I smiled sadly. It was so hard to hold myself together while I was breaking his heart. I knew I had to be strong and say what needed to be said. No time for more tears right now. “I love you. I just—I have to make sure this is the right thing. I’m not saying I won’t go back, I’m just saying I need a little time to breathe.”
“You need time to breathe? Fine. Do it from Tempe. But I’ll be damned if we have gone through all of this for you to back out now.”
“Cane, don’t do this to me. Don’t make this harder.”
“What do you want me to do, Jada?” He asked, his eyes blazing. “Do you want me to just walk away and not fight for you? Not fucking beg you to come with me? Because that’s what I can’t do. I won’t ever do that. You can’t expect me to fucking do that!”
I leaned back on the sofa, my eyes wide. “That’s not your decision to make.”
“The fuck if it isn’t!” He leaned forward, resting one of his hands on my knee. “I’ve gone my whole fucking life and never had this, never thought it was possible to have this! And now that I do, I won’t give it up. I won’t, baby. Everything I have done—every fucking thing!—has been to protect you, to give you what you deserve. I won’t back down now. I won’t lose you over this. Especially when I know you love me, too.”
He stood up, running his hand through his hair. I knew his brain was working overtime, the wheels turning wildly. “You want time?” He shrugged. “Fine. I’ll be in your room packing my shit.”
The lump that had been plaguing me formed again as his words hit home. He was really going to leave me.
It’s what I wanted.
“But I’ll be ordering our tickets home in about an hour. So go ahead and get your thoughts together or whatever you want to do. Because I am not leaving without you. Period.”
Smirking, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway.
This is the Cane I know. My Cane. The Cane that won’t take no for an answer.
My body flooded with warmth, the tears changing from sorrow to love in a second as I watched him walk down the hallway. There was no point in fighting it anymore.
I recalled the flower from Pinnacle Peak.
I need to fight for what I want, not against what I need.
“What if I say no?” I asked, trying to stay mad but fighting a grin.
“You haven’t been gone that long, baby. Surely you will remember that I always get what I want.” He paused in the doorway to my room, a soft smile playing across his lips. “And the only thing I want is you.”
Cane bent down and kissed me sweetly, his eyes lit up like they used to before all the madness happened.
“I’m going to go for a run so you can say goodbye to Heather, okay? Then we can head to the hotel?” His cocky grin was back in full force and I rolled my eyes.
“That sounds good.” I shook my head as I grinned. “I’ll get my stuff gathered up while you are gone.”
He kissed me again, a little longer this time. Pulling his head back, he said, “I love you.”
My heart turned cartwheels in my chest.
Things may be all right, after all.
“I love you.”
He walked to the front door, looking casual in a pair of black mesh shorts and a grey hooded sweatshirt, and passed Heather in the doorway.
“See ya later,” he called out as he headed down the sidewalk.
Heather watched him until he was out of sight, turning to me with a wicked grin. “I’m going to guess that went well.”
I sighed happily. “It did. I think all of my insecurities just reared their head at the same time as everything else. Just a recipe for disaster, you know?”
“He’s a recipe for sex on a stick. Holy hell, Jada.”
I giggled. “I know, right?”
Heather headed to the kitchen and I got up to follow her. “So, what’s your plan now?”
“We are going to stay a night or two downtown before heading back to Arizona. I think we owe ourselves a little time together … just us, you know?”
Heather sipped her coffee, her eyes smiling at me over the brim of her mug. “Yeah. I agree. So you are leaving tonight?”
I nodded. “Yeah, when he gets back, I think. I’m supposed to get my stuff together while he’s running.”
She sat her mug on the counter top, watching me intently. “I think he makes you happy. And after everything you have been through, that makes me happy.” She narrowed her eyes. “Give yourself a little break, Jada. Give him some room to mess up. He is a guy but I think he means well. Just give him a chance.”
My eyes widened. “He has charmed you, too! That bastard!” I laughed.
She held her hands up in defense. “He came out of the bathroom yesterday before you got home without a shirt on. Those abs won me over.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“You’re an idiot!” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m going to get everything together. Thank you … for everything. You are such a great friend.”
She smiled widely. “I am. I really am. Now come visit me more often!”
“I will. I promise.”