blue jean and my signature leather jacket. I decide to go with the messy hair and use my favourite cologne. As I go to the kitchen, the doorbell rings. I am sure it is Thea as Vi goes to open the door. 

Natalia, Mom and Dad are setting up the table with Eli ad Cameron helping once in a while. Thea and Violet enter the room and I swear my heart skipped a beat. Thea looks absolutely gorgeous in that bottle green dress that hugs her at the right place. She let her beautiful hair down and applied just about right amount of makeup and completed her outfit with black heels. All the eyes turn to her. I feel like a creep for staring at her for so long, but I couldn't help it. 

"Sweetheart, you look stunning", mom says and she hugs Thea who laughs and blushes. 

"Thank you, Caroline. You look very beautiful too", she compliments my mom who thanks her. 

"Well, aren't you a sight for the sore eyes", Eli says and kisses her right hand. She again blushes and thank him. The sight of Eli holding Thea's hand, makes me a little angry and the green monster inside of me, resurfaces, like he did when Luke was around. Guess, my feelings never went away, if this is any proof of that. 

"I am Eli, Kade's best friend", he introduces himself and she does the same. 

 "Let's get seated Thea", Violet says and guides her to the table. I take a seat next to Cameron, who's eyes have never once left my sister. I really need to talk him about Violet. As I was just about to sit, Violet tells Thea to take the seat beside her, which is right in front of me. I slowly sit down and she finally raises her head to look at me, and once again I am left speechless. Her beautiful black eyes always get to me. If you look into her eyes, you can see the innocence in them. She is so pure, that I feel like getting lost in her eyes. As I was staring at her, Cameron nudges me and I turn to look at him. 

"Thea asked you something Kade", he says and I can see the amusement in his eyes. Everyone is laughing at me I turn to Thea, who is also laughing. 

"Pardon?"

"I asked, if you are feeling well now?", she repeats her question, humour sparkling in her eyes. 

"Yeah, I am good. Though it pains a little when a wake up", I tell her and she nods. 

"Not too much pain, right?"

"Nope. Nothing I can't handle", I say and she smile, nodding her head. 

"Darling, I hope you like the food", my mom says and Thea looks at her with a smile. 

"I know I will love it. I always loved it when you cooked", she says and I am reminded of the past. Whenever she was here, mom used to cook something as she loved Thea like a daughter. 

"Yeah I remember those golden days", dad says and everyone smiles. 

"Since, when do you and Violet know each other?", Cameron asks. 

"We know each other from kindergarten. We became best friends in third standard though and since then we were inseparable until she moved to California", Violet answers and holds Thea's hand in hers and Thea squeezes it lightly. Their friendship is something I was jealous of in those days. I didn't really have any best friends until Cameron and Eli who I met in college. Vi and Thea's friendship was something everyone adored. 

"Yeah, but now I am back", she says and Vi smiles at her widely. 

"I still remember Kade made Thea cry the first time. I beat the s**t out of him", Vi says and Thea chokes on the food while I almost threw up the water I was drinking. 

"No one needs a reminder of that, Vi", I say while glaring at her. If my glares were daggers, she would be dead by now. 

"Yeah, he is right", Thea says after she's recovered from her coughing fit. 

"You beat him? I would love to see a repeat of that", Eli says while smirking at Vi and high fives her. 

"No thank you", I glare at Eli while everyone laughs loudly. 

"The food is amazing Caroline. I love it. I am surprised, you remember me being a vegetarian", she says while moaning a little, which ignites something inside of me. I swear, this girl will be the death of me and she doesn't even know that yet.

"Thank you honey. Of course, I remembered", she says and softly smiles at Thea who smiles back and gets back to food. 

"So, Thea, how is Joey? It’s been so long since I saw your old man", dad asks about her father and a smile takes over Thea's beautiful face. 

"He is more than just fine. Enjoying his life to fullest, like he always did. He still does all the crazy stuff you both used to do together. He misses you too and told me give his number to you so you both can talk", she tells him and dad laughs at his friend's antics. Uncle Joey and my dad became best friends when Thea's mom invited us all over for dinner at their house. Her dad is a very funny man with sick sarcasm. No one can win against him except for Thea. 

Conversations were going around the table, when Thea's phone started ringing. She immediately picked up the call, excusing herself from the table. We can still hear her but not clearly.  

"Hello?"

"Yeah. No, I am not on-call tonight, Dr. Andrew is". 

"You did what?!", she literally screams and everyone turns to look at her. She sheepishly smiles at us and goes back to the phone, now talking in hushed voice. 

"She is a dedicated doctor, isn't she?", Cameron asks from bedside me. 

"Yeah. She always wanted to become one", I tell him with a hint of pride in my voice. I was hoping he won't catch that but it won't be Cameron if he didn't. 

"You like her, don't you?', he asks in a whisper and I grunt. 

"Just spit it out Ryder. I promise, I won't tell".

I roll my eyes and just nod once as there was no point in lying to him. 

"I knew it", he exclaims and everyone turns to look at us, even Thea, who is yet to join the table. He has the nerve to smile at them and shoots an apologetic glance towards me when everyone gets back to eating. 

Thea, finally comes back and sits down, looking a little frustrated and exhausted as well. 

"What happened honey?", mom asks her, while pouring champagne in her glass. 

She sighs and takes a sip while thanking her. 

"Interns, messing up s**t. Nothing new", she says and sighs again while my mom laughs silently and everyone cracks a smile, looking at her. 

"But they are my babies", she says and both my best friends and dad burst out laughing.

"Your babies?", Eli asks, still laughing.

"Yeah. They are learning under me, so they are my babies. I have to clean up their messes like a mom would", she says while laughing and Eli again laughs.

"You are something else Thea Williams", Cameron says and looks at me and nods slightly, telling me that he approves. Not that I need his advice or opinion, but I still like to think that, my best friend knows more about good women more than me, and I am saying this from my past experiences. 

The dinner goes smoothly. Mom and dad asked Thea to stay the night as it was pretty late and after some reluctance, she finally agreed. 

Thea and Violet went upstairs in Violet's room so they could change in something more comfortable while we did the same. We three are sitting in the theatre room, waiting for the girls so we could watch a movie. Mom and dad went to sleep as mom was really tired today and so was dad. 

The girls finally come down and Thea looks even more beautiful in pajamas than she did in that dress. She is wearing a shorts and a tank top with her hair in a bun at the top of her head.

Cameron clears his throat and I sit up straighter in my seat. 

Eli puts in a movie which I have no idea about as I am busy thinking about how I am going to get some alone time with Thea, so that I can talk to her and sort out our misunderstandings. 

(To be continued)