Page 19 of Follow Me to Your Heart

I was trying, but I hadn’t learned.

I hadn’t learned how to put myself, and Korren was right. It affected the people around me. Too many people depended on me, so letting them down wasn’t an option. All the while, I was letting myself down by not living how I desired to.

Since it was Christmas break, Korren was going back to Camden Cove to stay with her father.

She asked me to stay for a few days, but I couldn’t promise her anything.

I’d been at O’Shea’s beck and call lately.

When Red and I suggested he clean house, I didn’t expect him to take me along for the ride.

While I was honored that he’d chosen me, the shit was draining.

It was consuming me in more than one way.

“Babe?” Korren called out to me, snapping me back to reality.

“Yeah?”

“What’s on your mind? You were in deep thought. Talk to me.”

I exhaled and dragged my hands down my face. Korren stopped packing, strutted over to me, and straddled me. Automatically, my hands cupped her ass. I rested my forehead on her collarbone, slowly inhaling her scent. Her hands stroked my locs as she laid her head on top of mine.

Barely above a whisper, she asked, “Are you okay, Cage?”

“Truthfully, KoKo, I don’t know. I feel like I’m everywhere, but I also feel like I’m stuck if that makes sense.”

“It does. You haven’t had to, . . . you know, . . . end a life, have you?”

“Nah, thankfully. It’s been months, but it’s the other shit weighing me down. I’m being pulled in so many directions, and I don’t know which way to go.”

“It’s only because you’re allowing it. You do know you have control of your life, right?”

I lifted my face to peer at her and placed a soft peck to her chin. “I’m trying to get it together, baby. I am. Right now, I need to be inside you. Take my mind off everything, Korren.”

Once we showered and got dressed again, I took Korren’s bags down to my car while she got Nema and locked up. My phone rang in my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number calling, so I ignored it and got in the car. Whoever it was called right back.

“Who’s that?” Korren asked, studying my screen.

“I don’t know. You can answer it if you want to.”

I chuckled as she eagerly took my phone and slid her finger across the screen. “Hello?”

“Where’s Cage?”

Fuck. It was Lorie.

Without a second thought, I instructed, “Hang up. I don’t know why the fuck she’s calling me.”

“You know exactly why I’m calling you. Don’t try to act clueless around your little bitch.”

I snatched my phone from Korren and hung up on Lorie, instantly blocking the number she called from. Whatever games she was trying to play, I wasn’t with it. Korren told me about their encounter a few weeks ago. Lorie was lucky I didn’t find her ass then, but she was testing the waters.

Korren was too quiet for me. She was staring out the window, face the color of a fire truck. Nema’s little body shook from how Korren’s legs bounced. Her mouth was twisted. When I reached out to touch her, she jerked her body away.

“Korren.”

“Why was she calling you, Cage?”

“I don’t know. I’m trying to figure it out myself. I haven’t spoken to her since you told me to block her.”

“Mmm.”

“Look at me.”

“No.”

Her stubborn ass was pissing me off. I opened my door and marched around to her side of the car.

Before she could lock it, I snatched her door open.

Our faces were inches apart. She knew better than to look away from me.

After an intense stare down, the wrinkles in Korren’s forehead smoothed and her breathing regulated.

I kissed the top of her nose and said, “You know me, KoKo. If I was doing anything besides the shit I say I do, you’d know. All I’ve ever been is honest with you. That’s something that’ll never change. Why would I fuck up what we have when it’s all I’ve ever wanted?”

“Because you’re human. Things happen.”

“I know, but I’m not on that type of time, and you know that. Don’t try to have a problem when there isn’t one. Just like I blocked her number before, I did the same for the number she just called from.”

Slowly, Korren bobbed her head. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“It’s all good.”

We shared a kiss then got on the road. The ride to Camden Cove was quiet.

We were lost in our thoughts, but being in her presence was all I needed for life to make sense.

She was where I desired to be always. I’d been neglecting her for things that didn’t matter as much when I should’ve been focusing on her and the plans I had with Keith.

I needed to have a talk with O’Shea to get my life on track. It was the only way.

When we arrived at Ali’s house, he was standing outside, waiting for Korren.

Her entire mood shifted when she saw him.

I admired their relationship. She’d always been a daddy’s girl.

Even though Ali and I didn’t see eye to eye, I desired to be the type of father he was.

He never hesitated to show up and be there for his kids.

Korren absolutely adored him. Whenever we had a daughter, I prayed for the same.

Before I could get out the car to get Korren’s bags, O’Shea called.

I cussed underneath my breath, already knowing I was about to disappoint Korren.

She asked me to stick around for a little since we hadn’t gotten to spend much time together, and I agreed.

I missed her more than she knew, but I was also stacking my paper for other reasons.

“What’s good, O’Shea?”

“What you got up? You busy?”

I glanced up at Korren who was too engrossed in the conversation with her father to notice me on the phone. The smile on her face was contagious. I didn’t want to be the one to wipe it away, so I sighed and answered, “Yeah, I am.”

“I need you to do something for me. It’ll be quick, then you can get back to what you got going.”

“I’m not in the city.”

“How long before you get to the city? I don’t trust anyone else with this, so I need you to do it for me.”

“Give me an hour.”

“Bet. ’Preciate you.”

I ended the call, feeling the weight of life become heavier. The feeling of Korren boring a hole through me made me not even want to look up at her. When I did, she rolled her eyes and stormed inside. Ali glanced back and forth between us before motioning for me to get out the car.

“What’s going on, Cage?” he inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Honestly, Ali, it’s me. I’m trying to work through some things in my life, and it’s affecting her.”

“Sounds like you need to work through it fully and not drag my pumpkin along for the ride. I know you love her. I do. It’s very obvious, but I’m not for you hurting her.

She already had to deal with Marquis, and it took everything in me not to lay my hands on him.

I appreciate you for handling him, but don’t do this to her. ”

“With all due respect, Ali, I love your daughter too much to even think about letting her go. She’s the reason I’m trying to better myself. If I lose her, I may as well lose it all.”

Ali sized me up and snorted. “Sounds a little selfish to me.”

“Sometimes you gotta be selfish in life. Now, if Korren wants space, then I’d have no choice but to accept it.

It would hurt me worse than anything I’ve ever experienced, but I would need it to come from her and only her,” I expressed and shrugged.

“I respect you, Ali. I do. Korren wouldn’t know real love if it wasn’t for you, so trust her with me. Trust me with her.”

There was a shift in Ali’s energy. He uncrossed his arms and slid his hands into his pockets.

Slowly, he bobbed his head. While he processed my words, I glanced over at the front of the house to see Korren peeking through the window.

She quickly closed the blinds when she noticed me.

I chuckled. She was pissed, and truthfully, she had every right to be.

“Well, I can’t do anything but respect what you’re saying, Cage.” Ali spoke. “Just know if I see one tear well in Korren’s eyes because of you, I’m on your ass and so is Kasey.”

“I wouldn’t expect any different. You mind if I go talk to her?”

“Go ahead.”

I excused myself and went inside to find Korren standing by the door.

Before I had a chance to explain myself, she expressed, “Don’t let this ruin our relationship, Cage.

I try to be understanding. I always have, but being in a relationship with you makes it all different to me.

I want this to work more than anything, but it’s hard.

” She snuggled Nema closer to her with her mouth twisted and continued.

“You don’t know how bad I worry, Cage. What you do is dangerous.

The thought of knowing you could be taken away at any moment heightens my anxiety.

It can be mentally and emotionally draining, but I push through because I love you. ”

“What did I ask you before, KoKo?”

“I’m being patient with you. I am, but there’s only so much time to remain that way.”

“You’re right, baby. I love you. The last thing I want is to run out of time.”

“Well, it’s all up to you.”

“Where are we, Red?” I questioned, studying the overly crowded parking lot and building he parked in front of.

It was after midnight, and we had left from O’Shea’s not too long ago.

Korren had fallen asleep early, so Red convinced me to ride out with him.

I should’ve known better. The atmosphere screamed trouble.

There were half-dressed women dancing, sitting on cars, and surrounded by men all in their faces.

Blunts and bottles were being passed around while loud music filled the space around them.

I glared at Red who was rubbing his hands together, eyeing each woman that passed by.

My body sank deeper into my seat with my arms folded. “You may as well take me home, Red. You know I ain’t with this shit.”

“Come on, man. We’ve been deep in the streets the last few weeks with hardly any air to breathe. When you’re not working, you’re catering to Korren.”

“Because that’s exactly what I want to do. I don’t have any desire to entertain anyone out here, including you. If you’re not going to take me home, then I’ll call a Journey.”

“Chill, Cage. We won’t be out here long. All I want to do is scope the scene out and find me a little honey I can fuck on all night long. You know it won’t take me long to do that.”

“I don’t give a fuck about what you want to do. I’m not feeling this shit.”

Red had pissed me off, so I got out without waiting for him to respond.

He called out to me as I trekked through the sea of people.

I pulled my phone out to schedule a car to pick me up and let Korren know what was going on.

Even though she was asleep, I didn’t feel comfortable with her not being aware of what was going on.

There were too many people around, and anyone could go back to her on some bullshit.

I finished ordering a car and swiped out the app when my phone was snatched from my hand. The person was pinned against a car with my hand around their throat before I realized who it was.

Lorie gazed at me with her glossy lips mischievously drawn up. I yanked my phone from her hand and released her. Eyes lowered, they traveled up and down her frame with my nostrils flared before I walked off.

She had the audacity to tug on my arm. I looked down at her hand and back up at her face.

“You know better than to have your hands on me. Move them before I do it for you.”

“Oh, Cage.” Lorie fake pouted, poking her bottom lip out with her hands still on me. “Why are you being like that?”

“I’m going to break your fingers if you don’t release me.”

The iciness of my tone had her releasing me and taking a step back. Her gaze was lazy, eyes bloodshot red as her body swayed from side to side. A loud hiccup escaped her mouth. She needed to get her drunk ass from around me.

“I miss you.”

All I could do was shake my head and attempt to walk off again.

The alcohol was liquid courage for Lorie because she had the audacity to grab me again.

Only this time, she wrapped her arms around me.

I broke free, spun around, and gripped her wrists.

Tears rested on the brim of her eyes the tighter I squeezed.

I pulled her into me and lowly warned, voice mimicking a growl, “Take your drunk ass on somewhere, Lorie, before I have someone lay hands on you. You’re doing too much, and I’d hate to embarrass you out here.”

Lorie whimpered, massaging her wrists the second I let her go. She opened her mouth to speak, but I shook my head and walked off. Red was a fool if he thought I was about to stick around. I’d either end up in jail or in trouble, and I couldn’t afford to deal with either option.