Page 54 of The Sweetest Devotion

“Take that risk, girl, that’s what glue is for.”

I rolled my eyes. Jadyn was no help. “I feel bad. He went out shopping because he didn’t have any fish thawed out, and I bailed while he was gone.”

“Kennedy!” Jadyn chastised.

“I know.” I cringed. “I didn’t do it on purpose. There was a false alarm with my dad.”

At once, Jadyn understood. “I’m sorry, K. Is he doing any better?”

On Sunday, my father had experienced some muscle cramps in his thighs, causing my mother to panic and take him to the hospital. I couldn’t blame her for the dramatics. This whole ordeal had us all on edge as we had no agency over my father’s health. It was an uncomfortable feeling, sitting around, watching, waiting, hoping for some sort of miracle that would make my father’s condition bearable at the most.

He was in and out of the hospital, with some prescribed pain meds for the cramps. Being there in the thick of it, I could see what Cain had alluded to. My father was prideful, insisting that he was fine and my mother was overreacting. But I could see him wincing as he was helped back into bed from his wheelchair. I could see his gritted teeth. I could feel his rage.

He hadn’t asked, but right then I conceded, allowing myself to stop fighting this marriage to make one part of my father’s life easier. A sacrifice if you will. It was pathetic, but seeing with my own eyes how my father tried to fight defeat was a blow I couldn’t recover from.

“He’s adjusting,” was all I could say on the matter.

“I hate this for him and you,” Jadyn said. “Especially you, because you must feel obligated to help in anyway.”

She knew me too well.

“How are things with the script?” I pushed for a subject change, if only to spare myself from dwelling on my predicament.

Over on her end, Jadyn groaned. “I was trying to go romance-less, but now I’m thinking my girl deserves a little love in her story. I mean, it’s not like coming-of-age stories with guys don’t feature love stories.”

“Loveisnice, Jay.”

“I wouldn’t know. It’s been a while over here. Twisted or not, you’re the one swimming in prospects.”

Prospects. Right.

My only true prospect was Cain. With Keith, somehow, I had to manage to keep a wall up while sleeping with him.A task he seemed intent on making a challenge.

He asked about my father. Something small, humane, but left me feeling antsy.

I hadn’t called or texted him to explain my abandoning him further, and he hadn’t called or texted me to ask for an explanation. This was how it would work. No emotional ties. No questions. Just a phone call or text when either of us was horny.

“I’m trapped, Jay,” I said softly. “It can only be sex with Keith, because if I fall for him, it’ll only end badly.”

There was a knock at my door, drawing my attention across the room.

“If you want to cut off ties now, I get it,” Jadyn replied. “Whenever you want to escape the stress of Cain and your dad’s situation, I’m here. Whatever you want, I support you.”

I was entirely overwhelmed with what was going on. Sinking on a raft with no way to land. Having at least one hand reaching out to help me lifted some weight from my shoulders.

“Thank you, Jay. I mean it, you’ve been my rock since this whole thing started.” I got up from the couch and went to answer the door.

“Of course, what are friends for?” Jadyn reasoned. “I don’t want you to feel alone when you have me.”

I opened my mouth to thank her again, but the words never came out.

Cain was on the other side of the door when I opened it. His men weren’t too far behind him keeping lookout.

“J-Jay? I gotta go,” I let her know before I hung up.

I was still in my sports bra and yoga pants, but Cain held the grace to look me in the eye.

“Cain,” I said as I leaned into my door. “You’re back.”

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