I choked back my emotions and Kari squeezed my hand.
“I spent too many hours in the damn office. I let your mother go to bed angry at me for stupid things because I wouldn’t just say I was sorry. I got irritated with you girls and your doll shoes scattered all over the house when you were little. All of that was wasted energy, girls. It is a waste of energy to not just be happy.”
A nurse came in behind us and walked to the side of Dad’s bed. “Ladies, visiting hours were over a long time ago.” She looked at the clock. “I would suggest coming back in the morning.”
“I don’t want you staying in the waiting room. Go home and get some rest.”
I bent down and kissed him on the lips, his aftershave scent only barely detectable. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
Kari patted his hand. “See you in the morning, Papa.”
“Girls,” he called as we made our way to the doorway. “I love you both more than anything.”
“We love you, too.”
I watched Cane slip into the Denali beside me, the street lights casting an orange-like glow over him. He patted my leg before buckling himself in and starting the engine. He took his hand off the gear shift and turned to face me.
“I’m taking you home with me,” he declared, his eyes braced for my response.
“I really think maybe I should go to Kari’s.”
He bit the side of his cheek thoughtfully. “Why?”
His simple question struck me by surprise and I found myself searching for words.
“Well, I live there, for one. Two, I need a shower and a change of clothes and my things are there.”
He worked his head side to side, considering my point. “Good points, both of them. And I think they both need to be addressed.”
I leaned back a little. “I don’t follow you.”
He smirked, putting the car into reverse before speeding Cane-style out of the parking lot and onto the road. “You live at Kari’s. Your stuff is there. Both of those things are ridiculous.”
“Uh, you just said they were good points.”
He squeezed my thigh before returning it to the wheel. “It’s ridiculous that you live there.”
“I know,” I said, letting my head rest against the seat. I looked at Cane and he flashed me a surprised look.
“That was easy.” He pressed his lips together in satisfaction.
“I was planning on looking for apartments before this, anyway. I want to start looking right away and get back to a normal life. I can’t live with my sister forever.”
“Ah,” Cane said, tsking. “Not what I was getting at, sweetheart.”
The lights on the side of the road got brighter as we exited onto the freeway. The little lizards and desert flowers carved on the retaining walls lining the roads made me smile.
When I failed to comment, Cane continued, “What I was getting at is that you should move in with me.”
“Move in with you?”
“I didn’t stutter.”
I collapsed back, letting my body completely sag against the leather. “I don’t know about that,” I said warily. “We just are getting everything figured out. We probably shouldn’t overcomplicate things right now.”
“Overcomplicating things means that I can’t have you when I want you. That I have to drive across the fucking Valley to see you or not sleep in my own bed.” He narrowed his eyes at me, raising the corner of one lip. “I believe it was you, beautiful girl, who said she likes to keep things simple. Simple means that we see each other all the time without traveling. That I don’t have to wonder if I will see you that day. That I don’t have to worry about you not having your fucking stuff when I want to go home.”
My stomach began to flutter and, as my brain told it to calm down, it just got worse.
“It makes sense. It falls along your rules.” He smiled brightly, sitting up straight. “See that? I’m compromising! You want things simple, so I’m agreeing. You can’t argue that!”
His pride made me burst out laughing and he feigned horror.
“Are you laughing at me?”
I tried to stifle my giggles. “No. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Good. Because that shit will get me to hire movers tomorrow and have your stuff at my house by the end of the fucking day.”
“You wouldn’t!”
His eyes widened, a sexy smirk crossing his lips. “Try me.”
“What am I going to do with you?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Easy. Move in with me. I just told you that. Now that is taken care of …”
He whipped the Denali on an exit, clearly meaning we were going to his house.
“Nothing is taken care of! Can you at least let me think about it since we are so obviously going to your house tonight?”
The light was red at the intersection and Cane slowed to a stop. He leaned across the vehicle and kissed me happily. “Sure. Think about it. Just don’t take too long.”
With a wink, we sped across the city: me and my infuriating, frustrating, and loveable Cane.
JADA