Page 63 of All In

“I don’t know. Y’all was talkin’ weird.”Jackie sighed, then spoke again.

“Grown-ups just… do that sometimes.” Max nodded like he got it, but his face still looked unsure. “How was your first day?” Jackie asked, changing the subject.He climbed up next to her, legs dangling. “It was lit,” he said, biting into the protein bar she stashed in her purse.

“Coach said I got good footwork. Said I remind him of Jalen Hurts.”

“Oh word?” Jackie smirked. “Big Jalen energy, huh?

“You mean Big Max energy,” Fat Daddy said through a mouthful of oats, causing Jackie to smile.They sat in silence for a few moments, both watching the sun set on the city.

“You miss your brother?” Jackie asked suddenly.Max nodded. “Too much.”

“Me too,” Jackie responded, as another silence settled between them.

“Mommy?” Max whispered.“Yeah?” Jackie responded.“Are you okay?”The question caught her off guard.She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she reached over and pulled him close, pressing a kiss to the side of his head.“I’m always okay when you’re okay,” she whispered.Max didn’t say anything else. He just leaned into her side, eating the rest of his protein bar while Jackie silently blinked back tears.

Jackie knew she should have left sooner. The sun was long gone, and they were officially the last car left in the lot. The temperature had dropped even lower, and against her better judgment, she let Max play another fifteen minutes after she said it was time to go. Now here they were, sitting in her cold-ass Altima, and the engine refused to even cough, let alone start. Jackie had been out there a whole hour trying to get it to do something, and with the exception of the dim parking lot lights, everything around them was pitch black. Jackie tried to start it again. This time it gave her a slow, dragging click. It was in that moment Jackie knew it was a wrap. Her car wasdone.And to make matters worse, her phone had one bar. Luckily, she had managed to send one message to Kormia that finally delivered.

Jackie:Mia, my car will not start, and I got Fat Daddy with me.

Jackie let her forehead rest against the steering wheel and willed herself not to cry. Instead, she bundled Fat Daddy up in both the throw Najee sent and the one she kept in the car, but it was still cold. Her fingers were starting to go numb, and the last few hand warmers she had, she smashed open and tuckedaround Fat Daddy’s little uniform. Jackie pulled out her phone and was just about to open the door to get a better signal when she heard it. A knock on the driver’s side window.

She jumped and looked up. And of course… it was him.Cash.She cracked the window halfway, half relieved and half annoyed. “What?” “Max texted me,” he said, his voice giving nothing away. “Told me the car would not start.” Jackie turned in her seat. “Really, Maximus?” Her son looked sheepish in the back. “Coach said I should call him if I am ever in trouble. And you said it is not safe out here, Mommy. I was just trying to help.” Jackie exhaled, her breath fogging the window. “Baby, I know. I am not mad. I just…” She looked at Cash, who was already reaching through the window and turning the key. The engine tried. Then died completely. “Yeah,” Cash muttered. “That Jawn gone.” Jackie avoided his eyes. She did not want to see whatever was sitting in them tonight. Pity. Irritation. Sympathy.

It didn’t matter. She did not have the capacity for any of it. “I am parked over there,” he said after a moment. “Lock up and come on.” She didn’t argue. She just grabbed everything out of the glove compartment, Max’s equipment, and stepped out into the cold. The blacked-out S-Class idled two spots over. Jackie took her time, watching Cash settle Max into the back seat like it was nothing. “Ooooh, my butt hot!” Fat Daddy squealed as the heated seats kicked in. Jackie paused for half a second before climbing into the passenger seat. The contrast hit her immediately. The car was warm, quiet, and wrapped in soft leather that smelled like him. And for a split second, she hated how safe it felt.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CASH

The drive had been quiet for the last fifteen minutes.

But not the kind of quiet that was peaceful, as much as it wascareful. Max had knocked out almost as soon as they pulled off. The day had clearly caught up with him, and somehow the little nigga was covered in leaves like he had been rolling around on the ground. Every so often he let out a soft snore, causing his chest to rise and fall. The heat hummed low through the vents, fogging the corners of the windows. An old Meek track played beneath it all, the volume turned down so low it barely counted as music. Cash knew the song by heart, but tonight it was less about listening and more about keeping the silence from swallowing the car whole.

Jackie hadn’t said a word since they left the field. She angled her body toward the passenger window, arms folded tight across her chest, like she wanted to be anywhere but next to him. She hadn’t looked his way once, and low key, it wasfuckingwith him. She kept her attention pinned to the glass like she would rather stare into the pitch black than risk looking at him. Cash kept his eyes on the road, trying his best to match her energy. But it wasuseless.Because every so often, without even meaning to, his gaze slid her way—quick and involuntary. Almost like his eyes belonged to her.

The apology he tried to give her earlier still hung in the air heavier than ever. Now it sat between them like anotherpassenger, quiet but impossible to ignore. Part of him wanted to pick it back up, say something that might close the distance she was creating. But instinct told him to leave it alone.

So, he kept itPand spoke to her in the only other language he had access to right now.Music. Meek Mill’sCrash Out (Remix)hummed low through the car as they finally hit Broad Street. He thought about bringing up the car, but he knew better. It wasn’t a secret that Jackie’s Altima had been on borrowed time since before the school year started. He should have offered to get it looked at months ago. But pride had him in his feelings. Still tight about the Marcus shit. And between that, street shit, family politics, and Zambia’s annoying ass always hovering around his life, Cash had been stretched thin. It also didn’t help that Jackie was proud as hell. Independent to a fault. She would’ve rather push that damn car down the block herself before accepting help from him. Especially right now. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Jackie shifted in her seat and finally broke the silence.

“You could’ve just called a tow truck.”

“I did,” Cash said, eyes still on the road. “But what I look like letting you and Max ride home in the back of a fucking tow truck?” Jackie didn’t respond. She looked out the window instead, irritation practically radiating off her. Cash glanced over, and he could see the exhaustion sitting heavy on her face. Her jaw was tight, and her shoulders were pulled in, like the day refused to take its foot off her neck. Still, exhausted or not…Jackie Brown wasbeautiful.A little worn, maybe. But beautiful, nonetheless. “You good?” he asked. She didn’t answer right away. She stared ahead for a few seconds before giving the smallest nod. “Always.” Cash didn’t challenge it. He knew a lie when he heard one. But he let her have it. Because if he were being honest, Jackie didn’t owe him the truth. At least not anymore.

The quiet remained, broken only by the steady hum of the engine and the bass drifting through the speakers. They were almost past Girard when Max stirred in the back seat. He blinked slowly, disoriented, then sat up. A sleepy groan came first, followed by the rustle of blankets.

“Mmm… Mommy?” Jackie turned slightly. “Yes, son?”

“Can we still get ramen? Like you promised?” Her shoulders stiffened almost immediately. “Baby, we’ll get some when we get home.” Max blinked, still half asleep. “No… not noodles, Mommy. Real ramen. Like with the egg and veggies.” Jackie paused, rubbing her forehead like she needed a second. “Baby, it’s been a very long day,” she said quietly. “And I know I promised you ramen. But it’s late, and Mommy’s tired. I promise when we get home, I’ll make you the best ramen you ever had. I’ll even let you use Mommy’s special hot sauce. Deal?” Max sat there for a moment, clearly disappointed. Then he let out a small, defeated sigh. “Okay.” Cash spoke from the driver’s seat, voice low.

“Terakawa.” Jackie frowned. “Tera-what?”

“The ramen spot,” he said. “Its a couple blocks up.”

She turned slowly, ready to shut it down, but he kept going.

“I know somebody in there. I can probably get us a table.” Max perked up immediately.

“For real, Coach?” Cash gave a small shrug. “For real.” Max started kicking his feet until Jackie shot him a look and he straightened up fast. “Mommy, please.” Max begged. “I look a mess,” Jackie said quietly, finally meeting Cash’s eyes. “Then we’ll do takeout,” Cash reassured her.