I exhaled some nervous energy, knowing that the next day would make it or break it. It had to go right. I had too much damn time and money invested in it. Not that I gave a shit about the money. It was made to be spent. But I wanted her to want what I had to give her. What I had to offer her.
Besides my heart. Because she already fucking owned that.
An excitement I couldn’t remember feeling before sparked through me, reminding me vaguely of Christmas morning as a little boy. The feeling of knowing something great could possibly happen if the stars aligned and everything panned out as you planned.
But just like a little kid on Christmas morning, I really had no control over how this went. That would be up to Jada.
My phone lit up on the dash, and I recognized Lucy’s cell number.
“Hey, Lucy.”
“Good evening, Mr. Alexander. I just wanted to remind you that I’m off work tomorrow. You haven’t been in the office for a few days, so I wanted to make sure you remembered.”
I hadn’t fucking remembered, but she deserved the time off. And I had apparently already approved it.
“Yeah, Lucy. That’s fine.”
“Great. Enjoy your evening.”
“Hey,” I called out quickly.
“Yes, Mr. Alexander?”
“It’s Cane, Lucy,” I muttered for the thousandth time. “Where is that pizza shop you ordered from the night you delivered pizza to Jada? Do you remember?”
“Yes, sir. It’s right next to our office. Would you like me to order the same thing for you?”
“Yes, please. Have them deliver it to my house, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
JADA
By the time I got to Cane’s house, the night sky was cloudless, starless, and black.
I was exhausted, mentally and physically, and the sound of a bubble bath while I waited for the love of my life to get home was bliss.
Home.
I smiled to myself, realizing that Cane was right. I did refer to his house as mine.
Could I do that? Could I live with him?
I shook my head, a warm feeling taking over me from the inside out.
I wasn’t sure if I could, but I wasn’t sure if I couldn’t either.
The neighborhood was quiet. The only sound was the crickets humming. A small wind glided through the streets, lifting my hair behind me. I finally felt that I was where I belonged.
I used the key that Cane had given me the night before and pressed it into the lock, turning it to the left. It clicked easily, and the door swung open.
I took a few steps inside the dark room to the alarm pad instinctively before I realized that it didn’t go off.
I stared at the pad, lit up all blue rather than flashing or asking me to press in Cane’s code of 7282.
A chill rippled up through my spine, snaking slowly through my limbs. My legs felt heavy even though my brain screamed at them to move.Fast. Now!I quickly shoved my cell into my pocket so I wouldn’t drop it.
A clicking sound echoed off the walls of the great room. Panic coursed through me, and adrenaline flowed through my veins.
