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Well, she kind of had to now, didn’t she? Kylie went to the door, padding on bare feet, and peered out the peephole A child was there She squelched a flash of disappointment that it wasn’t Cade and opened the door "Can I help you?"

The boy standing there was dressed in a striped shirt and shorts, and had curly blond hair that reelic smile, his hands behind his back "Are you Kylie?"

"Urinned "I’m s’posed to tell you to take this" He produced a flat box fro white bow "And that if you don’t take it, the orphanage I’et any money"

Kylie’s eyes narrowed Her heart thuave a slow nod and offered Kylie the box And even though she knew she shouldn’t take it, she couldn’t help herself With treers, she accepted it and pulled on the fluffy ribbon while the little boy scampered away

Inside the box was a waffle, and a note

Her choked sob turned into a laugh A waffle Typical Cade The sight of it ht back to those silly, wonderful late-night dinners She picked up the card and flipped it open, holding her breath

Just so you know, I have ato play "Pretty Wo lot in two minutes Andaround this tiuerrilla tactics if necessary

--Cade

Exasperated, she dropped the note back into the box and shut the lid She didn’t knohat to do Coo out and talk to Cade like an adult To explain to him exactly how she felt, and why she couldn’t be with hi him doith her money troubles and become a burden, someone he had to take care of and rescue from herself constantly

But the small, wounded part of her wanted to retreat inside and pretend she never got the note To call his bluff and make him realize she couldn’t be pushed around

As she hesitated, strains oflot of the apartment complex It sounded liketro, Kylie headed for the parking lot Hehe really hadn’t hired a band had he?

As she turned the corner, an entireband dressed in uniform with pluh, he had And instead of being furious or e It eet, she had to ad band, could they?