She took in a rush of breath, and her body shook.
“And then I come in there today to see Ashley sitting there.” Her eyes narrowed as she spat her name out like a poison. “Once again, I thought my life was headed in the right direction, and I feel … I feel like everything has been thrown into a mixer and shaken beyond recognition.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks again, and I couldn’t stop myself. I bounded across the floor and wrapped my arms around her. Shepounded her fists into my chest as I held her tight before giving in and wrapping them around my back as she poured herself into me.
“I’m so sorry, beautiful girl. So, so sorry,” I apologized, kissing her head. Tears began to prick my eyes. “This will be over soon, and you can come home. We can pick back up where we left off.”
She sniffled as she pulled away, keeping her eyes on the floor. “I don’t want to pick up from here.”
My body stilled, my blood running cold. “For fuck’s sake! What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m just tired, Cane.” She shook her head. “I need to get packed, okay?”
“I will be there to get you. I promise you.” I tilted her head to look in my eyes. “I love you.”
Her eyes clouded again as she tried to look away.
“I love you,” I repeated. “You’re my world. My happiness. My exception.”
Her lip shook as a smile made its way across those beautiful lips. “I love you.”
She pulled from my grip, and I let her chin drop.
“You won’t go with me?” Her voice was so soft that I almost didn’t hear it.
“I can’t, Jada,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
She nodded, but I could see that the anger she had when I first arrived was making a comeback.
My chest felt heavy as I considered walking out of this room. She was clearly irate at me. I just hoped like hell it would dissipate as she cooled down.
“You’re leaving Arizona because I asked you to, right? And not because you want to get away from me?”
She refused to look at me as she muttered, “Yeah.”
I grabbed either side of her head and pressed my lips firmly to hers. I rested my forehead against hers, not wanting to let her go, but knowing I had to.
“You’re mine. Whether you’re here or in Chicago—you’re mine.”
She stayed silent as I turned and walked out of her room, leaving my heart, my happiness … my whole fucking world in her hands.
Max was standing by the front door when I made my way down the steps, looking as wary as I felt.
“How’d that go?” he asked. A pained look was on his face.
“You’re going to have your hands full. That’s all I’m saying.”
Max tilted his head. “Does she even know I’m tagging along?”
I shook my head, waiting for his reaction.
He snorted in disbelief. “You fucking owe me, man.”
“When do I not, Max?”
We eyed each other, a million words exchanged and not one spoken.
“How mad is she?”
