“What y’all was doin’ in here anyway?” Kormia pressed, eyes scanning the half-eaten takeout, the flickering candles, and the two pillows on the floor.
“I ain’t know guidance counselors made house calls after the kids’ bedtime.”
Jackie shot her a sharp look over her shoulder. “He’s not a guidance counselor.”
“Mmhmm.” Kormia dragged her fork through the noodles, unbothered. “Well, whatever he is, y’all had ambiance. Candles lit. Music playin.’ Looked real grown and sexy in here.”
Jackie turned back to the sink, stacking the containers a little too carefully. “We ate dinner. Talked. Waited for his cobbler to finish. That’s all,” she said, trying her hardest to sound casual.
“Uh-huh.” Kormia narrowed her eyes. “You can minimize it all you want, but energy don’t lie. And I know what I felt when I walked in.” Jackie glanced over, one brow raised.
“And what was that, Miss Vibration Specialist?” Kormia grinned, fork midair. “Attraction. And that shit was thick enough to chew.” Jackie froze for half a beat, then shook her head. “Well, I hate to break up whatever fantasy you’re creating in your head, but you’re wrong.” Her voice was calm, but the stiffness in her shoulders said otherwise. “What you saw was two adults sharing a meal. Platonically. Nothing more.” She rinsed a plate, jaw tightening. “Not to mention, that’s Max’s therapist.”
“Oop, not the ethical boundary defense,” Kormia teased.
“Let me find out, you gave this some thought, huh?”
“Even if I wanted to,” Jackie said, wiping down the counter and flicking off the light, “I wouldn’t.” She started past her cousin toward the stairs. “But you do want to, though,” Kormia said, grinning without looking up from her plate.Jackie turned and threw a pillow at her, laughing.
“Good night, clown.”
“Good night, lover girl,” Kormia teased through a mouthful of noodles. Jackie shook her head, but the smile that broke across her face was soft and real. She climbed the stairs slowly, still catching faint traces of his cologne in the air. The scent followed her all the way to her bedroom, curling into her sheets like memory and temptation, until finally she exhaled, allowed herself to smile again, and called it a night.
Jackie’s phone buzzed against the nightstand, sharp and jarring in the quiet. She blinked hard, trying to focus on the glowing numbers on the dresser clock that read3:18 a.m.
Her stomach dropped. Only one person called at hours like this. She hesitated just long enough for dread to settle in her chest, then swiped to answer. “Hello?”
“Wake the fuck up.” Marcus’s voice came through the phone, low, cold and clipped. Jackies skin prickled before her brain caught up. “I’m up,” Jackie said quickly, sitting up, the sheet clutched in her fist. “Good.” Silence stretched on the line, thick and weighted. She could hear him breathing, steady and slow, like someone completely in control. That was the part that scared her most when he sounded calm. Then came the faint click, followed by a text notification. “I’m sending you the location.”
Another pause. “You got till six a.m. to get there.” Her breath hitched. “Marcus—”
“Clock starts now.” And just that fast the line went dead. Jackie stared at the phone, the quiet in the room pressing in on her like weight. Then came another buzz. One text. No address. Just a pin drop. Her fingers trembled as she clicked it open. Somewhere off I-95 South. Two and a half hours away.
Jackie’s chest constricted, but she didn’t hesitate. Not once. She threw back the covers and pulled on clothes. She’d learned a long time ago that asking why only made things worse. Marcus held all the cards. And more importantly, Marcus had her son. And if he said come, she came. She grabbed a hoodie from the chair, keys from the dresser, and her bag from the floor. Her movements were quiet, automatic, but still efficient. Fear didn’t make her sloppy. It made her focused. She was halfway down the hall when she heard it. “Mommy?” Jackie froze. Max stood in the soft light spilling from the bathroom, eyes squinting against the dark. He looked so small. Barefoot, curls messy, pajama pants twisted at the ankle.
“Hey, baby,” she whispered, forcing a calm she didn’t feel. “What you doin’ up?”
“I had to pee.” He rubbed his eyes. “Where you goin’?” Her throat tightened.
“I just gotta handle something, okay? Grown-up stuff.”
He frowned, stepping closer. “Can I come?”
“No, baby.” She knelt, brushing a hand over his cheek.
“You stay here with Auntie Kormia. I’ll be back before you wake up.”
“You promise?” Jackie nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah baby,” she whispered. “I promise.”
He stared at her for a second, like he could tell something wasn’t right.
Then his shoulders dropped. “Okay.” She walked him back to his room and tucked him in.
“Mommy,” he murmured, half-asleep now.
“Today’s MJ’s birthday.”Her heart cracked open. “I know, baby.”
“Auntie Syxe gave me some money to put on his birthday table,” he said, his voice drifting.