Chapter twenty nine.

Blair's face softened as she stared up at him. She couldn't believe what just came out of his mouth. She had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't dreaming and that Cade was standing in front of her confessing his feelings.

'Do not look at me like that,' he warned her shaking his head at her.

'Like what?' Blair asked him confused.

'Like you feel sorry for me,' he replied rolling his eyes. 'Forget what I just said, I mean it.'

'I can't just forget what you said Cade,' Blair replied watching with interest as his cheeks tinged pink in embarrassment.

'No seriously, you can.'

'No I can't.'

'I'm not going to argue with you over this,' he rolled his eyes. ' You sound like a two year old.'

'Well I can't forget what you said,' she rolled her eyes at him. 'This is stupid fighting, we need to figure out what to do from here.'

His words were ringing in her ears as she fought to stay in control of the conversation. Liked her? She wondered did he mean that in a past tense kind of way... She remembered the day he said it, she'd felt excited and stupid for thinking he and Lacy were an item. Then Lacy had gotten into her head once again, doing what Lacy did best.

Cade closed his eyes briefly in frustration. 'Okay, so we need a cover story if this is going to work.'

'When we went to the movies with your friends, was that a date?'

Cade raised an eyebrow in surprise, 'That's completely off topic but I thought you were pretty positive it was last night in bed...?'

Blair felt her cheeks hot up under his suggestive words, 'But I want to hear it from you. And that present? To help me concentrate... You've been ridiculously nice to me the last few weeks.'

'I didn't hear a question there,' Cade shrugged.

'Do you still like me?'

There. She'd said it quickly like ripping off a band aid.

'That doesn't matter anymore, we need to get our stories straight for your parents.'

Blair nodded slowly feeling like he'd just punched her in the stomach.

...

'Are you sure this is a good idea?'

Cade glanced over at the passenger seat where Blair had become increasingly fidgety over the twenty minutes they'd been driving. 'This is the fourth time you've asked me that and we're not even half way there yet... Chill out.'

'It's just, you don't know what my parents are like,' Blair frowned out the window. 'I haven't spoken to them properly in so long, I don't even know if they know you're living with Hailey's family.'

'I'm sure they'd know, Jane is pretty on top of things.'

Blair nodded, 'You're right.'

'What about Noah huh?' Cade shrugged. 'Didn't you date him for a while? Did they meet him?'

Blair shook her head fervently, 'No way, my Dad would have killed him!'

They stopped at some traffic lights and Cade looked over at her uneasily, 'What do you mean by that?'

'I was fourteen when we started dating, my parents didn't want me to have a boyfriend until I was older. It's not like they were around to enforce the rule though, it was so easy sneaking around them.'

Cade smirked, 'Trouble maker eh? I couldn't picture it.'

'Oh I was a rebel Cade,' Blair said trying to keep a straight face.

'Of course you were.' He laughed, 'When I met you, you couldn't handle your alcohol and you were a prude who didn't even talk to boys.'

Blair's mouth dropped open in anger, 'Hey!' She exclaimed. 'I was nothing of the...' She trailed off when she saw his amused grin, he was messing with her again. Saying something that he knew would get a rise out of her.

'Ass,' she mumbled turning back to the window. They were completely ignoring the elephant in the room, and that was fine by her.

'You love me though,' he winked at her.

Blair rolled her eyes but she was smiling.

After their huge fight and awkward talk, they had decided to put aside their differences and put on a good show for Blair's parents. She wanted it to seem real, that they were in love or something crazy like that. Crazy enough to justify Jane finding them in bed together.

'So we've been secretly dating for three weeks,' Blair went over the story again.

'Ever since you and Dean broke up,' Cade added.

'But we've liked each other for...' She trailed off trying to remember the exact time they'd agreed upon.

'Ever since I saw you....' Cade filled in the blank smoothly.

Blair blinked up at him and nodded slowly, 'Right, and if Jane brings up the bedroom thing, we say we agree it was stupid.'

Cade nodded, 'See? You know it all, you can relax now.'

Blair sighed loudly, 'I'm nervous as hell.'

'I'm a little too,' Cade admitted with a wry grin. 'It's funny usually meeting the parents wouldn't phase me but I really want to make a good impression for some reason.'

'You shouldn't care so much,' Blair laughed. 'It's not like we're actually dating you'll probably never see them again after tonight.'

Cade nodded and turned back to the road abruptly. There was an awkward silence hanging between them now and Blair didn't know what she'd said. Luckily Cade pulled into the boom gates leading to the Airport and Blair had something else entirely to worry about. She slid out of the seat straightening and fixing her dress until she was positive there were no wrinkles or creases in her outfit. Next she patted her hair, the previously straightened hair she'd spent two hours making sure it was perfect.

'Relax, you look fine,' Cade rolled his eyes as he waited for her to close the door so he could lock it.

Blair scowled at him and shut the door, fixing her bag to her shoulder before setting off beside him. Suddenly she froze on the spot as she caught a glance of her shoes.

Cade slowed down and spun around raising an eyebrow, 'Now what?

'My shoes don't match my bag! Shit!'

'You've actually lost your mind,' he shook his head. 'Since when do you ever care about that stuff?'

'I don't but my mother does! She gets all kinds of crazy about my appearance. I guess she thinks I don't always see her so when I do I should at least make an effort, you just wait she will say something.'

'Whatever, they'll be too preoccupied with me being there they probably won't notice your fashion suicide decision,' Cade smirked and set off ahead of her towards to arrivals lounge.

They checked the board for the flight details and Blair noted with satisfaction the flight had landed ten minutes ago, half an hour earlier then the allocated time. Cade had made fun of her for religiously checking the flight tracker online for delays but if she hadn't done it they would have been so late to pick up her parents.

They were only waiting a further ten minutes before people started streaming through the arrivals door and Blair spotted her parents almost immediately. Her father walked out first wearing a crisp Armani suit that didn't look like he'd just been on a ten hour flight from China, her mother followed soon after in a simple shift dress that Blair was sure worth more than her entire wardrobe and a pair of simple black Jimmy Choos.

'That's your mother,' Cade murmured into her ear as they watched them walk toward the exit. 'She looks exactly like you it's freaky.' He glanced between the mother and daughter with a grin on his face.

'Come on,' Blair rolled her eyes disgusted at him and started to walk toward them but Cade pulled her arm back suddenly.

'Wait up,' he reached out and clasped her hand in his giving it a slight squeeze. 'Don't worry Blair, you've got this.'

She gave him a small smile and looked up to find her parents staring at them in surprise.

'Blair!' Her father James exclaimed with a broad smile spreading across his face. He walked towards her enveloping her into a huge hug.

Blair snuck a peek at her mother whose eyes were darting between Cade and her daughter in slight confusion.

'Blair how wonderful,' she smiled at her daughter leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. 'Who is this?'

Blair turned around and shot Cade a nervous smile, 'Mum and Dad this is my boyfriend Cade. I though it might be nice for him to come with me to the airport and meet you guys.'

'Boyfriend eh?' James chuckled. 'Way to spring that one on us after a long haul! We would have made a bit more effort.'

Blair laughed inwardly, if her parents had made any more effort they would be in black tie attire. She could tell her mother wasn't impressed by that comment either and threw James a dirty look.

'Lovely to meet you Cade,' Delilah stepped forward holding out her hand. 'Blair hasn't mentioned you before, how long have you been dating?'

'Well I haven't spoken to you in a while,' Blair shrugged and she couldn't help the bitchy comment slipping out.

'Cade, great to meet you,' James shook his hand heartily. 'I hope you're looking after my baby.'

Cade grinned at them easily pulling Blair into his side, slipping his arm around her waist comfortably, 'Of course I have.'

As they walked out to the car Blair was surprised to note her parents had totally bought it. Hell, she'd almost bought it herself. Cade was acting so casually like he'd been doing this for a while, he joked and chatted with her father and complimented her mother on her outfit. They were smitten with him. This easy going conversation and chatter lasted all the way home in the car much to Blair's relief. She was also glad they'd gone over the story so much, Delilah had insisted they tell her how they'd met, when they met and how long they'd been dating for. Blair was impressed by Cade answering her questions in an affectionate manner, he was starting even fool her.

'Here we are,' Cade said shutting of the car engine smoothly as they sat parked in Hailey's driveway. 'Jane insisted she feed you properly before going home, I think she knew there wouldn't be a substantial meal in the house.'

James smiled and nodded but Blair could see her mother wasn't too impressed. She knew she'd prefer to be home, showering and changing clothes before attending a dinner.

'Blair! How'd it go?' Hailey asked as soon as she'd entered the living room. Blair saw out of the corner of her eye her parents greeting Jane in the kitchen and turned to her friend in relief.

'Really well, Cade was amazing.'

Hailey grinned, 'Awesome. I'm so happy for you, so you told them?'

'We told them everything,' Blair relaxed herself slightly.

'Everything?' Hailey frowned in surprise. 'Even the sex stuff?'

Suddenly a cough at the doorway tore the two girls gaze off each other and Blair's face drained of all colour as she spotted an awkward looking Cade standing next to her mother.

'Blair?'

Her mother's tone was icy and chilled Blair's spine. She had definitely heard Hailey's question.

'What is Hailey talking about?'

Cade cleared his throat and shuffled to the side awkwardly trying to escape the room.

'Hold it right there,' she turned to him and her glare switched from him to Blair. 'Explain yourselves.'

...