The Exception(34)

Max watched me intently, twisting his New Orleans Saints cap around backwards. Kari looked from one of us to the other, her arms crossed in confusion.

“You guys give me a headache,” I muttered and stormed towards the restaurant to get my purse.

I wasn’t sure what Max’s point was, but I knew firsthand how exhausting Cane could be. And I was kind of exhausted myself. Home sounded better and better.

“You better have food for me! And rum!” I yelled over my shoulder, Max’s chuckle following me into the diner.





JADA

The hot water rained down on me, pelting my back. I let it knead the muscles that were taut with stress.

The water rolled down the drain and I wished it could take me with it. At least until I could make sense of my life. I didn’t want to run—not like I did after the divorce. I just wanted an escape. I needed a reprieve from the confusion and frustration that found me the same day I met Cane.

I jumped out of the shower, threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and went to the kitchen. Max had his arms wrapped around Kari from behind, his head bent into the hollow of her neck.

“You better tell me you got me something to eat,” I warned, catching them off guard.

“That was the deal. I’m a man of my word.” Max motioned towards the table and at a bag of takeout … and a bottle of Bacardi.

“I could kiss your faces right now!” I said, catching myself. “Well, not you, Max.”

“Hey,” Max smiled, holding his hands up, “if that’s what y’all are into …”

Kari smacked his chest and he pulled her back into him, making her giggle.

I grabbed a seat and unpacked the contents of the bag, my stomach rumbling. The hot, greasy smell was way more appetizing than it should have been.

“Flowers? What’s up with this?” Kari asked curiously, spotting the vase full of tulips that I had sat by the sink. She walked over and picked up the note, a silly smile on her face.

“Cane sent you flowers!?” she gushed. “How sweet!”

I sat my burger down, my appetite beginning to wane. “No—Lucy sent me flowers. He was very clear about that.”

Kari looked as confused as I felt. “This card is very sweet, Jada. And very personal. This doesn’t sound like something he would have Lucy say. And who is Lucy, by the way?” She laughed at her own question.

“His secretary,” I sighed, glancing up at Max who was taking everything in. “What’s up with your friend, Max? Has he always been such a dick?”

Max slowly walked over to the table and sat down, his face not giving anything away. “What did he say?”

“Nothing. Abso-freaking-lutely nothing. I thanked him and he said he would tell Lucy she did a good job.” I raised my eyebrows, challenging Max to a response.

Max shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. He leaned back in his chair looking amused. “Look, Cane is—”

“An asshat?” Kari cut in.

“No. Cane is complicated.”

“Good for him. I’m not. I’m simple,” I said.

“Jada, I don’t want to say too much and I won’t put words into my man’s mouth. But Cane has never sent a woman flowers. Ever.” He held his hand up to stop my forthcoming interruption. “Not even through Lucy.”

“Great! Fine. He didn’t have to do that or have her do that or what-the-fuck-ever. I just want him to go away.” I looked Max in the eye, giving him my best intimidating look. When he failed to react, I let out a breath, feeling defeated. “So, why did you trick me into meeting Cane at Solomon Place? I would have never gone to the building the first time if I had thought I was meeting him and not you.”

“You tricked her?” Kari asked incredulously. “Max!”

Max chuckled. “No,” he began, but seeing the look on my face, he switched tactics quickly. “Yes, in a way. But not really.”

“Can either of you just be transparent!?” I leaned back in my chair in disbelief. “You two are like watching trickery in motion!”

“What the hell does that mean?” Max laughed.

“I don’t even know. I’m just so frustrated.”

“I did plan on being there. Maybe not alone, but I did plan on being there. As fate would have it, I got called out to another jobsite and you ended up alone with Cane.”

“I liked you until now, you know.”

Max smiled as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “Speak of the devil. Should I tell him you said hello?” he asked cheekily.

“Yes. Tell him I said hello and that Lucy deserves a big raise.”

Max shook his head, answering the call as he walked into the other room.