?<strong>Chapter 888:</strong>


    Though Alicia was in good health, she knew Caden suffered from severe stomach issues that required careful meal nning.


    Her thoughts wandered back to Caden, and her mood, previously influenced by Corey, lightened considerably as she thought of him, the cookbook forgotten in herp. It was Caden’s call that finally pulled her from her reverie. “The experiment has made some progress. Want toe over and see?” he inquired.


    Alicia gave a nomittal “Mm.”


    “Okay, I’lle pick you up,” Caden offered.


    As he arrived, the rain began to fall again. The relentless drizzle mirrored the dreary skies that seemed to press down on the city.


    Opening the car door, Alicia was greeted by a bouquet of fresh pink roses, their vibrant buds bejeweled with raindrops, releasing a subtle fragrance. The sight momentarily lifted the gloom from her spirit. Alicia bit her lip, gazing at the flowers without reaching for them.


    “Are you going on a date with someer?” she asked.


    Caden watched her closely, gauging her reaction. He couldn’t help but admire her acting; her question seemed driven by genuine curiosity.


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    “Not sure yet,” he answered as he started the car. “If she’s free tonight and I y my cards right, then yes, I might have a date with her.”


    Alicia responded with a simple “Oh.”


    Resting her head on her hand, Alicia idlymented, “The roses are pink, so I guess the person you like must be quite young.”


    Caden yed along, truthfully admitting, “She’s a year younger than me.”


    “That’s hardly young,” Alicia pointed out.


    “It doesn’t matter,” Caden replied with a light smile. “I like her for who she is; age is just a number.” It was rare for him to speak so sentimentally.


    Alicia instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. Noticing this, Caden assumed she was cold and turned up the heater in the car.


    When they arrived at theb building, Caden leaned over to help her with her seatbelt.


    After the click of the release, he lingered, his eyes tracing her features. His voice was slightly hoarse. “Ms. Bet, are you free tonight?”


    Alicia was momentarily taken aback by his closeness. “No,” she responded. “Honestly, your wooing tactics aren’t what they used to be.”


    Caden reflected on the years gone by when the notion of courtship was far from his mind. Those years were filled with debates, conflicts, and impulsive nights together. Their closeness had been physical; their exchanges had been breaths and whispers, not sweet nothings.


    Caden opened the car door, resolved. “Then I’ll keep improving.”


    Knowing the flowers would attract too much attention in theb, Alicia decided to leave them in the car to take hometer.


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