"Just make sure he treats you right," he said after a brief silence. "Last thing any of us wants to see is you get hurt.”
I picked my head up and met his gaze. Our eyes locked, and when they did, my tongue ran over my bottom lip. I wasn't sure if it was in my head, the way he stared at my mouth and hardly blinked, but it almost seemed like he couldn't pull his eyes away from me either.
In fact, he didn't look away until his cellphone rang on the table. I happened to catch a glimpse of the screen before he picked it up, and Kelly's name was on it. Figures.
I sighed, shifting my ranch-dressed lettuce around in the bowl with my fork, pretending her name alone didn't bother me. Cane answered, trying to keep the conversation quiet. And when he said, "Yeah, I'll be there in an hour," my heart dropped to my stomach.
"Sorry about that," he murmured after he disconnected.
I shrugged like I didn't care. "It's okay. I have a lot of homework to get done tonight. You should probably get me home anyway."
He nodded. "Sure. Let me get the bill."
After Cane paid, we were out of the restaurant in a heartbeat. He opened the car door for me again, and I forced a smile up at him, sliding into the passenger seat and clipping my seatbelt.
What was my deal? I couldn't believe I was so upset about this. Kelly was his girlfriend, and I was his best friend's daughter. He didn't see it any other way—couldn't see it any other way—so how could I?
Cane finally got behind the wheel, started the engine, and drove away from the restaurant. "Did you like that place?" he asked.
"Yeah. It was pretty good," I said with another small smile.
"Good. I'll have to take you to this other spot nearby. Not seafood, but they have amazing soul food." He turned the radio on, most likely to avoid the awkward silence, and when a song by OneRepublic came on, I settled in my seat, putting my feet up on the dashboard. I had to loosen up—pretend I didn't care too much. This was Cane, the only person other than Frankie who allowed me to be myself.
I never felt judged around Cane. I knew I could get away with things with him that I would never be able to get away with when it came to my parents. Mom was right about Cane—he could keep a secret, and he was a good listener. I needed to appreciate that a lot more.
I didn't want things to become awkward. It was my first time being alone with him, and I couldn't blow it, so I teased and said, "Hope you don't mind me kicking my feet up in your fancy car."
He chuckled, and his eyes softened like he was glad I wasn't making things too weird. "Get any dirt up there, and you'll never set foot in my car again, Bits."
I laughed, collecting my hair in hand and placing it all over one shoulder. When he stopped at a stoplight, he looked at me briefly before sighing.
"I wasn't kidding about what I said earlier.” His voice was soft, sincere. "Make sure the guy you're talking to treats you right, Kandy. I'd hate to have to come after anyone who breaks your heart."
"That's what Dad is for," I teased with a giggle. "I'm sure he'd go after the guy in a heartbeat."
He smiled a little, but it quickly slipped away. "Not if he doesn't know about him. From what I gathered, your mom doesn't plan on telling your dad about the guy until you decide to bring him up."
I shrugged. "He's a good person, Cane. He's nice, and he doesn't force things. He's different."
"Yeah," he scoffed, foot pressing on the gas pedal when the light turned green. "That's probably what he wants you to think. He's a teenaged boy, and I know what all boys that age think about."
I broke out in laughter. "Just for that, maybe I'll make him my boyfriend. That will really bug you, huh?"
He side-eyed me with furrowed brows. "You don't need a boyfriend," was all he said, but I could tell he wanted to say more.
"He won't be my boyfriend. Don't worry. Just like Kelly isn't your type, he's not my type either. Maybe it's just a phase for both of us."
"Yeah." He fought a grin. "I never said she wasn't my type. Now you're just putting words in my mouth."
It didn't take long for us to get home. He parked in the driveway, and Mom's car was already there.
"Would walk you in but I have to get across town," he said. "Want to beat the traffic before it piles up."
"I understand. Hanging with Kelly." It was a statement, not a question. "At her place?"