“Want me to get it?” he asked, flipping the coffee maker off.
“If you don’t mind. I’d like to sit here and nurse this liquid gold.”
Cane smiled and shook his head as he walked to the front door. I heard the door open, and Cane’s voice grow louder. I set my mug down slowly, listening closely.
“I’m here to see my wife. Is she here?”
Oh, fuck. That voice.
It was so agonizingly familiar; I knew the tone like the back of my hand. By the sound of the words alone, I knew what he was feeling, what his eyes looked like, and the rise and fall of his chest.
A cold chill ripped through me, and I scrambled to get up from the table. I knew I had to get to the front door before the two of them went toe-to-toe.
“Your wife? You’ve got the wrong house,” Cane replied as I entered the living room. He was standing with his back to me, and I could see Decker over his shoulder.
Our eyes met, and he took a step forward, and a rush of adrenaline tore through me. Cane extended his arm, grabbing the doorframe, effectively blocking Decker from entering.
“Jada!” Decker watched me from the other side of Cane, and I could feel the fury rippling off him as I approached. “Get out of my way,” he said to Cane, trying to sidestep him.
“What are you doing here, Decker?” I asked, stopping a few feet behind Cane. My stomach rolled at the sight of him and I wrapped my arms across it.
Decker’s eyes were wide with fury, just like I knew they would be.His jaw was tense, his fists clenched at his side. I vaguely wondered if I got close enough, if he would smell of whiskey.
I knew every ripple of his body, every shade in his eyes. But at the same time, he felt like a complete stranger. It was confusing, stranger than I thought it would be, to see him again. Then again, I never thought, nor did I want, to see him again.
I just wanted him to leave.
“So you’re Decker?” Cane’s voice was frigid. His body was completely still, eyes focused on the man in front of him.
“I told you yesterday that I’d had enough of your games,” Decker said, looking at me over Cane’s shoulder. “Get your shit packed. We’re going home.”
Cane bristled, the muscles in his back flexing at the revelation. “You talked to her yesterday?”
Decker laughed arrogantly. “Are you jealous?”
“No,” Cane said, standing taller. “You get jealous over things that aren’t yours. She’s fucking mine.”
“Get the fuck out of my way,” Decker bit out, his Boston accent thick.
Cane turned slightly, and I could see the side of his face as a smile spread across his lips. “You seem really angry. I would hate for something ugly to happen in front of my girl, so you better get out of here while you can.”
Decker’s eyes blazed at Cane’s words. “I don’t want any shit. Just move out of my way.”
“Don’t start shit, and there won’t be shit.”
Decker took a step toward Cane, his jaw tight. “Move it, boy.”
Cane chuckled, releasing the doorframe and standing in the middle of the threshold. “This guy wasn’t even in your league, Jada,” Cane said loud enough for me to hear. “You can’t tell me that this pussy did shit for you.”
My heart leaped as Decker rushed Cane, closing the distance between them in half a second. Cane grabbed him by both shoulders as he came in, driving toward Decker with his head in an upward motion, smashing the top of his head into Decker’s face.
Decker shot back, blood pouring from his nose, his eyes wide. He was clearly not expecting Cane’s aggression.
My entire body went stiff. I couldn’t shout, and I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t do anything but watch the chaos unfold in front of me.
Cane burst forward, grabbing Decker by the shirt. Decker swung wildly at Cane, connecting with the side of his face. He stood still, shaking his head, an eerie smile on his face.
“Now you’ve fucked up,” he said as he threw a kick, knocking Decker to the concrete with a thud. The impact caused one of Kari’s aloe plants to fall off the stand by the door.
