Dad turned his back, shoulders hunched, and trekked through the parking lot to get to the store. I let out the breath trapped in my lungs, turning toward Cane who was watching Dad go.
Without so much as a word, he trudged to his car, popping the trunk, dropping the bag of groceries in it, and then going for the passenger door, snatching it open.
“Get in,” he grumbled.
“Cane, don’t take what he said to heart. He’s mad at me and taking it out on yo—”
“Just get in the car so I can take you home, Kandy. Please.”
I clamped my mouth shut and climbed into the car, sitting back against the leather. Cane got in immediately and started the car.
He drove in silence, but I noticed how tight his grip was on the wheel. The silence was deafening. I had to say something.
“I don’t have to go back tonight, Cane. We can go together tomorrow. Maybe it’ll make a statement—show him that we’re serious.”
“No. That’ll just make him angrier. You can go home tonight, settle whatever feelings need to be squashed, and I’ll come for dinner. I have a flight tomorrow night, but I’ll reschedule it. It’s fine.”
“You shouldn’t have to do that for me.”
“I want to. I want him to know that what we have isn’t just meaningless sex, like I’m sure he assumes it is.”
I sighed and focused on the road ahead. When we got to his house, I packed up my suitcase—there wasn’t much to put back inside it—and met Cane back downstairs. He was raking his fingers through his hair, like he was annoyed about the entire situation.
I held the handle of my suitcase tighter and met him at the door. He opened it, letting me walk out first, but stopped me before I could get completely out. “Are you sure you want to put yourself through this to be with me?”
I shrugged. “I’m positive. They’ll have to understand eventually, right?”
He looked me in the eyes carefully before nodding. “Right.”
He shut and locked the door behind him, then followed me to the car, popping the trunk and grabbing my suitcase to put it in. We were in the car again, riding in silence, but this time our fingers were entwined.
We made it to my parents’ house, where Cane shut off the lights before pulling into the driveway. Dad’s truck was parked there, and I was sure Mom was home by now too.
Warily, I got out of the car and Cane followed suit. He carried my suitcase to the porch and I was glad the lights weren’t on. When he placed it down, he brought a hand up to cup one side of my face. “Let me know if you want me to come back. I will.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.
“Okay.” He dropped a kiss on my lips. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Kay.” He pressed his forehead to mine, leaving one more kiss on my lips before pulling away. “Go, before he catches you,” I said, trying to smile for him, but it came off crooked.
“Call or text me if you need anything.”
I nodded and grabbed the handle of my suitcase, but Cane came in for one more kiss, wrapping a hand around the nape of my neck. He dug his fingers into the back of my neck just enough for me to feel it—most likely to let me know that this changed nothing. That he was still mine and I was still his.
When he pulled back and walked off, I ran my tongue over my bottom lip, heat blooming in the pit of my belly. I watched him get inside his car and start it and his headlights flashed on me and across the house.
As he pulled out of the driveway, the lock on the door clinked and then swung open. Mom was there, and when she spotted me, she let out a loud gasp and rushed toward me, reeling me in for a hug around the neck.
I hugged her back. “Oh, Kandy. God, you had me so worried!” She sighed when releasing me. I walked into the house and she closed the door behind us.
Holding my face in hand, she looked me all over. “Tell me what happened, sweetheart. Was Cane really on campus?”
I dropped my eyes. “Yes. He came for a business seminar.”
“So he took initiative to come out and see you? All the way in Indiana?”
“Mom, please. It wasn’t like that.” I pulled away from her.
“Well, tell me what it was like, Kandy, because right now, his behavior doesn’t make any sense.”
“Doesn’t have to,” a deep voice said behind Mom. She turned around, and both of us looked at Dad. He was standing by the opening of the kitchen, arms folded. “He’ll be over tomorrow. He’ll have no choice but to explain himself. Explain all of this.”