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Jasmine tensed. “I don’t know. His car is gone. He’s a guest on vacation—it’s not my job to keep tabs on him. Pretty sure that would be called stalking.”
Remy crossed her arms over her chest. “Have you decided when you’re going to tell him?”
Jasmine sighed. “No. And I would appreciate it if you stopped asking and minded your own business.”
“She’s just worried for you. We all are,” Mia said.
Because you think I can’t handle my own problems. “This is why I didn’t tell you. Emma gives me space; you hover. It’s like all your shyness disappeared when you and my brother got together, and it’s morphed into nosiness.”
Remy shook her head. “You see it as being nosy. I see it as caring about my best friend. My sister.”
Jasmine considered Remy’s eyes before glancing at the faces around her. All different shades of brown. All full of pity. She stepped back and opened the refrigerator before pulling out two beers and a soda. “Gonna go give the guys a drink.”
Remy sighed. “Jaz—”
She pushed open the back door and headed towards the grill.
“Here.” She handed Bently the beer.
“Why thank you.” He smiled. “I could run a background check on him if you want?”
Jasmine shook her head. “Isn’t that illegal?”
His gaze hardened. “I’ll do whatever I have to so I can keep you and Zoey safe. It might help to know if he has any skeletons in his closet.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “No, Bently. And I appreciate you being so worried about this, but I can handle this situation by myself.” She moved on before he could ask her another question or comment on her predicament. She walked towards Mikel and Andre. “Here ya go, guys.”
“Beer delivery.” Andre smiled before returning his gaze towards his son sitting at his feet, holding fistfuls of sand.
“Thanks for the soda.” Mikel accepted the cold can before popping the top.
The kids were all working together to dig a hole in the sand with their little shovels.
“What are they up to?” Jasmine asked.
“Dre told them if they dug a hole big enough, he’d let them bury him up to his ears.” Mikel chuckled.
“Ahhhhhh!” Phoenix cried.
“Zoey hit him!” Lyra yelled.
Jasmine’s eyes snapped to her daughter. Zoey’s face reddened as her bottom lip jutted out. Her arms crossed protectively in front of her.
Mikel had already picked up the crying toddler and was soothing him. Andre had scooped little Matteo into his arms who’d started to cry, no doubt due to the other kids’ screams. Jasmine approached her daughter. Zoey’s eyes looked up defiantly towards her.
“What happened?” Jasmine crouched on her knees.
“He put sand on me, Mommy!” Her chin trembled.
“Did it hurt you?”
She nodded.
“I’m sorry you got hurt. But do you think hitting him was okay?”
Zoey looked down and shook her head.
“Hitting hurts. What do you think we can do to make this better?”
