Page 59 of Cause When You Love Someone
“The one thing I tried to save you from is the one thing I led you into.” She sobbed.
“Don’t cry, pretty lady. That muthafucka spit on me. Beating his ass was self-defense.”
She nodded while swathing her arms around my midsection.
“Clarke!” her mother blurted. “We have to go. People are recording, and this isn’t a good look for your brand.”
Her head jerked back. “Fuck the brand! This is serious.”
I grabbed hold of her face, forcing her to look at me. “She’s right, Clarke. You have to leave before the police get here. Bad enough you’re on camera rubbing that ass on me.”
“But I’m a witness.”
“If they want your testimony, they’ll come find you.”
The sound of sirens made my heart slam against my chest. Things I had tucked in the dark part of my mind rose to the surface. At least this time, I was going to jail for something I did, and not for someone else’s crime.
Between narrowed eyes,I concentrated on the Jenga piece I placed at the top of the tower. Anytime a book or being outdoorsdidn’t capture my worrisome mind, I pulled out a board game. Jenga was typically a multiple-player game, but similar to chess, it didn’t require multiple players more than it required a sharp mind.
When my phone lit up, I placed it face down without looking at the screen. Since I got released from jail, I stayed to myself. Regret was the last word I would use to describe the way I felt about fighting on Clarke’s behalf, but still, I chose to lay low. Not only had I put myself on the bad side of social services, but my mom had also caught a charge in the few days I was gone.
I took a swig from my glass of whiskey, then leaned forward to make a move, but a knock at my door caused me to freeze. I thought of putting on a shirt, but considering the person at my door showed up unannounced, I didn’t care to be courteous.
“Now, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked with a smile.
Clarke twisted her body from side to side and poked out her bottom lip. “I missed you. Plus, I wanted to give you these.”
I didn’t know how to feel about accepting the bouquet of long-stemmed roses. “These are for me?” I quizzed.
“Yes. After what happened in Vegas, I wanted to come see you and give you your flowers for being who you are to me. I know you’ve been in your head since the fight. I wanted to remind you you’re appreciated, Superman.”
My throat got tight as I listened to Clarke express her admiration for me. Thanks to my mom, I grew up believing I didn’t deserve praise for things I wassupposedto do.
When I noticed Clarke tapping her heels against the ground, I examined her outfit. Red high heels made her look tall, and her trench coat made her look mysterious.
“You out here looking like a sexy Inspector Gadget.”
She giggled as she tugged on the belt of her coat. As the material came undone, I yanked her into the house.
“See, you walking around with no clothes on. I think you like seeing me in trouble.”
She pointed to the Jenga tower. “Jenga? You’re such an old head. I love it.”
I placed the flowers on the table and sat back in my spot on the couch. Like my lap had her name on it, Clarke straddled my waist and roped her arms around my neck. Her butter-soft skin melted against my fingers when I massaged her neck.
“Why does it seem like the devil is trying to stop something beautiful from forming?” she asked.
“God has a job to do, and so does the hater beneath us.”
She groaned. “First, the drama with Chaz, then the chaos in Vegas. Now, you have to go to court. Are we worth the trouble?”
“Don’t let the devil get ahold of your tongue,” I replied. “Give me the lips.”
The instant her tongue touched mine, I pulled her further into me. Whatever shampoo she used saturated my nostrils, and the way she held onto me made me moan into her mouth.
“Baby,” she broke away to mutter. “Would I be wrong if I decided to stop filming the show?”
“You already know the answer to that. Integrity is important. Don’t soil your reputation because of someone else’s warped thinking.”
