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[closed - Caden]
April hasn't been to California in a good, long while, and even though she's no longer wanted in the state thanks to Robert, she's still a little wary about returning. There are people in California she's screwed over in an especially impressive manner, people she knows would love to see her and call the police and send her to prison for a very long time, and while she doesn't think she's going to run into any of them -- especially not with the state she left them in -- there's still a part of her that's prepared to look around every time they're out somewhere.
But she isn't so nervous that she's found an excuse not to come. If she did, she's sure Caden would have been disappointed, but he'd probably also understand. She doesn't know many genuinely good people, but he's certainly one of them and if she told him she wasn't feeling well or if she explained she was nervous, he'd have accepted it and gone on his own. She knows that.
But she's here. Wary or not, she's here. And it really is all fairly exciting. She's never been one to care much about fiction; books and movies had never been all that interesting when her life had been the way it was, but this is different. This is something Caden has written and now she's getting the chance to see how it's going to be brought to life in a different medium. And he's happy, she can tell.
She doesn't know how long they're going to stay, but she had asked Coop for a week off and he'd seemed happy enough to give it. After that, she'll see what things look like.
But she isn't so nervous that she's found an excuse not to come. If she did, she's sure Caden would have been disappointed, but he'd probably also understand. She doesn't know many genuinely good people, but he's certainly one of them and if she told him she wasn't feeling well or if she explained she was nervous, he'd have accepted it and gone on his own. She knows that.
But she's here. Wary or not, she's here. And it really is all fairly exciting. She's never been one to care much about fiction; books and movies had never been all that interesting when her life had been the way it was, but this is different. This is something Caden has written and now she's getting the chance to see how it's going to be brought to life in a different medium. And he's happy, she can tell.
She doesn't know how long they're going to stay, but she had asked Coop for a week off and he'd seemed happy enough to give it. After that, she'll see what things look like.
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She flutters her eyelashes and leans in to hook her arm through her brother's, while Caden looks down at her with a vaguely moody expression. "That's not to say that I don't enjoy our shopping trips, big bro."
"Uh huh," Caden says with a roll of his eyes, but he smiles as he holds his hand out for April. "It's a place up on the cliff. Reservation's for two, but I'm sure they can find a booster seat somewhere."
Callie laughs at him, but she leads the way out of the house. Caden locks up and then unlocks the rental car, opening the rear door and very pointedly looking at Callie until she slides into the backseat. Then he opens the passenger door for April and gives her a sunny smile, obviously pleased.
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This is part of why she's never done anything like this before. Family makes her nervous. She's met the families of men she was conning in the past, but none of that had been real. That had just been a job and things with Caden aren't even in the same universe as those situations.
For the first time, she's genuinely nervous.
"He's treated like royalty on the set," April says, addressing Callie, though she doesn't turn in the seat. She looks up at the rear view mirror, choosing to look at her that way. "All they want is for him to approve."
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"Aw, Calliope," Caden says with a grin, but he's blushing slightly. "Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it." Callie pushes his shoulder and sits back, and Caden looks over at April with a grateful smile, reaching over to rest his hand on her knee. It doesn't take long to get to the restaurant, and Caden parks in front of the valet stand and gets out, handing the keys over before coming around to open the passenger side doors.
They head into the restaurant and Caden tips the host so he'll make an extra spot on their reservation, and they're shown to a table near the window overlooking the ocean.
"Wow, this place is romantic," Callie says as she sits across from Caden, leaving the spot next to her for April. "I'm a jerk, huh? Sorry for messing up date night."
"It's okay," Caden assures her, laughing a little and reaching for the menu. "I'm sure I can find a way to make it up to April somehow."
Callie gives April a genuine smile and looks at her as she reaches for her own menu. "Good. So, April. Caden says you work at a cute vet's office? That sounds like a nice way to earn a living. Cute guy and puppies?"
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She's never caught Coop out there, but she's willing to bet Caden has. Not that it bothers her at all. It's more funny than anything.
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Caden gives April a speculative look and then turns back to Callie with a smile. "Many, many times. He's rather shameless."
"Well now I have to come visit," Callie says, propping her chin on her palm and smiling mischievously, eyes gleaming. "Maybe he'd prefer the younger, cuter Carter."
"Oh god," Caden says dramatically, looking over at April with concern. "Coop is going to screw my little sister."
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It's probably why she trusts him to the extent she does, one of the few people in her life she can count on.
"But he's a good guy," she says. "And a good boss. He gave me all this time off to come with you to California, remember?"
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"That is true," Caden says with a put upon sigh. Really, he adores Coop, and he and Callie are two consenting adults. Whatever they get up to if such a situation were to arise is none of Caden's business. As long as he never has to hear about it, he's good.
The waiter comes over and Caden orders a bottle of wine and his dinner, waiting for the ladies to do the same before handing his menu over. Once the waiter is gone, Caden takes a sip of his water and looks at them both, unable to keep the smile off of his face.
"It's really great to have you both here," Caden says happily, reaching over to rest his hand over April's just as Callie flicks a piece of bread at his face. "Okay, I take it back."
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She has a few memories of Angela, but she also hasn't seen her sister in so long that she isn't even sure if her is Angela anymore. If one of her half-siblings flicked bread at her, she has no idea how she might react. Possibly just try to leave as soon as possible.
She feels a little bit like an outsider watching them, but she's felt that way most of her life and it's familiar. Comforting in a way. "You take it back?" she asks with a teasing smile. "I'll be on the first plane back to Siren Cove in that case."
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"No, not you," Caden says with a laugh, reaching over to rest his hand over April's wrist. He smiles at her fondly, squeezing her wrist and then pulling back when the waiter brings the wine. He pours out three glasses and leaves the bottle, and Caden lifts his glass in a toast. "It's nights like this that remind me just how lucky I am."
He gives them both warm smiles and then takes a long sip of his wine, savoring the taste before setting it down. He asks Callie about her art and lets her ramble about her latest show, giving her the spotlight for a moment to take it away from April. He's just so happy to see her, and that this seems to be going well. Callie and their mother are the most important people in his life, and it pleases him to see her and April interacting.