My chest grew tighter. Fuck, I could hardly breathe. I stumbled back when she neared me, her back straight. “Cane had one rule to follow tonight and that was to not talk or look at you. No alone time with you. No running off to be alone, just to see if you would follow. None of that. He is to never be alone with you again. I told him that if it happened, I would tell Derek and Mindy everything they don’t know, and trust me, the last thing Quinton wants is to lose his friends, the few people who truly accept him for who he is. He also doesn’t want his life ruined over a teenager.”
I tried to swallow, but it felt like I was swallowing glass.
“So the same goes for you, sweetie. If I see you so much as look at him in that way, talk to him in that way, or even touch him when you walk by, I will inform your parents. Your father won’t be happy, and just may end up doing something that will ruin both Cane’s and his own life. His career will be tarnished, and your mother will be left to deal with a filthy, desperate daughter she can’t handle, and a husband with a short temper. Your perfect little life, with your perfect family, will be torn apart.” She stabbed two stiff fingers into my chest. I gasped sharply, tumbling backwards and landing on top of the stuffed toys in the corner.
Kelly smirked and shook her head. “Look at you. Pathetic. And you really thought he would give everything up for you? You’re nothing but a secret to him, Kandy. A memory. Go to college and live your life, and stop trying to ruin mine. Make it easier on yourself and forget about him, because I’m sure he’s already starting to forget about you.”
With that, she spun around and walked to the door, yanking on the doorknob with a twist and walking out.
45
CANE
This was for the best.
I loved Kandy, I really did, but there was so much on the line—so many opportunities laid out before me.
My friendships.
My company.
My family.
My life.
Giving in meant all of what I’d tried to keep buried would come crashing down on me. I had to play my cards right.
You hate me now, but you’ll understand soon.
You’ll see…
It was for the best.
46
KANDY
There were too many questions running through my head—too much heartache for me to bear alone. I had one more day left in Georgia, and I needed answers. Immediately.
During dinner, I couldn’t even look at him. The worst part of it was that I had to sit and watch Kelly touch him and pretend everything was okay. I had to sit in the midst of laughter and joy while my heart felt heavy with gloom. Cane didn’t look or interact with me at all. After dinner was over, I went straight to my room to soak my pillow.
After thinking about it all night, I realized that I didn’t care about Kelly’s threats. I could go to him without her knowing. He wouldn’t tell her I showed. I wanted him to tell me to my face that he was already over me, without her threats lingering above us. It was the only way I could accept it and move on, like I should have been doing before.
If I could hear the truth from him, then I’d let it all go. I’d forget, like he told me to.
With that in mind, I got dressed in jeans and a nice blouse, but didn’t bother with any makeup. I didn’t have the energy, and my eyes were too damn puffy from crying to even bother. I was glad both my parents had to work that morning, but they’d promised they would be back later that afternoon to help me finish packing and getting ready.
I grabbed my keys and headed to my car. When I got behind the wheel, I searched my GPS for Tempt’s address. Once found, I started the car and drove off.
Though it was only a twenty-five minute drive, it felt like an eternity. All these thoughts roamed through my brain, intertwining and colliding. Some of them screamed for me to spare my heart and go back home. Others told me to keep going and get answers.
When I spotted the tall building, I parallel parked in front of it, then sat there a moment. Was I really about to do this? Was I that desperate for answers?
After shutting off the car and yanking the keys out, I found out that I was. I pushed out and headed straight for the spinning doors. There was a woman at the front desk, but she was occupied, so I went for the elevator before she could spot me.
When it chimed and the doors opened, she looked over at me. “Hey! Excuse me!” she called, but I ignored her, tucking my hair behind my ear and rushing into the elevator. I jabbed my thumb into the button to make the doors shut, and then stared at the numbers. Cane was the boss. If he was going to be anywhere, I assumed he would be on the top floor or somewhere near it. I pressed the highest number—15—and my belly dropped with the lift.