Page 45 of All In

“He at my mom’s. He loves it over there, she spoils the hell outta him when she feel like being a grandma. I just needed… tonight.” Najee nodded once.

“Nah you deserved it.” Jackie stared at his hand, still on hers.

“Thanks for the food,” she said softly. “And the… everything.”

His hand slid away slow, deliberate. “You don’t gotta thank me for treating you how you should be treated.” She smiled, small and shy, and opened the door. The night air slapped her instantly. She was halfway up the steps when she heard Najee’s car door open. She turned. “Najee, what are you doing?” He met her at the top like he belonged there, pulling his coat tighter against the wind.

“I’m walking you to your door.”

“That’s not necessary,” she tried, fumbling for her keys while her pride flared.

“I know what it looks like, and what you probably think, but I’m good. You can go.”

“Jackie,” he said quietly, stepping behind her, close enough for his voice to warm her neck.

“Be quiet and unlock your door.” She swallowed hard and did exactly that.

She finally got the lock to turn and pushed the door open, but she didn’t step inside. Something in the chill of the night mixed with the heat of the moment made her turn and face him. Najee stood right behind her on the small porch, hands in his pockets, breath warm in the night air.

Their eyes locked, and the energy between them tightened all at once. She swallowed, her voice softer than she meant. “Nigel…” He stepped closer, slow and intentional. His body heat wrapped around her as his hand lifted, brushing a curl off her cheek. The touch was barely anything, but her chest rose like he’d gripped her by the throat. He leaned in, not quite kissing her, but close enough that his breath grazed her jaw. Then he lowered his head to her neck. Jackie could feel his restraint as his nose skimmed her skin, and her knees went weak. “Najee?”

“Mmm?” he murmured against her throat, voice deep and vibrating through her.

She hesitated, then whispered the smallest, most unguarded thing she’d said all night.

“Can you… can you ask one of your people to make sure my silly-ass cousin get home?”

“Yeah,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her.

“I’ll call Newdy or Cal to bring her home.” She went on, flustered.

“Najee, I’m serious. She in a section full of old freaks and I wanna make sure she makes it home to me—” He caught her chin, fingers firm, lifting her face to his. “What did I just say?”

Her breath hitched before she swallowed, eyes glued to his.

“You gon’ call Newdy or Cal,” she whispered. His mouth curved, slow and approving.

“Atta girl.” Her stomach flipped. Then his voice dropped even lower, almost a warning.

“Now go in this house, lock the door, before we cross any more lines tonight.” Jackie stepped back across her threshold, pulse thundering. She locked the door behind her like he instructed, because she knew if she didn’t, restraint would not save either of them.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

KORMIA

Kormia had the section lit.

She had invited a few bad bitches she recognized from socials, girls who weren’t already packed into Jamil’s section, to chill with her, pop bottles, smoke hookah, look cute, and post up.

Kormia wasn’t no dummy, so the second Jackie slid out the club with thegood doctor, she took matters into her own hands and salvaged the night. She spotted a few girls lingering between sections, trying to get chose, and invited them to party with her instead. Because if there was one thing Kormia knew for sure, bad bitches didn’t care whose money they spent, as long as it wasn’t theirs.

And what she wasn’t about to do was sit in a section alone withEarth, Wind, and Fire.

If Jamil’s section was a movie, Kormia’s was definitely a strong runner-up. They had just as many bottles, because it turned out Mr. Cleo was an even bigger stepper than she realized. He was spending money like it was light work. The whole top shelf was in their section. Don Julio 1942, Clase Azul, Henny, D’ussé, Ace of Spades.He had trays of lobster tails, lamb chops, and crab legs coming out like he was feeding the community. But as the night bled into morning, and the DJ transitioned into wind-down music. Kormia began to hear thesaxophones…louder than ever.

Cleo had been on her the whole night, every time she tried to move, he was on her ass like a fly on shit. He had even texted her a picture of his little pit bull dick, and three empty honey packs. Cleo had never been this forward with her. But as the night went on, his old ass had grown bolder, and she was beginning to rethink her whole game plan. That’s when she checked her clutch and froze.

I know you fucking lying,she thought, digging deeper. As soon as her fingers didn’t brush that little glass bottle, her heart dropped straight into her ass. And immediately she knew.That fucking Jackie.