“If I wore the orange dress more, would I get to see you more?”
Cane sat his fork down on his plate with a sigh. “I know I haven’t been around a lot, but I’ve just had a bunch of things I have to take care of. It sucks for me, too. But I can’t help it right now.”
“I know. I just miss you. I got spoiled seeing you every day there for a while. It must have been the honeymoon stage of our relationship.”
“Don’t act like that.” He grabbed my hand with his own, stroking my palm.
“I’m sorry.” I watched my hand in his; it felt so small, so delicate yet so protected by his strength. He closed his hand on mine, enveloping the entire thing in his palm. He held it firmly, yet with such reverence that it took my breath away.
He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly. “Soon. Things will be back to normal soon, okay?”
“Soon,” I whispered, exchanging an intimate smile with him.
We finished our meal in a comfortable silence, exchanging comments here and there, but generally just enjoying being together. Time flew by as it always did with Cane and, before I knew it, the waitress was taking away our dishes.
“I’m going to go to the ladies room real fast, okay?” I asked, grabbing my purse from the chair next to me.
“Do you want dessert?” He sat back in his chair and checked his watch.
“Seriously? Where would I put it?” I felt slightly uncomfortable with the amount of food I had eaten.
“Good. I’m ready to get going and eat my dessert at home, if you know what I mean.”
“Let’s just go now,” I said, my cheeks heating and my panties dampening.
He laughed. “I have to wait on the check, anyway, so go do what you have to do.”
I stood, kissed him on the cheek, and made my way through the restaurant. Once inside the ladies’ room, I washed my hands and checked my makeup, applying a little more lip gloss.
I hope it doesn’t take Cane very long to remove this gloss.
I smiled to myself in the mirror before walking back into the restaurant. I made my way to our table and saw another woman approaching it from the other side. Cane didn’t seem to notice her coming towards him, but I slowed my steps, watching the blonde.
She said something and caught his attention. He tensed, even though he sat back in his chair nonchalantly. I knew him well enough to pick up on his idiosyncrasies. The woman was smiling and giggling and when she touched Cane’s shoulder, I saw red.
Who the hell is this?
I picked up my pace and walked to my seat, the woman’s voice, laced with a fake sweetness, eating at me. “I’m back,” I said, plastering on a fake smile as I pulled out my chair.
Cane’s eyes jumped to mine as I sat down. When our eyes met, he winked and I relaxed just a little as I turned my gaze back to the woman standing at his side.
“Nicole,” he said, sitting upright and turning to face her. “Please meet my girlfriend, Jada. Baby,” he said, twisting towards me and smiling, “this is Nicole.”
My heart swelled with the introduction and I smiled brightly at Cane before turning my eyes to Nicole, who was obviously a little shell shocked. “Nicole, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, extending my hand across the table. Nicole glared at me for a split second before recovering and meeting me smile-for-smile.
“Jade,” Nicole said with false affection, reaching out and taking my hand. “It is so nice to meet Cane’s newest girl.”
“It’s Jada,” Cane said, obviously annoyed, his eyes turning cool. “And she’s the only girl that’s ever been mine.”
I smiled smugly at Nicole.
“Well,” Nicole said, adjusting her game plan, “it is nice to meet you nonetheless. I’ve known Cane forever and it’s always a pleasure to meet his dates.” She smiled at Cane. “I’ll let you enjoy your dinner.”
As she turned to walk away, I felt my body give way as the tension I had been carrying eased. It was short-lived.
“Oh, Cane, I forgot. One more thing.” She turned around and smiled, her eyes gleaming wickedly. “Guess who called me this week? Ashley! Can you believe that? Have you heard from her?”
Cane took a deep breath and fidgeted a little in his seat. “Why in the hell would I have heard from her?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Nicole said, holding back a laugh. “It was just pretty odd that she looked me up out of the blue! I haven’t heard from her in such a long time! Anyway, I just thought she may have called you, too,” she said, flashing me a pointed look.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to control my rising anger.