The Exception(81)

“Don’t hoot with the hoot owls at night if you can’t soar with the eagles in the morning.”

I huffed. “That is so not funny. It’s Saturday!”

Cane smirked. “You are so fucking cute. But you need to get up.”

“You are such a pain.” I rolled onto my side and looked up at him. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey polo shirt, the collar popped up and looking downright edible. It was as if he had been awake for hours as he stood over me.

“That’s been said before. You are so unoriginal.” He smiled cockily and smacked me on the butt.

I rolled over onto my back again and looked at the ceiling. “How long have you even been awake?”

“I had to work this morning, so I rolled out of here around five.” He sat on the edge of the bed and turned towards me. “And as much as I would like to lay back down with you, I told Max we would be at lunch.” He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “You still smell like smoke.”

“I can still smell it on me.” I rose up and drug myself off of the bed. “I guess I need to get another shower before we go.”

“What was the impromptu fire about last night?”

I could see the suspicion in his eyes. I shrugged as I walked my way towards the door. “We just wanted a fire. I had some things from my life before that I didn’t want around, so I burned them.”

“Okay,” he said, lying back on my bed.

I heard the bed squeak and I flew around, hands on my hips. “Hey! You can’t lie down if I can’t!”

He put his hands behind his head and smiled, looking ridiculously gorgeous. “I typically do what I want, you know?”

I shook my head. “Can you make me some coffee while I get ready?” I said, jutting out my bottom lip.

“If it will make you a little happier today, sure,” he said sitting up. “But get your ass moving, woman.”

I trudged to the bathroom and showered quickly, using the body wash with the strongest scent to try to mask the smoke smell that wouldn’t leave. I hated that Cane was suspicious about the fire, but I knew he would overreact. Decker was a loudmouth and an asshole, but he wasn’t a threat to Cane in any way, shape, or form. So the less he knew, the better. I had endured enough drama to last me a lifetime.

I toweled off quickly and threw on a coral sundress and a turquoise bracelet that had been my mother’s. I twisted my hair into a knot and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before joining Cane in the kitchen.

“I smell coffee!” I said, perking up at the aroma of beans. He was sitting at the table with two mugs of energy, reading the Saturday morning paper. Seeing him so relaxed while doing something so normal made my entire body flood with warmth.

“That you do,” he said, nodding at my cup. “I sent Max a text and told him we’d be leaving in a few minutes, so drink up and we will go.”

I sat down and lifted the cup to my lips and breathed in the heavenly aroma. “Thank you,” I said, smiling at him as he got up and put his cup in the sink. He turned to say something when the doorbell rang. He looked at me curiously and I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Want me to get it?” he asked, flipping the coffee maker off.

“If you don’t mind. I’d like to sit here and nurse this liquid gold.”

Cane smiled and shook his head as he walked to the front door. I heard the door open and Cane’s voice grow louder. I sat my mug down slowly, listening closely.

“I’m here to see my wife. Is she here?”

I would have recognized that voice anywhere.

It was so agonizingly familiar; I knew the tone like the back of my hand. I knew what he was feeling, what his eyes looked like, the rise and fall of his chest by the sound of the words alone.

My stomach dropped to the floor as a cold chill ripped through me; I scrambled to get up from the table. I knew I had to get to the front door before the two of them went toe-to-toe.

“You’re wife? You’ve got the wrong house,” Cane replied as I entered the living room. He was standing with his back to me and I could see Decker over his shoulder.

Our eyes met and he took a step forward and a rush of adrenaline tore through me. Cane extended his arm, grabbing onto the door frame with his hand, effectively blocking Decker from entering.

“Jada!” Decker watched me from the other side of Cane and I could feel the fury rippling off of him as I approached. “Get out of my way,” he said to Cane, trying to sidestep him.

“What are you doing here, Decker?” I asked, stopping a few feet behind Cane. My stomach rolled at the sight of him and I wrapped my arms across it.