“I can take you,” Lora offered. “I have to go to the pharmacy anyway to pick up my mom’s prescription. Plus, I’m sure Cane didn’t bring Kandy all this way just to share a meal with her.”
“Really?” Miss Cane huffed a laugh and stood from the table, collecting the empty plates. “I’ll wait for you here then.” She took the plates to the sink and Lora and Frankie got up from their chairs.
“See you later, K.J.” Frankie rubbed the top of my head like I was a puppy and I shooed her hand away, standing.
“Later, Frank.” I gave her a big hug, knowing I wouldn’t see her again for a few months. I hated the distance between us too, but as my mother always said, “this is life.”
When they walked out the kitchen, Miss Cane wrapped up the cheesecake while I picked up my plate and took it to the sink.
“So…it must feel really nice to be reunited with Lora and Cane after so long.” I tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear.
“It is,” she breathed. “Feels so good to have them as a support system. I feel like a new leaf has turned over and I have this new slate and everything is much clearer.”
“That’s really good. I’m glad things are better.”
She put on a warm smile, resting her lower back against the edge of the counter. “Do you know that Q has never looked at a woman, the way he looks at you?”
I stood a little taller, arms folding. “Aw…yeah, Lora was telling me the same thing when I’d first met her.”
“I personally have never seen him this way.” She looked away, laughing a little. “When he was younger, he used to tell me that he loved me. He said he loved me so much that no girl would ever be able to take his heart.” She pushed off the counter. “If I can be honest, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about him being with someone so young—and being Mr. Jennings’ daughter too. I thought he was selfish for it, but then he explained it to me. Told me it just happened and that what he felt was beyond his control.” She shrugged a little and smiled. Rubbing my shoulder, she said, “I’m happy to see him happy.”
I smiled at her. It was all I could really do. She rubbed my shoulder once more and then turned with a yawn. “I’m going to watch some TV, lay on the couch. So exhausted.”
I watched her go, then I went upstairs to Cane’s bedroom. Of course he was sitting at the desk, typing away on his keyboard. His shirt was unbuttoned, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, like he had to prepare himself before diving in.
I cleared my throat at the door, resting my head on the frame. “Should I come back in a few months?”
Cane stopped typing, looking my way. “Hell no.” He dropped his hands and patted his lap. “Come. Sit.”
I bit a smile, shutting the door and walking his way. He spread his legs wider when I approached, placing his hands on my waist and guiding me down on the center of his lap. My back was to his chest and he reached around me to finish off an email on his laptop before closing it.
“Your mom is watching TV and Lora took Frankie home,” I said when he was done.
“Really? That’s a first for Lora. She’s nicer now.” Laughter erupted, starting deep in his chest.
“Was she mean before?” I asked, turning inward and draping an arm around the back of his neck
“Not exactly. Just really stubborn and really lazy, which made her always say no to things. I’ve learned since she’s been back that she says yes a lot more. It’s a good thing. Means progress.”
I nodded, resting my head on his chest. “What were you two talking about earlier when she asked to speak to you?”
He inhaled deeply before exhaling. “She’s worried.”
“About what?”
When his body stiffened, I looked up, finding his eyes. “She heard Buck was released.”
“Buck?”
“My biological father,” he said through his teeth.
“Holy shit. So soon?”
“Right? Too fucking soon.”
“When was he released?”
“A week ago.” He dropped his eyes, staring down at the floor. “I knew he was out. I have eyes inside and outside the prison, people to keep me updated, but I didn’t tell her I had those people. She was pissed that I kept it from her.”
“Cane, you can’t keep stuff like that from her. She deserves to know too.”
“I know, I know.” He brought a hand up, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just didn’t want her to flip out, like she just did before dinner. She overthinks everything—gets paranoid way too easily. She does stupid shit when she’s scared.”
I sighed, putting my cheek to his chest again. “Are you scared?”