Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen
CANDY’S POV
I wake up as I normally do, snuggled into a comfy chest and beckoning body heat and for a moment, a sliver of a moment, I dare to forget that this is the morning I leave it all behind, it’s the last time I get to have the luxury of waking up cushioned on this one man here that has come to mean a lot to me without meaning to.
“Quit being a pussy and tell him you were wrong, tell him you want more outside of this, the worst he can say is no!” My subconscious rants, but she’s more courageous than I am. I’ll die if I tried only to have him reject me to my face, I’ll will the ground to literally open up and swallow me whole.
So I know I won’t ask for more. I’ll keep my words like any respectable woman should and spend the dark looming days finding light and strength in the memories of this time I got to spend with him.
He’d managed to book us into early flights, so we start to get ready to leave almost immediately after we both get out of bed. He must have packed up while I slept because his bags are all packed and stood next to mine, slamming the reality of it all in my face.
We shower together, learning each other’s body and favorite rhythm all over again for the last time in the small time that we have. His gentleness floors me because I’ve spent time with him and I see the effort it takes for him to be that. It’s written all over him that he’s lead a tough life till now and I guess whatever he does for work, he excels at being rough in it. But with me, he takes his time to be careful and gentle.
Tell me how I’m supposed to fight that.
At around seven, we check out of the hotel after confirming from the annoyingly dismissive head of security that there’s nothing more he can do about the break in, leaving for the airport in the taxi he’d called.
As the car starts to drive away, I notice some of the men from yesterday lurking around, watching us, smoking that fat cigar the seem to like.
“They’ll report to Aleksandar that we left so you should be safe from here.”
Maybe, but I believe that depends heavily on what safety means because for me, it’s starting to look a lot different than it started out and that safety is about to fly miles away from me.
The ride is quiet and uneventful but it gets us to the airport just in time. He sorts out our tickets and then walks me to my gate and waits with me until we start boarding. Before letting me go, he kisses my forehead and whispers something about wishing we had different lives before sending me off, waiting to make sure I get through before he leaves.
Halfway down, I turn around and run back to him with a smile to hide the hurt. I have one more thing to do before I walk away for good.
Stopping in front of him, I say, “I never did catch your name. I always called you Mr. Hot neighbor in my head but I think I want to know before leaving.”
A smile spreads across his face. “Mr. Hot neighbor hmm?”
I nod, still smiling, feeling silly.
“It’s Nikandr.”
“Nikandr?” I ask, tilting my head to the side to look at him well like it might explain. “You don’t look like a Nikandr.”
He laughs.
“Yeah, that’s because my mum is only half Russian and yes it’s why I can speak the language.” He finishes noting my light bulb moment.
That makes sense.
“Well, lucky you. My own mum thought it’d be funny to name me Candy since my last name is Kane. You can’t imagine the nightmare that was. I started telling everyone it’s Candice as soon as I could.”
“Maybe she wasn’t wrong.” He mutters, all serious.
‘What?”
“Run, they’re closing your gate.”
With one last look, I run like my life depends on it and make it just in the nick of time to be checked in and board, a piece of me stuck out there with him still.
I have no idea where he’s headed or if our paths will ever get to cross again but even if I don’t, I know I’ll never regret meeting him. I’ll probably always think back to him to compensate and that’s something.
I fill in the next nine hours plus with sleep, listening to sad music, more music and reading the romance books on my phone about lost love and second chances but nothing works to lighten the lead weight sitting heavy in my chest cavity. When it gets too much for me, my eyes brimming with unshed tears, I snuggle into my hoodie and cry myself to sleep.
We finally touch down at O’Hare International airport at around seven thirty and the first thing I do is call Peach. She’s the only one I can bother with picking me from the airport now without prior notice and honestly the only person I really want to see right now. She knows how to make everything better and she knows where to get the best ice creams from.
“What do you mean you’re back?” She asks immediately I voice my request like she’s my parent and I’m her rebellious teenager.
“Better not be a joke cause I’m on my way to you now, Cay.”
The excitement is evident in her voice even as she tries to hide it under her concern for my abrupt return and I’m just as excited to see her again after being away for a whole three weeks.
I go through the whole hassle of checking out and luggage claim before going to wait for her outside. A warm smile lights up my face when I eventually see her navy blue Nissan Kicks roll into the parking lot. Her smile is even wider than mine as she kills the engine and flies out of the car straight into my arms.
“Oh my God you’re really back.” She wheezes as she hugs me tight.
“You didn’t think I was and you drove all the way here still?” I ask laughing.
“Of course, anything for you candy sticks.”
“Watch it.”
She throws up her hand in mock surrender because she knows how I hate it when someone plays with my name like that. It’s already as bad as it gets to be named Candy fucking Kane.
We load my bags into her trunk, then climb into the car for the ride home through the hustle and bustle that is Chicago. As she pulls out of the lot to rejoin traffic, I watch in the side mirror as the final full stop appears in one of the most beautiful chapters of my adult life, closing it. Ending it.