“Fuck!” I shouted, knocking papers off my desk. I dropped my face into my hands, then shoved my fingers through my hair.
There was no doubt about it now. One way or another, Kelly had to go. The only question now was—how to get rid of her? Money wouldn’t do; they had plenty of that. There were other options—violent options—but I wasn’t bold enough to go back to who I used to be because if I went there, there was a chance I wouldn’t return.
Chapter Fourteen
CANE
My drive home was solemn.
I drove through Charlotte with the Maserati I bought a week ago, the sunroof peeled back and the wind rushing through my hair. It didn’t take long for me to get home.
Pulling up to the house, I spotted Lora’s car parked in front of the garage. When I walked into the house, I could smell something spicy cooking.
Mama was in the kitchen preparing fajitas, and Lora was sitting at the kitchen island with her laptop, scrolling through a clothing store website. Of course.
“How was work?” Mama asked. She’d been unusually chipper lately. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the move and being in a new place, or the fact that we had talked about the bakery she wanted to open so badly. She’d made plans—said she wanted the walls painted teal, and had been describing all the things that would be on the menu. I had to keep her happy somehow, but I had no idea when the bakery would be feasible. She still had to prove to me that she would be okay and that all of this wasn’t one big dose of fluffy bullshit.
“Fine,” I mumbled, opening the fridge and pulling out a Gatorade.
“Whoa! Grouchy much?” Lora was still staring at her laptop screen.
I cracked the drink open, taking a few gulps. “Going upstairs.”
“Oh, hey, listen! Before you go…” Lora slid off the stool, slinking her way over to me. “I might have to fly to Cali soon. I haven’t visited Aaron since he was arrested.”
I cocked a brow and folded my arms then. “I thought you were mad at him?”
“I just need to tell him that I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be together anymore.”
“Ouch,” I hissed. “While he’s behind bars? That’s really fucked up, Lo.”
“Well, it’s the truth, okay? I’m not going to sit around waiting for him for the next fifteen years! I’m not that kind of woman, and he knows it. I don’t want him being all hopeful about the future. When he’s out, then maybe we can talk again. Besides, do you really think I’m going to go fifteen years without having sex?”
“Okay, first of all, that’s fucking disgusting. I don’t want to hear you talk about sex. And second, what you’re basically implying to me is that you, Lora Cane, are not a ride-or-die chick?”
“Oh, shut up.” She punched my arm but with her being so damn petite, she couldn’t hurt me with her hands if she tried.
The doorbell rang and I looked down the hall at the door. Lora looked too before focusing on me and frowning. “You expecting someone?” I asked.
“No.” She took a step back. I looked back at Mama but she only shrugged with tongs in her hand.
I marched to the door, twisting the knob and pulling it open. It could have been a neighbor or Mrs. Hugo again, for all I knew…but it wasn’t.
Standing on the other side of that door was a person I thought I would never see again—at least not so soon.
Kandy’s maple eyes swung up to mine, wide and glistening. Her face was pale, her hair in a curly, kinky mess, like she hadn’t really bothered brushing or combing it lately. She wore a jean jacket over a halter top shirt and black joggers. She had on the same vans she wore the day I brought her to the hotel, when I visited her in college. The handle of a black suitcase was locked in her hand, and she fidgeted on her feet, like she was unsure what to do next.
“Hi, Cane,” she whispered, doing a small wave with her free hand.
My breaths came out short when she spoke.
I was tempted to blink, but was afraid that if I did, she would vanish, and my actions in that moment couldn’t be controlled. It was like my heart got ahold of every single emotion inside me. It pumped madly, leaving me with no choice but to follow through with what I wanted. I took a step down and practically slammed into her, cupping my hands around her face.
I kissed her.
I kissed her so fucking hard.
I couldn’t believe it. She was here. Fuck…she was here. She chose me.
Dropping my hands, I scooped her up in my arms and she moaned, letting go of the suitcase and causing a loud thud on the ground. She had no problem wrapping her legs around my waist as I cupped her ass in my hands. I held on tight, kissing so deeply I could hardly breathe, but I didn’t give a damn. She could have every breath, every heartbeat. She could have all of me.