to trial and won’t be seeing life outside of prison for a long time,” I explain.
“If ever,” Jinx corrects. “He’s not a very healthy man.”
“So he can’t hurt me?”
“Nope,” we say in unison, and that’s all we’ll tell her.
Giving her the full truth about that entire fucked-up situation wouldn’t do anyone any good, and the two of us talked about it and decided on what our story would be and what would protect her most. Giving her half the truth was easily agreed upon.
“That’s good news.” Her tone is low and cautious.
“We’ll do anything in our power to protect you,” I remind her, holding her even closer to my body. The warmth of her back to my chest is calming, and I’m so glad I listened to Jinx when he insisted I come over here last night rather than continuing to keep my distance.
“Literally anything,” Jinx agrees, and I know it took a lot out of him to even pretend to be on Murphy’s side for an hour while we were on his property. “But we need to talk about the other thing.”
I shake my head. I didn’t agree on it when we were discussing it on the flight back home, and after I saw the way he just came in here and pulled the blankets down to get to her stomach, I’m even less sure than I was yesterday.
“Other thing?”
“We think it’s a good idea to all move in together.”
Simone chuckles like it’s a joke, but Jinx smiles wide, showcasing his white teeth.
“You’re serious?” She looks over her shoulder at me, but I’m too busy glaring at my friend.
“He thinks it’s a good idea.”
“It’s the best idea. You’re with her, and that’s amazing, but my kid is growing in there.” He points to her stomach where my own hand is resting protectively over it. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“No one wants you gone,” I say because I feel like I need to remind him of that fact. It’s another long conversation we’ve had. He confessed his fears about her dating and being in a relationship and what it could mean for his relationship with the baby. I assured him that I’d never get in the way of that, and this was his idea of how to solve those problems.
“Living together just makes things easier.”
“Crowded,” Simone clarifies. “It makes things crowded.”
“We wouldn’t stay here.”
“I just moved in.”
“And you’re paid through the end of the year, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay. Think about it. Moving into a bigger house fixes everything.”
“Nothing is broken,” I mutter.
“Will you just think about it?” Jinx pleads, looking at Simone instead of me because he knows that I’m going to be wherever she is.
She stares at him before looking back at me and I can tell from the look on her face that she’s wondering what my thoughts are, but I don’t try to sway her decision either way. Jinx can live on her couch forever if she decides she wants to stay for all I care.
“I’ll think about,” she concedes when he makes it clear he isn’t leaving until she answers him.
He grins, the smile lighting up his face. “Perfect. I’ll start looking.” He climbs off the bed, and we’re just left staring after him.
“I said I’ll think about it!” she yells as he leaves the room.
“Okay, four bedrooms! Got it!”
She’s shaking her head, and I’m laughing at his ridiculousness.
“We’re going to end up moving, aren’t we?”
God, I love the sound of we coming from her perfect mouth.
“That’s your decision.”
“Looks like he just made it for me.”
“No.” I clamp a hand on her shoulder, repositioning her until she’s looking at me. “This is your decision. If you don’t want it, we don’t do it. You have to decide this on your own. It’s your call.”
“My call,” she repeats, and it makes me smile because she doesn’t whisper the words. She says them with determination that makes me wonder if she’s going to say no just to spite him and assert her newfound power.
I press my mouth to hers.
“What are we going to do today?”
She doesn’t have work but staying in bed all day isn’t going to happen either.
“First, I’m going to get you off, and then we need to get ready because we’re going to a party tonight.”
Chapter 32
Simone
“You seem nervous.” Rocker squeezes my hand as I look at the front of the Cerberus clubhouse.