“I’m not punishing you for what he did to me, Cane. I’m learning from what he did to me. And now that you’re doing things that are very, very similar, I have to change the way I react. Otherwise, that’s the definition of insanity.”
“Jada,” he said as he knelt in front of me, “please don’t do this.”
I looked into those blue eyes that I loved, the ones that made me feel safe and adored. There was a storm brewing. My chest burned with the feeling that I had caused that. “I’m looking out for myself. That’s all.”
“I want to look after you. You’re my girl.”
I smiled sadly. It was hard to hold myself together while I broke his heart. I knew I had to be strong and say what needed to be said. No time for more tears right now. “I love you. I just—I have to make sure this is the right thing. I’m not saying I won’t go back. I’m just saying I need a little time to breathe.”
“You need time to breathe? Fine. Do it from Tempe. But I’ll be damned if we have gone through all of this for you to back out now.”
“Cane, don’t do this to me. Don’t make this harder.”
“What do you want me to do, Jada?” he asked, his eyes blazing. “Do you want me to just walk away and not fight for you? Not fucking beg you to come with me? Because that’s what I can’t do. I won’t ever do that. You can’t expect me to fucking do that!”
I leaned back on the sofa, my eyes wide. “That’s not your decision to make.”
“The fuck it isn’t.” He leaned forward, resting one of his hands on my knee. “I’ve gone my whole fucking life and never had this, never thought it was possible to have this. And now that I do, I won’t give it up. I won’t, baby. Everything I have done—every-fucking-thing—has been to protect you, to give you what you deserve. I won’t back down now. I won’t lose you over this. Especially when I know you love me, too.”
He stood, running his hand through his hair. I knew his brain was working overtime, the wheels turning wildly. “You want time?” He shrugged. “Fine. I’ll be in your room packing my shit.”
The lump that had been plaguing me formed again as his words hit home. He was really going to leave me.
It’s what I wanted.
“But I’ll be orderingourtickets home in about an hour. So go ahead and get your thoughts together or whatever you want to do. Because I am not leaving without you. Period.”
Smirking, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway.
This is the Cane I know. My Cane. The Cane who won’t take no for an answer.
And that was when I realized something significant. Decker tried to control me to dominate me. To make me feel stronger about himself. Cane, though, was taking control so he could give more of himself to me.
Was that more selfless than Decker? Yes, a thousand times yes.
My body flooded with warmth, the tears changing from sorrow to love in a second as I watched him walk down the hallway.
“My future doesn’t exist without you in it.”
I recalled the flower from Pinnacle Peak.
I need to fight for what I want, not against what I need.
“What if I say no?” I asked, trying to stay mad but fighting a grin.
“You haven’t been gone that long, baby. Surely you remember that I always get what I want.” He paused in the doorway to my room, a soft smile playing across his lips. “And the only thing I want is you.”
Cane bentdown and kissed me sweetly, his eyes lit up like they used to before all the madness happened.
“I’m going for a run so you can say goodbye to Heather, okay? Then we can head to the hotel.” His cocky grin was back in full force, and I rolled my eyes.
“That sounds good.” I shook my head as I grinned. “I’ll pack while you’re gone.”
He kissed me again, longer this time. Pulling back, he said, “I love you.”
My heart turned cartwheels in my chest.
Things may be all right, after all.
