The Exception(110)

Smirking, he turned on his heel and walked down the hallway.

This is the Cane I know. My Cane. The Cane that won’t take no for an answer.

My body flooded with warmth, the tears changing from sorrow to love in a second as I watched him walk down the hallway. There was no point in fighting it anymore.

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 will 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 bent down and kissed me sweetly, his eyes lit up like they used to before all the madness happened.

“I’m going to go 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 get my stuff gathered up while you are gone.”

He kissed me again, a little longer this time. Pulling his head back, he said, “I love you.”

My heart turned cartwheels in my chest.

Things may be all right, after all.

“I love you.”

He walked to the front door, looking casual in a pair of black mesh shorts and a grey hooded sweatshirt, and passed Heather in the doorway.

“See ya later,” he called out as he headed down the sidewalk.

Heather watched him until he was out of sight, turning to me with a wicked grin. “I’m going to guess that went well.”

I sighed happily. “It did. I think all of my insecurities just reared their head at the same time as everything else. Just a recipe for disaster, you know?”

“He’s a recipe for sex on a stick. Holy hell, Jada.”

I giggled. “I know, right?”

Heather headed to the kitchen and I got up to follow her. “So, what’s your plan now?”

“We are going to stay a night or two downtown before heading back to Arizona. I think we owe ourselves a little time together … just us, you know?”

Heather sipped her coffee, her eyes smiling at me over the brim of her mug. “Yeah. I agree. So you are leaving tonight?”

I nodded. “Yeah, when he gets back, I think. I’m supposed to get my stuff together while he’s running.”

She sat her mug on the counter top, watching me intently. “I think he makes you happy. And after everything you have been through, that makes me happy.” She narrowed her eyes. “Give yourself a little break, Jada. Give him some room to mess up. He is a guy but I think he means well. Just give him a chance.”

My eyes widened. “He has charmed you, too! That bastard!” I laughed.

She held her hands up in defense. “He came out of the bathroom yesterday before you got home without a shirt on. Those abs won me over.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“You’re an idiot!” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m going to get everything together. Thank you … for everything. You are such a great friend.”

She smiled widely. “I am. I really am. Now come visit me more often!”

“I will. I promise.”

She picked her mug back up and made her way to the refrigerator. “Now I’m going to eat some ice cream and pretend like my life isn’t going back to normal.” She swung open the door, taking out a tub. “Now get ready so you can leave when that hottie gets back. I can’t promise I can behave myself.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I made my way to my room.

I opened the door and spotted the red plastic cup on the table, warming my heart.

My happily-ever-after starts now. It’s not a fairy tale. It’s a choice.

With a bounce in my step, I began to gather my belongings, putting them back into my suitcase. My mind wondered to how things would be when we got home. I needed to find an apartment. I needed to come clean with my father. I needed to thank Nick, whoever he was.

There was a knock on the door.

“You left your phone in the kitchen. Here, it says it’s Max.” Heather’s hand was extended, my phone in midair.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the phone. “Max?”

“I don’t know, Jada!” Kari’s voice broke over the phone.

“Kari? What’s going on?”

“It’s Dad, Jada. The hospital just called me and he’s been admitted!”

“At the hospital!? Kari! What’s happening?”

“I don’t know. He was taken to Mary Sherman Hospital where I work. One of my friends on the staff put two and two together and just called me. They think he’s had a heart attack. We just landed at Sky Harbor and are on our way, but I knew you would want to know.”