KANDY

I think the reception was my favorite part. There was live music and so much food and cake. Yes, cake. After spending the last three months not eating any sugar so I could fit in my dress, I devoured it, and it felt so damn good.

I shared dances with Cane. I shared dances with my dad. I even shared dances with my little prince, Chance. I met several of Cane’s most trusted colleagues, and most of them were pretty cool guys. The music was loud and pulsed through me, and I didn’t care that I’d sweat my hair out, or that my elegant bun was toppling down. I was having fun and celebrating my marriage to a man I loved wholly and dearly. A man who I’d suffered losses with, as well as many wins.

It wasn’t too long before I decided to go back for my second slice of cake, but as the server handed it to me, Lora appeared over my shoulder. “Hey, Kandy. There’s a guy at the front door who says he needs to speak with you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What? Who?”

“I don’t know, but he’s cute. He said his name’s Brody. Should I let him in?”

“What the hell?” I placed my plate down and then looked across the room at Cane. He was standing by the champagne table, talking to a few of his colleagues. “Uh, no…I’ll go out. Keep Cane occupied, ‘kay?”

“Sure, yeah.”

I grabbed a handful of my dress and hurried to the steps that led up to the pool. My heels clicked on the marble as I walked through the house, and as soon as I opened the door, sure enough, Brody Hawks was there. When he spotted me, a smile stretched across his lips, but I could tell it was hard for him to do.

He looked…different. For starters, he had a beard now. Scruffy and dark. His eyes looked empty too, like he hardly ever slept. I couldn’t fight the frown that swept over my face as I looked him over, stepping out and shutting the door behind me.

“Wow,” he breathed. “You look amazing.”

“Brody?” I took a step closer. “What are you doing here?”

“I um…well, it’s going to sound crazy trying to explain it,” he said with an awkward chuckle.

My brows rose out of curiosity, but I folded my arms, waiting for him to finish.

“Look, Kandy…I’ll be completely honest with you. I don’t want to waste your time, but this felt like the only time I’d be able to say it.” He sighed. “I came to apologize about what happened at Notre Dame. Back then, you wouldn’t have known it, but I was on some really heavy stuff. I tried to keep up my good boy appearances, but when I partied with the team, I did a lot of drinking and experimented with a lot of drugs that messed with my head and my morals. I know this won’t change the way you feel about me, but after what happened, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Clearly, you couldn’t either, because I got served and kicked out.” His laugh was dry.

“Brody, how did you even find out where I was?” I asked.

“Oh…I, uh, looked into that Cane guy. I saw he had moved his office to Charlotte a few months ago, and I figured he still kept in touch with you after everything. I thought if I could get through to him, I could reach you.”

“Reach me? To apologize?”

“Yes.” He did a long blink. “But…I didn’t reach him at first. I got his assistant instead. She was persistent with telling me no, but I kept calling. Kept asking if I could talk to Mr. Cane. I want to say it took me a solid two weeks before she finally caved and listened to me, and I told her everything. I told her what I did to you, and how fucked up it was. I told her that you didn’t deserve what happened to you at all, and that you were one of the smartest, nicest girls I’d ever met and that I ruined your life. She heard me out, told me she’d patch me through to Mr. Cane…and he promptly told me to fuck off,” he laughed.

I snorted. I could totally picture Cane telling him to fuck off in the subtlest of ways.

“But I got to him before he hung up. I told him I wanted to apologize to you and him in person. He told me there was no need to apologize to him. He’d settled the score long ago. But he said there was still a chance for me to ask for your forgiveness.”

“When was this call with him?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“So, you’re here because you’re miserable, is that it?” I demanded. “You think that by coming here it will solve all your problems?”

“No, Kandy, I swear…that’s not it. I mean—what I did to you was foul, man. I—I think about it all the time. Even when I was in the clear, after you got kicked out, I kept thinking about it, but I kept drinking and snorting and smoking, hoping I would get rid of that guilt. When I got kicked out, all of that stopped, and I was left with no choice but to be swallowed by the guilt. Listen, I’ve never done anything like that to anyone. I was in a very low place in my life and listening to the wrong people. I let my anger take hold of me and almost ruined the future of a girl who only wanted to do good things. Because of it, I ruined my future and any plans I had of creating a good, stable life.”

I looked him over before looking away.

“I just…I want to tell you that I’m sorry, that’s all. I mean, I flew all the way from Texas to Charlotte, just to tell you how sorry I am. I made this a mission, because I couldn’t live with the guilt anymore. I couldn’t sleep knowing I’d ruined someone like you.”

His eyes glistened from the lights on the patio. He looked nothing but apologetic, and although a part of me wanted to deny all of it, a better, nicer part of me knew it would have been wrong to do so. As a mother and now a wife, I had to set examples. I had to learn to forgive, and realize that everything happens for a reason. If Brody and Sophie hadn’t done what they did, I probably wouldn’t even have Cane, or Chance, for that matter. I never would have built a bigger bond with Lora or Miss Cane, and I definitely wouldn’t have found my peace in different ways.

I took a step forward. “Brody, I appreciate you coming all this way to tell me that after so many years. It must have really bothered you, and I’m glad you realized just how messed up it was.”

He nodded, lips pressing.

“I have a son now. Did you know that?”

“No way.” He smiled, his eyes lighting up a bit.

“Yep. He’s six months old. He’s a great little human, and one of my goals as a mom is to teach him right from wrong. I want him to learn how to forgive people when they wrong him, even if it hurts. I want him to know that we are all human, and humans are flawed creatures, but if we love and care for one another, maybe it won’t all be so bad.” I sighed, looking past him at the many cars parked in the roundabout driveway. “For that reason and that reason alone, I forgive you. You came all this way, explained your situation to me, so yes, Brody. I forgive you.”

He sighed a big breath of relief, dropping his head. “Thank you.”

I smiled softly. “Does Cane know you’re here?”

“Sure do.” A voice sounded behind me, and I looked back as Cane walked out. He looked Brody over, and Brody straightened his back, watching Cane come out of the door with his chin high.

“Oh my gosh, were you listening to us? What good is Lora?” I asked, playfully punching him.

“What?” Cane smirked, hooking an arm round my waist. “Had to make sure he wasn’t making any moves on my wife.”

“Not at all, sir,” Brody assured him. “I appreciate you trusting me with your address. I know it was the last thing you wanted to do.”

“Damn right. Not only because I don’t like you, but because Kandy’s father is here, and he’s a mean motherfucker. If he found out that you, the kid who had her expelled from a college she worked her ass off to get into, was here, he would kick your ass twice. Not even kidding. I’ve been the recipient of a D. Jennings ass-kicking myself.”

Brody looked nervous then.

“But, he doesn’t know. And I prefer it stays that way,” Cane assured him.

Brody relaxed, lowering his gaze.

“What are you doing with your life now?” Cane asked.

“Oh, uh, I work retail as an assistant manager, and I’m an assistant coach for a football team for 8-year-olds.”

“Hmm. Retail, huh?”

“You should give him a job,” I whispered. “I mean, he came all this way and hounded you. He’s clearly dedicated.”

Cane didn’t bother to lower his voice. “I don’t know about that, babe. He might stab me in the back down the road.”

I looked over at Brody. “No, he won’t. Because if he does that, I’ll have to tell my dad all about him. My dad, who happens to be a police sergeant. We wouldn’t want that, would we, Brody?”

Brody shook his head. “Nah, we wouldn’t.”

“All right then,” Cane said. “I’ll give you a chance. There’s a position open at my office in the mailroom. It sounds bad, but it pays much more than retail does, trust me. If you’re willing to relocate for a chance to do something better for yourself, email my assistant, let her know.”

A smile swept over Brody’s face. “Wow, sir. I appreciate the offer, but you don’t have to do that. My life isn’t bad—I mean, it’s not as fancy as yours, but it isn’t bad.”

“Seventeen dollars an hour,” Cane said, and Brody’s eyes bulged out of his head. “Plus benefits. Our mailrooms get pretty busy.”

“Uh…damn. I’ll definitely consider it, then.” He laughed and took a step back. “I’ll email soon, give you a solid answer.”

“Sounds fine.”

“Bye, Brody,” I called, watching him walk off.

“Thanks for your time.” Brody waved goodbye, and when he was out of earshot, Cane said, “I should make him go through the whole process and have them deny his application.”

“Oh my gosh, Cane!” I busted out laughing. “No. You’re just being an asshole. You meant well, I could tell.” I grabbed his arm. “Thank you for doing that—being the bigger person.”

“Only for you. I knew you would have wanted that closure. Stuff like that always haunts you one way or another. Besides…I think he’s a good kid deep down. Was probably going through some tough shit back then. College is hard. Lots of life changes. Not only that, but he reminds me of myself…minus the drugs. But I was big on drinking in college, and as you can tell from our little experience with Eden St. Claire several months ago, I was not very good to the ladies.”

“Yeah, you have a point.”

He smiled down at me. “Come on, let’s get back to the party.”

Cane walked with me into the house, and along the way, we spotted Lora rushing into the kitchen. Cane looked down at me, a dip in his forehead as confusion swept over him, then tugged me to the kitchen, a finger to his lips. Lora was pacing in front of the fridge. When she saw us out of the corner of her eye, she gasped, and her eyes got wide.

“Holy shit, you guys! You can’t sneak up on me like that!” she yelled.

“Creep up on you? We’re at a party full of people, Lora. What’s going on with you?” Cane released my hand, meeting up with his sister.

“Nothing—it’s nothing.” She shoved her fingers through her hair that was now crinkled from her braids and hanging down past her shoulders.

“You look one edge, Lo,” he stated. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. Just—okay, come with me.” She grabbed Cane’s hand and dragged him to the window that revealed our entire backyard. I met up with them, and Lora pointed out the window. “Do you see that guy over there with the shoulder-length hair? In the black suit and black tie? Do you know him?”

Cane narrowed his eyes a bit. I looked with him and saw a guy standing by the bushes. His hair was brown and wavy, his jaw cut and defined. He was barefaced, his eye swimming over the crowd like he was looking for someone.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Cane said, still staring at the man. “Why? Do you know him?”

Lora’s eyes widened as she stared out the window. “No,” she said quickly. “I just…I didn’t see him seated at the wedding. Don’t remember checking him off on the list. But now he’s here at the reception. You know how popular you are. There are total creeps out there who will crash a wedding to take pictures they can sell.”

“Well, shit, Lora, there are a lot of people here at the reception. He could be someone’s driver or maybe tagged along with one of the ladies as their guest.”

Lora’s throat bobbed as she swallowed.

“Lora, are you okay?” I asked. Her face had paled. I’d never seen her like this—not since that time she saw Buck—when she was paralyzed with fear.

“I’m fine.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I think I’ve just had too much champagne. Not only that, but I’ve been up since four this morning getting this wedding ready.” She closed her eyes for a brief second, breathing evenly. “Guys, don’t let me ruin your night. Go,” she insisted, pushing us toward the door. “I’m going to run to the bathroom and hope I don’t vomit all over the place.”

“All right…text me if you need me.” Concern was laced in Cane’s voice. I was worried too, but when Lora smiled, I let it go. For now.

Before we reached the crowded area, I said, “I think all this planning has made her stressed and tired. I’m sure she’ll feel better once she actually gets to rest.”

“Yeah, I think so too. Lora isn’t really equipped to run for days. She’s like a cat. She needs naps.”

I giggled at that.

“She’s a paranoid girl, too. She’s been that way since she was younger. She always thinks someone is coming after her, probably because of what she went through with Buck as a kid.” Cane shrugged. “Once she gets some rest, her anxiety will settle, and she’ll be okay.”

I nodded, but looked over my shoulder. Lora was standing in front of the door, watching everyone. Cane tugged on my hand, tearing my gaze away, and when we made it back to the reception area, everyone cheered for us.

“How about we let the happy couple share one more solo dance!” the singer said into the microphone, and Cane displayed a full smile.

“Shall we?” He winked at me.

I took his hand, letting him reel me toward him. “Let’s.”

The singer started singing “1+1” by Beyoncé. It was a slow song, but the lyrics defined us in every way. Cane nuzzled his nose in the crook of my neck, and I tossed my head back, laughing. Then I pressed my cheek to his chest, rocking with him, forgetting there were hundreds of eyes on us.

For a split second, I only heard his heartbeat. Felt his skin on mine. His lips in my hair as he kissed me. We were alone on the dance floor, beneath gold lights and stars, and nothing else mattered.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Mom, Miss Cane, Lora, and Dad, who was holding Chance in his arms. They were smiling. Chance was still awake, but barely, his lids drooping.

My eyes shifted over to my girls Morgan, Gina, and Frankie. They were all sipping champagne and laughing their asses off. I spotted Clay not too far off from where Frankie was standing. One of our guests, a younger guy with nice hair and an even nicer smile, came up to Frankie and said something, and Clay’s grip tightened around his bottle of beer as Frankie beamed up at the guy. The way he looked at her said it all. I know she said she wanted me to pretend I didn’t know a thing, but I’d seen that look before.

Primal. Fierce. Possessive.

Cane had given me that look many, many times before, but there was also adoration. Confusion. He didn’t understand his want for her. And that’s the funny thing, when it comes to complicated loves like these: they are always hard to understand at first, but if you work through them, weather every storm and conquer your battles, you end up understanding the want. The need. You understand that it is worth fighting for.

It starts off as lust, but morphs into so much more.

I picked my head up to look at Cane as the song came to an end. His eyes shimmered from the lights above, his smile content.

Wow…this man. This man was going to be my forever and always. He was going to be my husband, my king, my everything.

Once upon a time, I was a young, hopeless girl with a crush and a desire. A girl who thought there was no chance in hell a man like him would fall for a young, naive girl like me.

Now, I was a woman, with a love worth fighting for and a family I would never take for granted. Now I had him, and we were going to be together for the rest of our lives.

Being Mrs. Cane is something I thought would never happen, yet there I was, right in Quinton Cane’s arms, standing as his wife. His soulmate

This moment was created by passion, heartbreak, love, and struggles. All of it led up to this perfect day, creating a blissful, unconditional happily ever after for us.

I was his, and he was mine.

So, yes, this was my always.

This was my forever.