I chant to myself as I walk to the bathroom. Just friends. Just friends. We’re just friends. I push my way in and shut the door before I thud back against it and close my eyes. What the hell was that? I’m used to feeling overwhelmingly attracted to Cade when my inhibitions are set free by a few cocktails, but I haven’t got any excuse for what just happened out there.

I get up and go to the mirror to wipe the rest of the paint off my nose. It’s probably a good thing that Cade has never come to me for help, because I might have stripped him naked and had my way with him instead of offering a potion or performing a spell.

Spell. Oh god. If Cade felt anything like I did right now, he probably thinks I spelled him. “Great.” I let out a sigh. “Just great.”

“You okay in there?” calls Joy through the door.

“I’m fine!” I call back, and I take a deep breath before I walk out.

Joy squints at me. “Are you sure you’re all right?” She glances nervously at Cade and whispers, “I can split you two up if he’s bothering you.”

“No.” I paste on a smile. “It was nothing.” When she appears as if she doesn’t believe me I say, “Really. We were teasing each other and I just needed to clean up a bit.”

“Okay.” But as I move toward my easel, Joy says, “Everyone, let’s take a short break and check out each other’s progress.”

Cade gets up and fills his wine glass as I approach him.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m committed to just being friends, and flirting like that was uncalled for.”

“Yeah.” His brow knits for a moment, but he shakes it off as he lifts up the wine bottle. I grab my glass and hold it out to him as he says, “It was my fault. I shouldn’t--”

“Are you Cade?” asks one of the werebear girls, who is obviously too clueless to realize she’s interrupting. She tilts her head, and her blue eyes are big as she peers at him over the top of her wine glass.

“I am,” he says as he suddenly loses interest in filling my glass.

The girl and her friend giggle. “I’m Nikki.” She holds out her hand. “I think what you do is so brave.”

Her friend, clearly not one to hide in the shadows, reaches over and places her free hand on Cade’s bicep. “I’m Desiree.” She lowers her voice to what I assume she thinks is a sexy tone. “You know, desire with a little extra.” I swallow back my nausea and might let out a little noise of disgust.

Cade glances at me and raises his eyebrows before he turns back to Desiree. I grab the wine bottle of out his hand and fill my glass as I watch the show.

Desiree squeezes his muscle, and to my horror, Cade actually flexes it as she says, “You are so strong.”

“Well,” says Cade as he moves so that he’s slightly in front of me and effectively blocking me out of the conversation. “I do have to work out hard for my job.”

I step back in shock. Am I really watching Cade flirt with these two girls? In front of me? Me! That is so not okay. Anger rises up in me, and I gulp down a mouthful of wine with the hope I can keep nasty words from exploding out of me. I swallow hard, but I can’t do it. I can’t just stand here and watch these two girls try to pick up my--my friend.

Cade clearly can’t handle himself around these two man-eaters, because they’re effectively pulling him into their trap as they continue to put their hands on him. So I do what anyone would do to save a friend in need. I conjure up my magic and fling a little disturbance vibe to Nikki’s drink.

“Oh!” cries out Nikki as liquid splashes on her jeans.

Desiree gasps in shock as she gazes down at red wine on her white pants. “Nikki!” A low growl comes from her, and for a moment, my heart stops as I wonder if Desiree’s about to shift in front of humans. I prepare a shield in my mind to hide her in case she does. I may not like the girl, but above all else, it’s my duty to protect my clan. I’ll never let a Robichaux be seen as a werebear by humans if I can help it.

When Desiree lunges at Nikki, Cade steps in and yanks her back against his chest.

“Ladies,” he says, “it was an accident.”

Nikki glares at Desiree with fire in her eyes, and I notice her bear is dangerously close to the surface too as a low rumble comes from her chest. She opens her mouth, and I’m afraid it’s to roar, so I quickly throw a silence spell at Nikki, and while her jaw is open wide, no sound comes out.

“What is going on over here?” asks Joy. The woman has a stern look on her face as she stands before us with her hands on her hips. “Release her,” she barks out at Cade.

He lets go of Desiree and steps back. “Sorry, ma’am. I was just trying to break up a fight.”

“It seems you’re the one who is trouble, young man.”

I say, “It’s not what it looked like, Joy. I swear.”

Joy takes in the two girls covered in wine and then looks back at me. “I think I know exactly what is happening.” She looks at Cade as she says to me, “I suggest you get him out of here.”

“What?” I ask in disbelief.

Cade grips my arm lightly. “It’s okay, Bella. We should go.”

“No,” I say, and I glare at Nikki and Desiree. I’m ready to let them both have a piece of my mind about trying to score another’s girl’s man when it hits me I’m not with Cade in that way, yet I’m acting like a jealous girlfriend. And what’s worse is that I can’t think of a single guy I’ve ever dated who could have made me this upset. I shake my head and do my best to speak calmly between clenched teeth. “Actually, yes. Let’s go.”

Cade grabs his backpack and slings it over his shoulder before retrieving our glasses, and I grab the wine and lead the way out of the art center. I’m still angry, and I stomp my way over to my car. But I’m not sure who to be mad at, because I know Cade isn’t to blame for what just happened. Especially since, minutes before the scene, I reinforced the fact we’re supposed to be just friends. And if I’m truthful with myself, considering the way Cade was so receptive to their advances, Nikki and Desiree didn’t do anything wrong either.

When I reach my car, I realize what just happened was completely my fault. Embarrassment heats up my cheeks. “Oh god,” I say.

Cade says, “You just got me kicked out of paint night.” He chuckles. “I didn’t even know that could happen. You’re kind of mean when you’re mad.”

“I’m sorry. I just can’t stand girls like--I’m not sure--” I let out a huff of frustration.

“Here.” Cade holds out my wine glass. “It would be a shame to let this pinot go to waste. We can drink it in my truck.”

I take the wine and wonder why he’s finding this amusing. “Are you sure you want to be with me right now?”

Cade nods. “As long as you let me keep dry pants.” I squint at him in warning, and the passenger door of his truck groans as he pulls it open. “Get in.”

Once he’s in the truck too, I say, “I’m sorry I got you kicked out of paint night.”

“I don’t mind. But you know, I’m not sure you’re doing the friend thing right. You just cockblocked me.”

A surge of rage rises up in me. “You wanted to take one of those girls home? Which one? Please don’t say Desiree.” I mock her attempt at a sexy voice. “Desire with a little ex-tra.”

Cade breaks out in laughter, and I realize how foolish I’m being. I slap his arm. “Stop laughing at me.”

He says, “Is it awful that I like how jealous you got?”

“I didn’t get jealous.”

He crosses his arms as he leans back with a smirk.

“It’s just rude that those girls tried to pick you up when you were with me. They didn’t know we are just friends.”

Cade smiles. “Very rude.”

“Would you like it if the tables were turned?”

“Not at all.” He shrugs. “We’re not very good at this friend thing.” He leans close to me. “You should probably just come back to my place so what we really want to happen can.”

My insides tremble in agreement, but I already caused a scene, listening to what my body wants tonight, so I ignore it as I pull back. “No way.” I set my glass down in a cup holder. “I’m not getting involved with a man I can’t have for the long-term. The whole point for me here is to change my ways. Remember?”

“Right. But you don’t really want to do that, do you?”

“Oh please.” I deny it even though I’m well aware Cade can smell my desire. “I told you I wanted us to be just friends, and I meant it.”

“You’re sure about that? Because--” Cade lets out a rumble that melts me on the spot.

I let out a small whimper. Damn him. It would be so easy to take Cade home and forget my plan for us to just be friends, but no matter how strongly I want to be with him, I know it would be a big mistake. I say, “Look. It’s clear you can’t do the friend thing, and neither can I. I’m going to go home and forget about the whole crazy plan.”

“Bella.”

My door handle clicks when I pull it. “We gave it a good effort. No hard feelings. Okay?”

“That’s really what you want? After only one attempt?” Cade frowns. “I didn’t take you for a quitter.”

“I’m not. But this was a stupid idea.” I speak with as much conviction as I can muster.

“Got it.” Cade turns and looks out the windshield. I notice a muscle along his jaw jump, and it make me think he’s mad, but I have no interest in making him feel better, so I hop down. Cade turns to me and leans toward the door to grab the handle. “You’re right. This was a stupid idea. I wonder if Desiree’s offer is still good.”

I blink in shock as my chest tightens and my stomach cramps up. “Yeah,” I spit out like venom. “You do that.”

“Maybe I will,” says Cade, and he pulls the door shut hard enough to make the truck rock.

Jealousy fills my head as I begin to imagine spells to hurt Desiree. I flash to a vision of Desiree in his arms, and now I want to vomit. I force myself to get in my car instead, and when I get behind the wheel, a wave of sadness washes over me. The tires of Cade’s truck squeal as he peals out of the parking lot, and I let the tears burning in my eyes fall as I wonder why it feels like we just broke up.