“Fine,” I concede. “But only because your couch really sucks.”
“Go to bed, Jazz. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Chapter 11
JAZZ
“Thanks for the ride. And for everything last night.”
Shawn pulls his navy blue BMW 328i up to the curb, two houses down from Belle’s. The sedan is over ten years old, but the boy keeps it obsessively clean. Boys and their cars, amiright?
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you two somewhere?”
“I’m sure.” I nod, leaving out the part that Belle probably wouldn’t be happy to see him. She liked Shawn well enough while we were dating, but she loves Kingston, and I’m afraid seeing Shawn would confuse her.
“At least reconsider the ride home. There’s no point in paying for one when I can do it for free.” He looks at the backpack on my lap. “You can leave that with me, and I’ll bring it back.”
That’d probably be the smart thing to do considering the Glock I have wrapped in the shirt I wore last night. It’s not loaded, but still. I don’t like the idea of carrying a weapon when I’m spending the day with my sister.
“Yeah... okay. Maybe meet me back here around five?”
Shawn searches my eyes for a moment. “I can do that.”
I offer him a soft smile. “Thanks again, Sha—” Movement down the street catches my eye. “Ah, fuck.”
Shawn’s gaze follows mine. His shoulders stiffen the moment he notices Kingston coming right at us, glaring holes through the windshield. Damn it, I should’ve known he’d show up here.
“Oh, fuck no.” Shawn practically rips the keys out of the ignition and opens the car door.
“Shawn, don’t.”
He scoffs. “Sorry, Jazz. I’m not backing down on this. That preppy fuck has some nerve showing up here.”
I scramble out of the car, catching up with him right as Kingston reaches us. The two men stare each other down, the animosity between them tangible. A muscle jumps in Kingston’s cheek while Shawn clenches and unclenches his fists. Neither one of them says a word. They just square off, trying to murder each other with their eyes.
I insert myself directly between them. The last thing I need right now is to have them throw punches at each other, then have to deal with someone calling the cops. Both men are pretty evenly matched in size, and Shawn has legit street smarts, but after seeing Kingston fight at Peyton’s birthday party, I think he could actually do some real damage to his opponent.
“Jazz, move,” Kingston grits out.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Shawn retorts.
A cruel smirk forms on Kingston’s lips. “Or what?”
I hold my arms out on either side as they both take a step forward. “Both of you. Knock it off.”
Kingston’s eyes meet mine for the first time. “Is this who you’ve been with all night?” His eyes are bright green today, almost glowing with intensity as he awaits my answer.
I pop a brow. “So, what if it was?”
His eyes narrow. “Then we’re going to have a problem.”
I scoff. “Oh, we already have a problem, Kingston.”
Kingston’s gaze shifts to Shawn. He couldn’t look more unimpressed if he tried. “You can take off now. I’d like to have a word with my girlfriend alone.”
Shawn charges forward again but stops when my palm presses against his puffed-out chest. “Fuck you. I’m not going anywhere. And the way I see it, she ain’t your girl anymore.” He releases a sardonic laugh. “But don’t worry; I took care of her real good last night.”
Shit.
He just had to go and rouse the beast, didn’t he? In one second, Kingston’s pulling me out of the way, and in the next, his fist is connecting with Shawn’s jaw. Shawn fires back immediately, landing a solid blow in roughly the same spot.
“Stop it!” I scream. “Somebody’s going to call the cops, you idiots!”
Of course, they don’t listen and continue trading punches. When I see the neighbors peeking their heads through their curtains, I know I need to end this fast before both these fools get thrown in jail. I’m not stupid enough to risk my face being collateral damage, so I do the first thing I can think of. I take off my shoes, right there in the middle of the street, and hurl one at each one of their heads as hard as I can.
“Ow!” Shawn shouts, rubbing his forehead.
“What the fuck?” Kingston grumbles at the same time, staring at one of my fallen Chucks on the concrete.
I prop a hand on my hip. “You assholes deserved it.”
Shawn’s nostrils flare as he wipes the blood away from his lip. “Did you seriously throw your shoe at my face?”
I roll my eyes. “Hell, yes , I threw my shoe at your face. Quit being such a baby. It’s not like it hurt worse than a fist , but clearly, the element of surprise knocked some sense into you morons.”
Shawn winces. “That’s harsh, babe.”
“Call her that again and see what happens.” Kingston spits blood on the ground.
Shawn juts his chin out. “I’m not afraid of you, playa.”
I throw my hands up. “Oh, shut the hell up, both of you. If you’d stop measuring d—”
“Jazz!”
All three of our heads whip in the direction of my sister’s voice. She’s barreling down the sidewalk toward us with a huge smile on her face.
I crouch down and open my arms to pull her into a hug as soon as she’s within reach. “Hey, kiddo. I missed you.”
Belle squeezes me tighter and buries her nose into my neck. “Missed you, too.”
I glare at both guys over Belle’s shoulder, silently telling them to get their shit together.
I finger a lock of her loose hair. “You took the braids out. How’d you get the curls to look so pretty?”
My sister nods. “Monica works at a beauty salon. She gets to take home all sorts of stuff to try. She gots me some new oil that smells like sunscreen.” Belle lifts a lock of her hair, waiting for me to take a sniff. “See?”
I take a whiff of the coconut fragrance. “Mmm, you smell good enough to eat.” I playfully snap my teeth near her neck, making her giggle.
Belle pulls back and frowns when she finally notices Shawn. “What’s he doin’ here?”
Shawn laughs at her accusatory tone. “Hey, there, shorty. Long time, no see.”
Belle balls her fists and parks them on her hips. “I am not short.”
He holds his palms out in surrender. “My mistake. Will you forgive me?”
Now Belle crosses her arms over her chest and harrumphs.
Of course, Kingston’s loving the fact that my sister is giving my ex a less-than-warm reception. “Hey, kiddo.”
A smile stretches across her face, right before she launches herself into Kingston’s arms. Shawn’s not the only one right now who’s uncomfortable with the fact that Belle adores Kingston so much.
Kingston stands with Belle proudly propped on his hip. He tugs on one of her curls and says, “Your hair looks really pretty.”
“Thank you.” Belle gingerly presses her fingertips to the corner of his mouth. “You have an owie on your lip.”
Kingston’s tongue snakes out, wiping the little droplet of blood away. “Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. It doesn’t hurt at all .”
Shawn and I both shake our heads at Kingston’s obvious dig.
I tell my stupid heart to stay firm when Kingston boops her on the nose. “You feel like going to the children’s museum today?”
Motherfucker.
Belle’s face lights up. “Yeah!”
“Actually... Belle, I was thinking you and I could have a sisters-only day. Maybe hop on the bus like old times and go somewhere fun?”
Her brows draw together. “But I wanna go to the children’s museum.”
“Yeah, Jazz, she wants to go to the museum.” Kingston smiles victoriously.
I mentally flip him off. “Well, then we can take the bus to the museum and still have our sisters’ day.”
“Or I can drive you,” Shawn offers. “Promise I won’t get in the way. I’ll just be your chauffeur.”
Belle looks at Shawn first, then me, then Kingston. I think she’s finally sensing the tension in the air. Her brow furrows as she pulls on Kingston’s sleeve, prompting him to let her down.
“Are you mad at me?”