Page 180 of Tell Me I'm Enough

I look at her. Her arms are crossed, and she looks both worried and annoyed at me. And for half a second, Ialmostlisten and back down. Almost. But what fun would that be?

I just look back at her and grin. “You’re gonna be alittlemad, pretty girl.”

“Try furious.”

Tank bends his knees. “On three?”

I hop up beside him.

“One,” I say.

“Two—”

“Wait!” Simone says.

Too late.

“Three!”

We jump at the same time as everyone outside starts yelling and cheering.

The air rushes past my ears, my stomach lifts into my throat, and the thrill of jumping from a second-story balcony, not caring if I actually land in the pool or on the concrete, is more euphoric than the taste of any top-shelf liquor.

Cold water slams into me, knocking the breath out of my lungs.

We come up laughing like idiots, hair slicked back, water dripping down our faces. Tank throws his hands in the air as everyone around is still cheering. I wipe water from my eyes and look up to the balcony, to Simone, who’s shaking her head, arms still crossed, and now fighting back a smile. That smile hits me harder than the cold water ever could. I wink at her before swimming to the edge of the pool to get out. Reaching up, I plant my hands on the concrete, pulling myself out, and pain explodes in my palm.

“Fuck!” I jerk my hand back instinctively.

Tank catches up to me. “You good?”

I look down and see blood running down my arm. There’s a jagged piece of glass wedged near the edge where someone definitely smashed a bottle earlier and didn’t clean it up.

“Just stabbed myself with some glass,” I tell him like it’s no big deal.

I hold pressure to it, and I wade over to where the steps are to get out.

Simone is down and at my side by the time I make it to the sliding doors of the house.

“Let me see,” she insists.

I chuckle, enjoying seeing her care. “It’s okay. Just a little cut.”

She snatches my arm, making me wince at the pain.

“Just a little cut?” she asks, looking at the gash that probably needs stitches. “You need stitches.”

Told ya.

I shake my head as I smile at her. “I’m fine, Simone. I promise.”

She lets out a huff, knowing she won’t win here. “You’re such a stubborn ass.”

I look around, not seeing Lani or Tank anywhere nearby, then turn back and kiss Simone on the cheek. “You know me so well.”

She tries to show no affect as she pulls me into the house, and it makes me feral.

She finds an empty bedroom and a first aid kit in the cabinet of the en suite bathroom that barely has anything in it, then turns back, her focus narrowing completely on me. She steps close and lifts my arm.