“Did that make you feel better?” Cane asked when we hit the freeway.
I looked down, and even though there were many emotions swirling inside me, my heart no longer felt heavy or filled with guilt. I was fine.
Like I said before, free.
“I needed that,” I murmured, grabbing his hand. He brought my hand to his lips, kissing softly. “Thank you for going in with me.”
“Walked out without another black eye. I’d call that winning.”
I broke out laughing as he showed off a full, boyish smile. “Yep. That’s a big win. You think he’ll come around to the idea of us?”
“Yeah, baby.” He kissed my hand one more time, and as if he were deep in thought, he looked through the windshield, toward the setting sun and said, “He will.”
Part III
WINNING
Chapter Thirty-Two
KANDY
One Year Later
Bliss.
That’s what the next year was like.
There were no threats. No drama. No lies. No pop-ups from El Jefe. Everything was smooth sailing. I got into UNCC and was studying, and of course Cane still worked. Mom called every single day to check on me and had even visited our house twice when she had the free time. Miss Cane cooked for her, and she really got to know Lora in all her foul-mouthed ways. She loved them both just as much as I did. To be honest, they were the kind of people who were hard not to love. They had flaws—we all did—but Miss Cane had a sweet, sweet soul, and Lora had a kindred spirit—one that made you wish you were best friends with her if you didn’t know her. But even though they were fun, lovely people, I couldn’t help feeling like they were both hiding something.
For starters, Miss Cane used her cell phone a lot more than she had before, and I could have sworn one night when Cane wasn’t in town, I heard her arguing with someone on the phone. I wasn’t sure whether or not to tell Cane at first, but eventually I caved, and he said he was going to look into it. I don’t think he ever did. He’d probably forgotten, and I refused to bring it back up twice. She was a grown woman, after all, and it could have been anyone she was arguing with. My biggest worry was that she’d gotten in touch with Buck somehow.
Lora? She was another mystery. Being on her phone was nothing new, but I noticed she’d go long periods of time without being home, and it was always when Cane wasn’t around. When I asked her what she was up to, she’d tell me she needed some time to herself, or a moment to breathe, but I didn’t really believe it. It wasn’t my business, though. I just hoped she was being safe.
Despite all of it, everyone seemed happy. We lived our lives the way we’d always wanted. Cane had his family and me, and I had him. I talked to Dad several times a week, through text or call, and even talked to Frankie more often to fill her in on everyday stuff, but not so much lately. She was still having a hard time with the whole Clay thing. Not only that, but Aria’s health was only getting worse.
And then New Year’s Eve arrived, and our peace became chaos all over again.
Miss Cane was making spiked hot cocoa and cookies, and Lora was on the deck in the backyard, in front of the fire pit, bundled under a thick blanket, probably scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram like she always did. Cane was in his downstairs office, wrapping up on emails, and I was studying the diamond necklace he’d given to me for Christmas. It was beautiful, but I couldn’t wear something like this for just any occasion. Wearing it to school would have made my peers wonder exactly where I came from, and I was already a quiet soul there.
I didn’t bother making new friends at my new school. After my last experience with Brody, it just wasn’t worth it, although I did take up recreational softball again. I practiced at a park with a few other women who practiced their swings and pitches. They were good people and all minded their own business, which I loved.
Cane came around the corner, watching me as I ran my fingers over the diamonds while looking in the mirror. “I think it’s about time you give your neck a rest.” He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. He reeled me into him, and my ass settled into his groin.
“Never. I love it too much. I’ve never worn something so expensive.”
He chuckled low and deep, burying his nose into the crook of my neck. Just as he was about to kiss me there too, someone rang the doorbell.
He pulled away to look at it. “That might be Cora. I told her she could come watch the ball drop with us and share some drinks, since she didn’t go out of town with her family this year.”