“This place is beautiful,” Mama breathed, taking in the decor once she’d stepped inside.
“Thanks, Mama. How about you go choose which room you want. I’ll bring your bags.”
Mama smiled and went straight to it. When she was out of the picture, I walked outside, meeting Lora at the trunk.
“Did you say something to her that would make her not want to come?” I demanded.
“What?” The skin around her nose scrunched up as she took out a tote bag. “Why the hell would I do that?”
“Because I know you, and you always try to scare people off.”
“Well, newsflash, asshole. Kandy isn’t afraid of me. I did what you said and delivered your fucking letter. I told her to call me if she needed anything, and that was it.”
“Are you sure that was it? Did she ask any questions?”
“She asked if she had to decide by today. I told her no.”
I breathed hard through my nostrils, pinching the bridge of my nose. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Q, chill the fuck out, all right? I can relate to Kandy a lot. She has to think about it, but when it’s clear to her, she’ll let you know what she decides to do, whether she comes or not. She’ll need that closure.” She slapped me on the shoulder. “She won’t leave your dick hanging. So pull your shit together and get me some fucking food. I’m starving.”
She went inside, slugging her backpack over her shoulder. Huffing, I took the rest of the bags out and slammed the trunk, going inside too.
I should have known she wouldn’t come. I don’t even know what I was thinking. She was safer back at home than she was with me, honestly. I just wanted her so damn much that I was blinded by my own selfishness.
Maybe she realized I didn’t deserve her after all.
Chapter Eleven
KANDY
It was seven in the morning, the earliest I had been up in a while. Cane’s letter was on my desk, and my heart was beating heavily in my chest.
A suitcase was on my bed, packed with enough clothes to last me for a month. I stared at it, contemplating, for a really long time. I didn’t realize how much time had passed as I paced my room, eyeing the letter, eyeing the suitcase, until a knock sounded.
I looked back, and Dad came inside. He was about to say something, but then fixed his gaze on the black suitcase on top of my bed. His lips parted, like he was about to speak again, but then it clamped shut. He closed his eyes, inhaled, and then exhaled.
“Dad,” I pleaded, but he cut me off.
“Your mother is downstairs. We all need to talk.” He turned away. When I heard him walking down, I sighed and reluctantly followed after him.
Rounding the corner, I spotted my parents in the living room. Mom was sitting on the arm of the love seat, and Dad stood right beside her, his hands in his pockets.
“Lora Cane visited my house yesterday?” Dad inquired.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“What did she want?”
“She gave me a letter…from Cane.”
“That said what exactly?”
I looked him in the eyes. “He misses me.”
Dad huffed and crossed his arms.
Mom stood. “And you miss him,” she stated, like she already knew I would say it next. She put her eyes on Dad, turning to face him. “The other night, she was whimpering his name, Derek. Whimpering. She was still a little out of it, but she claimed all she wanted was to be with him. She said it to me that night.”
“So what? It was probably just a dream!” Dad bellowed. “She doesn’t need to be around him again! You see what happened the last time we let her go!”
“I understand you’re upset,” Mom said evenly, “but I’ve had time to think about what happened, and we both know the stabbing wasn’t his fault. He can’t control Kelly’s actions, and he even reported that he’d just found out about her mental instabilities and about Kandy’s pregnancy. He had no idea what Kelly was capable of!”
“I don’t care about any of that, Mindy! Our daughter almost died—she lost her ability to have a child because of him!”
I had to admit, that statement hit me right in the gut. So he knew this whole time? I guess I should have known. He was Mom’s best friend, after all.
“Was Cane the one with the knife to her?” Mom snapped. “No, it was Kelly. You heard Kandy’s story, and you also heard the doctors. Cane saved her life by bringing her to that hospital! The least we can do is let her talk to him!”
“So now you’re going to back him up? A few weeks ago you were ready to have her press charges on him!”
Mom started to fire back, but I took a step forward. “Guys! Seriously? I’m still in the room!”