I snatched it from her.“Okay!Okay.I’ll cook.You drink.”
Pearl saluted me with her cocktail.“Yes, chef.”
I assembled nachos like my life depended on it.Chips, cheese, and the meat went into the oven while I finished chopping the tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños.
Pearl downed her second drink and shouted, “THIS.IS.ART!”as I pulled the nachos from the oven and laughed so hard I nearly dropped the tray.I added all of the toppings, and Pearl poured enough salsa on hers that it could possibly qualify as soup.
She sprawled on the couch and ate nachos like she was experiencing a religious event.
Ten minutes later, she passed out.Just toppled sideways onto the couch with the remote still clutched in her hand.
I climbed onto the couch beside Prime and curled against him without thinking.
He froze for a second, then melted right into me, one hand resting on my hip, and the other brushing my hair back.
“I like being next to you,” I whispered.
His thumb traced slow circles on my waist.“I like it too, Shay.”
I tilted my head up and stared at him.“You have a name,” I slurred.
Prime smiled, slow and warm.“Yeah.Prime.”
I rolled my eyes.“No.I mean the name your mama gave you.”
His expression softened instantly.“My mama died a long time ago, babe.”
My heart squeezed.“I’m sorry.”
He kissed the top of my head.“It’s okay.”
I reached up and stroked his cheek.“What did she call you?”
He hesitated, just for a moment.“A name I haven’t been called in years,” he said quietly.
“What is it?”I whispered.
“Are you even going to remember this in the morning?”
I shrugged against him.“Time will tell.”
He shook his head, smiling faintly.“It’s Marshal.”
I traced my thumb along his cheekbone.“Marshal,” I repeated softly.“I like it.”
“It’s just the name on my license,” he muttered.“And the one the cops use when they wanna piss me off.”
I laughed, warm and loose.“I’m glad you told me.But I’ll probably still call you Prime.”
“Because you’re drunk and not gonna remember it?”he teased.
I smiled, my eyelids growing heavy.“I mean… you might not be wrong…”
His arms tightened around me, steady and sure, as my body relaxed into sleep.
And just before the world went fuzzy, I heard him whisper into my hair, “Goodnight, Shay.”
Chapter Nineteen
