Page 66 of All In

Jackie’s stomach tightened at the sight.She tapped the unread message.

Najee:FaceTime me.

CHAPTER FORTY

JACKIE

The bathroom felt like a hotel.

That was the first thing Jackie noticed when she stepped inside. Everything was clean in a way that didn’t feel real. The marble counters didn’t have a single fingerprint, the soft lighting gave the whole room this warm, expensive glow, and the glass shower was so spotless it looked like nobody had ever stepped foot in it. Even the towels were folded just right, thick, neat, and untouched.

Behind her, Max splashed water over the sides of the tub, making dramatic explosion sounds with his action figures the same way he did at home. Jackie leaned back against the counter, letting her weight settle, and for a moment—just a moment—everything felt okay.

Low key, she wished she could get in the tub herdamnself. The day had finally caught up to her in a way she could not ignore. She wasn’t musty, but she was right there on the edge of it. Bottom line, she needed to go home. Which meant Kormia needed to answer the damn phone.

Jackie had already called her three times since she ran Max’s bath, and the bitch was clearly committed to ignoring her. For a second, she thought about looping Cash into it. Having him call Newdy to knock on the side door of the shop. But Jackie knew better. Kormia would be mortified if Newdy found out she was living there. However, if Cash knew…it was likely Newdy did too.

Jackie pushed the thought out of her head before it could turn into something else, letting her gaze drift toward the door and down the hallway. To the man who made this moment possible in the first place.Cash.He had shown up, despite whatever personal issues they had, and still made sure she was okay. And that meant something. But as quickly as that thought settled, something else took its place. Or rather… someone else. Najee.The man she still owed a phone call.

Suddenly, her phone felt heavier in her pocket.Because if she were being honest, Cash wasn’t the only one who showed up for her today. Najee did too. And now she had two men on her mind at the same time.This shit was messy.Jackie thought to herself. But before she let guilt swallow her whole, she checked herself.I’m single. The realization pressed hard against her chest.Because for so long, Jackie hadn’t move like that was true. Between Motherhood and Marcus, and now whateverwasn’thappening between her and Cash, Jackie often times felttethered.But she wasn’t.In fact, she was theopposite.

Cash on the other hand couldn’t say the same. All day, he and Zambia had been running their movie, and looking like the perfect couple. They had posed for pictures and sold theirhalal-happily-everafter to everybody watching on that field. Yet here she was, in his home, bathing her son in his state-of-the-art tub. Moving around his space like she had a place in it, like she didn’t see Zambia’s imprint all over. Jackie exhaled slowly, before pushing off the counter.“I’m about to step out real quick,” she said, more to herself than to Max. “Okay,” he said, not even looking up. Jackie cracked the bathroom door open and stepped into the hallway, leaving it slightly ajar so she could still hear him splashing around.The condo was quiet, in a way she wasn’t used to.She glanced toward the kitchen.Then back toward the bathroom, as she slipped her phone out her pocket, and pulled up Najee’s contact and hit call.

It rang once.Twice.Three times.Then… “Jack.”

His voice was came out rough, like he hadn’t slept. Jackie leaned her shoulder against the wall before she spoke. “You sound tired.”Najee let out a quiet breath on the other end. “I am.”

“Long day saving the city?” she teased lightly.

“Something like that.” He said as a small smile tugged at her mouth.

“What you doing?” he asked. Jackie glanced toward the bathroom door.

“Bathing my little leaf blower,” she said.“Your what?” Najee huffed out a quiet laugh.

“Max,” she clarified. “He had the time of his life in them leaves today.”

Najee chuckled softly on the other end. “I can hear him,” he said. “Sound like he still out there.”

“He might as well be.” Jackie smiled, as her mind drifted back to earlier, and the way Max had tore through those piles of leaves like it was the best day of his life. His joy was unapologetic and on full display. For a moment, that image lingered, and Jackie felt that familiar sting of guilt.

“It makes me wish—” She stopped herself. But Najee caught it immediately. “Makes you wish what?” he asked. Jackie hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around her phone. Then she sighed.

“It makes me wish I had a better house,” she admitted quietly.

“Like with a lawn… some nature… somewhere safer. Somewhere Max could just run around without me worrying so much.” Jackie paused, her gaze drifting toward the bathroom door again.

“You know our block don’t got not one tree on it,” she added, a little above a whisper. The pause stretched just long enoughto make her wonder if she’d said too much. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded softer through the phone. “No… I never noticed.” Jackie shrugged slightly, even though he couldn’t see it. “Well… I do,” she confessed. “It’s hard not to.”

There was a small pause on the other end. Not awkward, just… there.

“What’s your favorite tree?” Najee asked. Shifting the conversation to something lighter.

Jackie let out a quiet breath, the corner of her mouth lifting a little as she closed her eyes. “I don’t know…” she started. “Probably something pretty. Like a cherry blossom.” She paused letting the thought form fully. “I wouldn’t mind having one of those on my front lawn one day,” she added, a soft laugh slipping out. “Pink petals everywhere… just falling all over the place.” The image came to her before she could stop it. A different house, on a quieter block with both of her boys, playing and running across the lawn in perfect peace. Then just as quickly, she pulled the thought back.

“Don’t mind me,” she added, exhaling as her tone turned lighter.

“I’m just dreaming out loud.”