Chapter thirteen

'I knew it! I absolutely knew it!'

Brady was practically vibrating with excitement.

Blair rolled her eyes again and didn't bother telling him to be quiet. It was pretty much no use he'd already spazzed out a few times and couldn't seem to get over it.

'You didn't know anything Brady, you were as oblivious as everyone else. In fact you thought I was seeing Jacob,' she pointed out dryly remembering their earlier conversations at one of the parties.

'Well...' Brady laughed. 'Ok fine, I didn't actually pick it at all. In fact I totally can't believe it.' He paused and shook his head in amused disbelief, 'I mean Blair you're the sweetest, most innocent girl I've ever met... And Cade is completely the opposite! He's a sexy European sports star who has every girl falling at his feet... He's not exactly your type.'

Blair couldn't help the blush that took over her cheeks and she ducked her head in embarrassment, 'I know that, and I can't actually explain why I'm doing this at all. There's no rational explanation at all, I'm like a crazy person!'

Brady raised an eyebrow, 'I don't think hooking up with Cade qualifies you as a crazy person, in fact I'd say most people would love to be in your position.'

Blair sighed not sure how much detail to go into with Brady. She was hesitant to talk about it, but on the other hand she'd been dying to discuss her feelings with someone who could give her some advice. Usually Hailey would be all over any talk regarding boys, but that wasn't really an option for her.

'Ok I'll start from the beginning,' Blair said slowly trying to ignore Brady's look of absolute delight plastered across his face. She explained everything to him, sparing no details. She started with how they met and instantly clashed, they were constantly bickering and Blair had literally wanted to kill him.

'Yeah I really got that vibe from you two at Jacob's party a while ago,' Brady commented deep in thought. 'You hated him?'

Blair nodded, 'I did, but I don't know... It brought some weird tension and the next thing I know we were drunkenly kissing, well only Cade wasn't drunk because he doesn't drink at all.' She knew she was babbling now but she wanted to get the story out quickly. 'Anyway we kissed a few more times and then we...' She trailed off with wide eyes hoping Brady would understand without her having to say it out loud.

He didn't say anything.

'We eh...did it,' she said blushing again.

Brady grinned, 'No way, you lost it to Cade?'

'Yes, I know, how stupid of me!' Blair wailed. 'It wasn't only one time either, we've done it a few times now.'

Brady's grin widened, 'You mean you and Cade are friends with benefits?'

Blair nodded her head slowly, 'It seems that way yeah...'

'Well, well little B, you have to be the last person I expected to jump into this kind of arrangement.' Brady smiled, 'So how was it?'

Blair giggled, 'He's ridiculously hot...and he has some sort of hold over me.'

'No, the sex?' Brady prompted. 'Did you like it?'

Blair's face turned bright red and she nodded.

'So are you guys a couple?'

'No way. Our personalities clash ridiculously Brady, we can barely stand to be in the same room for ten minutes unless we're... well you know,' she laughed.

Brady grinned in delight, 'You little minx, you have no intention of an actual relationship with him, you're just using him for his body!'

Blair shrugged, 'Well I think that's what we're doing anyway. What do you think? Cade says he doesn't want anything, he still makes fun of me and we fight a lot. But then we end up kissing and doing more and it really confuses the hell out of me...'

Brady frowned, 'Yeah I can see how it might confuse you babe. Do you like him?'

Blair raised an eyebrow, 'Like like him?' Then she laughed remembering pretty much every conversation she'd ever had with him and how they usually started and ended with her feeling ridiculously frustrated. 'No, definitely not.'

Brady smiled knowingly, 'Ok, well then what's the problem? You guys are just having a bit of fun.'

Blair frowned, 'Well that is the problem, it's not exactly me is it?'

The two friends sat in silence for a minute contemplating her dilemma. Honestly Brady didn't really see a problem, even if it wasn't Blair's usual style it was always a new experience. Plus Cade was fantastically good looking, he was actually kind of jealous.

'I think you should go with it for a few weeks, maybe see how things turn out?' Brady suggested smiling gently. 'If it doesn't work, no big deal at least you don't have feelings for each other or anything.'

Blair frowned thoughtfully, 'I guess...'

'You have to tell me everything by the way,' Brady grinned. 'I want to know all about Cade and how he is in the sack.'

Blair blushed madly and ducked her head thankful that Hailey was off at Jacob's house for the night. She wasn't sure where Cade was either, but he definitely wasn't at home so that was also handy. Then she remembered the other reason she'd been dying to tell someone about her situation, she needed advice about Hailey.

'Brady I haven't told Hailey any of this,' Blair confessed awkwardly. She knew he'd find it odd she wouldn't tell her best friend.

'How come?' Brady didn't judge her but he did think it was weird. Those two girls shared everything, he was fairly certain that crossed into underwear territory too.

'I'm worried she's going to be mad I'm sleeping with Cade, because they're cousins and she knows I hate his guts...' When Blair said it out loud it did sound kind of stupid. She really didn't like Cade. 'She might be mad I had my first time with him and he's not someone special, she knew how hard it was after the Noah and Lacy thing happened.'

Brady shrugged, 'I don't know B, I think she'd prefer if you told her rather than keeping it a secret. It may be an initial shock but I doubt she'd hold a grudge or anything.'

Blair nodded, but secretly didn't make any final decisions to confide in Hailey. Brady didn't really understand their relationship, she just knew Hailey would be mad at her. Better to leave things with Cade and pretend they never happened than to upset Hailey and chance losing her.

...

'Blair!'

Hailey and Brady were screaming her name in absolute delight and joy.

Blair allowed herself a small victorious smile, she had just spiked the hell out of the volleyball hard over the net. They had won the point and now it was 24-23. They were winning.

Even Cade was smiling over at her admiringly.

She was kind of turning out to be their best player. She shot Cade a smirk and turned back to the play. She wasn't using this game to flirt with him. Definitely not.

'Don't mess up now,' Cade had walked up to her and whispered into her ear softly, but he was grinning. She hadn't messed up a serve all afternoon and she was hardly going to do it when the game depended on it.

She ignored Brady's pointed look as he spotted Cade and her whispering to each other and served the ball well. It went straight to the ground and they won the point. And the game.

Hailey was ecstatic, jumping up and down hugging a now slightly embarrassed Blair.

'Chill out,' Blair laughed hopelessly as Hailey was too hyped up to even listen.

'We're so celebrating tonight! Especially with Mum and Dad away, I'm going to throw an awesome party,' Hailey babbled excitedly already pulling out her mobile and punching in some quick text messages.

'Good job guys,' the coach looked at them surprised at the outcome. They never usually had a decent volleyball team. Maybe there was hope for them yet.

'Don't worry too much Coach,' Cade said swiftly. 'When you have the two best sportsmen in the school, Brady and I here, you can always count on a good game.'

Blair's mouth dropped open and she shot the smirking Cade a glare.

'Relax, he's pushing your buttons,' Hailey whispered to her also shooting Cade a glare. 'Puh – lease! Blair won the entire game for us Cade,' Hailey shot him a look of contempt.

Brady laughed to himself as he headed toward the showers, Blair had way too much of a feisty temper and made it too easy for Cade to get a rise out of her.

'So you and Hails are throwing a bash tonight huh?' Cade fell into step beside Blair as they walked to the showers.

'None of your business,' Blair retorted.

Cade raised an eyebrow at the quick reply, 'None of my business, even when I live in the same house? Really?'

Blair rolled her eyes, 'Well ok so you will probably find out anyway then...'

Cade burst into laughter, 'yeah I should think so. Unless you're planning to drug me and take advantage.'

Blair shot him a mischievous smile, 'I don't need drugs to take advantage of you Cade.'

Cade chuckled and headed off toward the male rooms. He was looking forward to tonight.

....