Page 35 of Follow Me to Your Heart
I swiped my smoothie off the table and headed to the door. Keith called out to me just as my hand touched the door handle.
“Yeah, Keith?”
“Let me know when you’re truly ready. You can’t run forever.”
“Please,don’t start this shit again,” I mumbled to myself as I tapped on Cage’s contact. The phone rang five times, and he answered when I was about to hang up.
“Don’t be mad at me, baby,” he started.
I kissed my teeth and closed my eyes. “Cage.”
“I can’t get away. O’Shea has me running around with him today, and I thought we’d be done by now.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me earlier?”
Cage expelled a frustrated sigh. “I genuinely thought I’d be able to take you, KoKo. I had my whole day planned around taking you there, but shit isn’t working out how I need it to.”
I placed my phone on speaker and threw it on my bed. With my hands on my hips, I paced back and forth in front of my bed,with Nema watching me closely. “What am I supposed to do, Cage? I’m supposed to be meeting Sienna in thirty minutes, and you know it’s going to take a Journey longer to get me there.”
“If you wait on me, ask Sienna to meet you later. I don’t know how long I’ll be, but I’ll try my hardest to take you.”
“Forget it. I’ll figure it out.”
“Don’t be like that, KoKo. I’ll order the Journey for you. Just let Sienna know you’re running a little behind. I’m sorry, baby. I swear, I’m going to make it up to you.”
Cage’s voice was low and sincere, tugging at my heartstrings. He always made it up to me, but when would he get tired of having to do so? Would it be before or after I was fed up with him choosing the streets over everything else?
I sat down next to Nema and placed her in my lap. “Aren’t you tired of having to make it up to me? To everyone? I mean, it’s been like this for years. I assumed once we made it official and you told me you were working on a way out, things would change. They’re not. You’re still putting work before everything else.”
“You gotta give me more credit than that. I know the last two weeks have been different, but it’s only because O’Shea is changing things and has me shadowing him.”
“And why do you need to shadow him if you don’t plan on doing this forever?” His silence told me all I needed to know. Cage didn’t answer right away. He was mute for a good minute which meant he was struggling with whatever he needed to say. “Just say what’s on your heart.”
“I’m conflicted, that’s all. I’m working through shit. I need you to be patient with me. I’m a work in progress. We both know that.”
“Just . . . order my Journey, please. Send me the details.”
Cage released a defeated sigh and agreed before we ended the call. I lay back on the bed with my eyes closed. There wasno doubt in my heart and soul that I wanted to be with Cage and stick things out, but my mind was fighting with them. My thoughts were trying to convince me we’d be better off as friends. That was a lie. I’d gotten so deep in experiencing Cage’s love in a different way that I’d never be the same again. A friendship wouldn’t satisfy me.
It was all or nothing.
Minutes later, my Journey information came through. It was set to arrive in twenty minutes, so I sent Sienna a text, asking if we could push the time back an hour. She agreed, informing me she was running behind as well. I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little better about it.
While I waited, I decided to call Taylor to see what she was up to and vent. I needed her reasoning to keep me from spazzing on Cage.
“Hey, boo!” She answered on the first ring in a chipper tone. “I was just thinking about you. Mind if I come through?”
“I’m about to head to Camden Cove to meet Sienna, but you can tag along if you want. I need you right now.”
“Say less. I should be there in five minutes.”
“Perfect.”
I cradled Nema in my arms and went to unlock my front door. Taylor arrived shortly after with the brightest smile. Her bubbly energy was rubbing off on me, exactly what I needed.
“What’s got you smiling from ear to ear?” I asked as we hugged.
“Keith, of course. He’s coming to see me tonight. It’s been two weeks since I last saw him, so I’m giddy as hell.”
