“I’m hurt,” he said.
I decided to play along. “Why?”
“One day, you’ll thank me for the tulips.”
“Then maybe you should send them like normal people do,” I snapped.
For just a moment, something angry flashed over his handsome features. But then it was hidden again behind that perfect smile. He moved closer to me and reached toward me. I took a step back, but he still cupped my cheek.
“So, my pretty girl is picky?”
“I’m not yours, and I’m not picky. I just don’t like feeling stalked. And what did I tell you about touching me?”
I pulled away from him just as a frown clouded his expression.
“Aww, look. The little kitten has claws,” he teased. Then he surprised me by threading a hand in my hair and yanking me forward. He leaned down, a sinister grin slashing across his face. “But don’t ever try to use them on me.”
The warning in his voice was clear and I swallowed. I refused to let him see my fear, though.
“What do you want, Trell?” I asked again.
“You.”
“No—”
“But that can wait,” he cut me off smoothly. “I want that nigga to see how close I can get, even with him here.”
“He’s not worried about you. He doesn’t even know who you are,” I spat.
I guess I wanted to make him mad, knock him off his game. But the crazy muthafucka just smiled.
“When I take what’s rightfully mine, he will. Tell him to ask Gillian about that.”
He whispered the last words in my ear, before kissing me on the sensitive skin right below it. I shivered. He looked down at me before smirking. Finally, he let go of my hair and walked calmly toward the side exit. I waited for the alarm to go off, but it didn’t as he slid outside and into the shadows. I turned and almost walked into Jarell. I realized that all of it had happened in less than two minutes. He grabbed my hand, pulling me away from the corner. Before we made it far, Mekhi was there, flanked by his crew. His eyes landed on me, and he walked over.
“You good?” he asked, his voice tight.
I rolled my eyes. No, I was not good. I was tired of this drama, and I didn’t care if he knew it. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at him.
“I’m ready to go,” I snapped.
He ignored me, his eyes moving to Jarell. “Fuck happened?”
“Nigga dumped a drink on me and when I went to address him, another one hit me from behind. Fought them bitches, but they got away.”
Mekhi was not pleased. I opened my mouth to speak up on Jarell’s behalf, but it was like he knew I was about to say something.
“Be quiet, Farrah,” he ordered before he turned back to Jarell. “You get a good look?”
His voice was calm, but his eyes were deadly.
“Yeah. I also got this.” Jarell reached in his pocket and pulled out a wallet. “It might help.”
Mekhi snatched it. “It better.”
His eyes flicked back to me. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I said stiffly.
