Page 31 of All In

“I ain’t sayin’ it to make you feel better,” he replied. “I’m sayin’ it ‘cause it’s true.” Najee watched, as Jackie looked away quick, eyes shining as she attempted to steady her voice.

“Guess grief just make you do weird shit.”

“Or,” he said softly. “Sometimes it just look like love with nowhere to go.”

She didn’t answer right away. Just sat there, staring at the table, her chopsticks idle in her hand. After a beat, she exhaled through a laugh that didn’t quite land. “You really don’t know how to turn that doctor shit off, huh?” Najee’s mouth curved. “It’s not doctorshit,” he said. “It’s human shit.”

That silenced her. After a second, she looked down at her plate. “Well,” she murmured, “you eating with me, so I guess you stuck hearin’ me be sentimental.” Najee smiled faintly.

“I ain’t stuck,” he said. “I want to be here.” That made her glance up again and really look at him. The song shifted to a slower one, the kind that lingered. The candles flickered soft across her face, catching every quiet detail—her lashes, her lips, the line of her jaw when she tried not to cry.

Najee didn’t move, or try to fill the quiet with conversation, He just sat there, steady, giving her room to breathe. And for the first time all night, she didn’t rush to fill the silence. She just let it hold her. The air between them felt different now. It was quiet, thick, and charged with something neither of them wanted to name. Jackie’s gaze had just started to soften again when the sharpdingof the oven timer sliced through the silence. Najee exhaled a small laugh, low and almost relieved. “Guess that’smy cue.” Jackie stood, brushing her hands on her thighs. “Yeah. Sounds like the cobbler’s done.”

He watched her head toward the kitchen just as the front door opened, and a not— so familiar voice cut through the calm. “Jackie, why you got all these candles lit like this? The electric off again?” Najee looked up and caught a glimpse of the woman in the doorway. She was all noise and movement. She had long jet-black hair, pulled into a low ponytail under a Philadelphia Eagles Baseball Cap. On her body, she wore a oversized Essential Brand Sweatsuit, he knew hid a shape similar to the woman in the kitchen. They had to be family. Jackie groaned under her breath. “Kormia…”

“I told you I had you on the bill,” Kormia said, shrugging off her coat.

“You could’ve texted before you went all candlelight vigil on me.” She turned and froze mid-step when she finally saw Najee sitting on the floor surrounded by takeout cartons.

“Oh,” she said, as a grin spread slow across her face.

“Okay, I see what’s goin’ on. You ain’t tell me you hadcompanycuzzy.You coulda put a sock on the door or somethin’!” Jackie’s eyes closed briefly. “It’s not like that, Kormia.”

“Uh-huh.” Kormia kicked her shoes off anyway and sauntered toward the coffee table, already peeking into one of the takeout containers. “I can’t tell,” she said flashing a sly grin at Jackie, before turning to face Najee. “I’m Kormia by the way she said flashing a Colgate smile and extending her hand. How you know my cousin?” Najee couldn’t help it, he laughed. The woman was pure chaos, loud and unfiltered in the best kind of way. Jackie shot him a look that saiddon’t you dare encourage her.But Kormia was already fishing for a fork, oblivious to the tension she’d just bulldozed through.

“So, who’s this fine man feedin’ you halal lo mein, and beef rib tips?” she teased, gesturing toward Najee. Jackie pinched the bridge of her nose. “Kormia, please.”

Najee just smiled, leaning back on his hand, amused. “Najee,” he said easily.

“Mmhm,” Kormia replied, mouth already full. Her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was trying to place him. “You look so familiar,” Kormia continued, chewing as she squinted.

“You do not know him, Mia.” Jackie cut in fast, heading for the kitchen.

“He’s Max’s therapist. He helped me out with an event, and I baked him a cobbler for his family dinner.” Kormia froze mid-bite, fork hovering in the air. “Wait…” Her head tilted, eyes widening as the realization clicked. “Iknowthis ain’t the good doctor—Cash’s cousin?” Jackie groaned. “Kormia.”

Najee smiled politely, keeping his voice even. “That’d be me.”

“Oh,wow,” Kormia said, grinning wide now.

Jackie shot her a look sharp enough to slice through concrete. “Please don’t make this weird.”

“I’m not!” Kormia said quickly, laughing. “I’m just sayin’, I see the resemblance. Same jawline, same ‘I’m bout my business’ energy—y’all even got the same eyes!”

Najee’s mouth curved slow. “Appreciate the observation.” Jackie shook her head, opening the oven. “Lord, give me strength.” Unbothered, Kormia plopped down beside Najee and reached for another container. “So, Doc, since you here… what kinda therapy you specialize in? Asking for a friend who been stressin’ over her cousin’s love life.” Jackie spun around, eyes wide. “Kormia!”

Najee chuckled under his breath, holding up a hand. “I think I got the message.”

Kormia grinned. “Good. ‘Cause she don’t listen to nobody else.” Jackie sighed, grabbing a dish towel and waving it like a white flag. “Najee don’t entertain her. Please.”

He smiled faintly, eyes flicking from Jackie to Kormia and back again. “Too late.”

Najee lingered in the living room, before finding Jackie in the kitchen with the cobbler pan balanced in her hands. Kormia was still in the living room, humming to herself and working through her second plate of food. Jackie was in the kitchen packaging up the cobbler with foil, before taking a second pan out the oven he didn’t see her put in there. Her expression was tight, like she was trying to rebuild a wall in real time. “You good?” she asked, her voice a little too casual, as she stood back facing him. He nodded, amusement flickering behind his eyes.

“You embarrassed?” She scoffed turning to face him. “Please. I’m grown. Just wasn’t expectin’ her to walk in and start talkin’ like we was on a damn date.” Najee smiled, low and knowing.

“You sure about that?”

“Don’t start,Dr. Nigel.” Jackie shot him a look over her shoulder.