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“I know that,” he assures me. “And that’s a really good thing. But the hooker part? Seriously, man?”
“I didn’t have a goddamn choice.” I blow out a breath. “If I didn’t accept his generous gift, as he called it, my dad would’ve known I was lying to him. It was his way of testing my loyalty to him, and I passed that test with flying colors. It had to be done, man.”
“Yeah, but what if Jazz finds out?”
“There’s nothing to find out,” I argue. “And even if there was, my dad or Madeline wouldn’t say shit because they’d have to explain their role in that whole situation.”
“I still think you need to come clean. Didn’t you two agree that you wouldn’t keep secrets from each other anymore?”
“She wouldn’t understand this.” I shake my head. “If I told Jazz, the only thing that would accomplish is hurting her, and she’s had more than enough pain over the last few months. I’m not going to add to it.”
“I think you’re making a mistake, man.”
“It’s my call to make. Stay out of it, Bent.”
“I care about her, too, you know. I have a right to be concerned.”
I scratch the light stubble forming over my jaw. “I know you do, but it’s still my call. Drop it.”
His brown eyes narrow. “I don’t get it. Wouldn’t you rather have Jazz hear about it from your point of view? It’s not like you—”
I hold a hand up, cutting him off. “I said, drop it. Unless you or Reed tell her—” I glare right back at him, “which neither of you will do—she won’t know. It’s better this way.”
Bent shakes his head. “I think you’re making a big mistake.”
“Yeah? Well, then I guess it’s my mistake to make, isn’t it? Since she’s my girlfriend.”
He frowns. “You’re a dick. You know that?”
I scoff. “Trust me, buddy. I’m well aware.”
CHAPTER TEN
JAZZ
“You sure about this, babe?”
I sigh and turn to Shawn. “I just told you about all the shit I’m dealing with. Why would you even question my need to protect myself?”
He sucks on his full bottom lip for a moment. “Who would’ve ever thought your life would be more dangerous moving out of the projects? If I didn’t know you so well, I’d swear you were making this shit up.”
I scoff. “My life has become a telenovela. Why would anyone make that shit up?”
Shawn’s lips twitch, probably remembering all the time we’ve spent bingeing Latinx soap operas on Netflix. We used to make fun of all the preposterous storylines, and now I’m living one. How’s that for irony?
He reaches over and fingers a lock of my hair. “I happen to have some fond memories involving those ridiculous shows.”
I suck in air when his eyes darken. More often than not, Shawn and I would only make it through half an episode before we’d wind up screwing on his bed. Chemistry was never a problem for us, and it’s clearly still not an issue for him, but I’m not on the same page. Hell, I’m not even in the same book.
Pushing his hand away, I say, “Shawn, don’t.”
“C’mon, Jasmine, forget about this crazy-ass plan of yours. Why don’t we turn around and go back to my place? You know I can make you feel
good.”
I undo my seat belt and pull the door handle. “Please don’t make me regret asking you for help. You’re the only person I have.”
Great, now he looks pissed. “You said it yourself. He cheated on you tonight. He’s probably been lying to you all along. That pretty boy doesn’t deserve you.”
