Page 73

I exhaled an exasperated grunt. Myriads of emotions swirl within me, not one can cool my mind or heart. Ice watches as I try to control it.

“What did you say to her?”

“I told her I needed to take care of a few things, and I’ll drive her back when I return.” His tone calm

I nod, I want to attack him, but it’s not his fault, and she still trusts him, which is good. Her trust in me has a crack and I need to mend it fast before it becomes a hole.

“Is Jonah going to pick her up?” I ask, my voice gruff.

I can’t do anything if he shows up to take her. I grunt in frustration.

“I don’t know, I gave her room to talk to him.”

I nod. I’m losing control, a position I’ve never been in.

My phone beeps with a text from Jonah. I turn the phone so Ice can see who’s texting. His brow rises.

Jonah: Can you talk

Me: Sure.

My phone rings immediately, and I answer.

“Hey, is Lexi okay?” he asks right away.

“Yes, she’s fine. Eating right now, but fine.”

“Okay, just checking. I talked to her, she said she was fine, but she sounded a bit off.”

“She’s fine,” I answer. Physically, anyways.

“Good. Please, let her call me any time she wants,” he says.

“Sure,” I answer. “Got to go, Lloyd,” I press.

“Okay, bye.” He hangs up and I exhale.

“He’s not coming, he would have provided details. Can you take extra time on your activity? Give me time to talk to her.” I plead.

He nods.

“David lied to me. Despite the beatdown, he still lied,” I say through clenched teeth. “He left a fucking hickey on her neck, like he wanted to mark her, and he wanted her to know he did. She knew it wasn’t me.” I sigh.

“Motherfucker!” he grunts. “Do you want me to give him a reminder?”

“Much as I would love that, she’s more important. I need you to go and take your sweet time while I talk to her. I will take care of David later. Right now, I must fix the mess he created and left behind.”

“Okay.”

We head back inside. Jola is washing her plate when we walk in. She doesn’t look my way. Dad talks to her, she answers him and smiles at him, but I can feel the energy of her anger.

“Should we continue our puzzle?” he asks.

“Sure,” she answers, walking out of the kitchen with him. Then I hear her tell dad, “Do you mind giving me a few minutes? I need to pack up my stuff.”

“Are you leaving?” Dad asks, genuinely surprised.

“Yes, Ice is taking me back to Chicago once he returns.”