of juice while I made myself some toast and then wrote Jagger a note before grabbing my purse, and we left. Violet had her overnight bag, but I decided to leave my stuff behind so I would have something there the next time I came over.
The thought of leaving more and more of my things at Jagger’s was something I’d imagined would freak me out, but for some reason, I wasn’t nearly as nervous about it as expected. After the weekend I’d just spent with him, most of my fear had started to let up. Jagger had been so patient with me, and I was beginning to see that he wasn’t going to hurt me like Luca had Violet.
He’d already proved he picked me over Cannon.
“You’re so happy, you’re glowing,” Violet commented as we walked to the elevators. “I mean, damn girl. Did you and Jagger…?” She gave me an eyebrow waggle, and I snorted out a laugh.
“Not last night. He wasn’t feeling well.” I linked my arm through hers. “But as soon as he’s feeling better, I’m jumping his bones.”
“You mean bone,” she snickered.
We were both laughing as we passed Kayla and Dana’s apartment. The door opened, and Kayla stuck her head out. Seeing us, she quickly closed the door behind her as she stepped into the hall. She was dressed in yoga pants and a workout top with running shoes on, so I assumed she was going to the gym.
“Hey,” I greeted. “How was date night?”
She sighed heavily as she fell into step with us. “It was enlightening.” Pressing her lips together, she stabbed the call button for the elevator a little aggressively. “How did you take your man telling you?”
Vi and I shared a look, and I was glad to see I wasn’t the only one confused by Kayla’s question. “Tell me what?” I asked as the elevator doors opened.
Her eyes widened. “He didn’t tell you,” she muttered. “Of course he didn’t. Men are dogs.”
“Depends on the man,” Violet told her, her voice ringing with pain. “But yeah, I’ll agree with you for the most part.” She stepped into the elevator and Kayla followed her, but I just stood there, looking at the older girl.
“Tell me what?” I repeated.
Kayla’s mouth turned down. “I don’t feel right telling you.”
“Shaw.” Violet waved her hand at me. “Hello? Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to drive me home? Because I can call Lyric for a ride if you need me to.”
Shaking my head, I finally moved forward and onto the elevator with them, but my eyes were glued to Kayla. “I think you should tell me anyway. Obviously, you thought it was important enough that Jagger would at least say something about whatever it is, and you don’t exactly look all bubbly considering you had a date with your better half.”
“Dana is only twenty, but she…has a past,” Kayla said after we’d descended a few floors. “I don’t hold it against her. She was looking for love in all the wrong places while trying to hide from her parents that she is a lesbian. They’re really religious, and once she came out, they kicked her out.”
“Fuckers,” Violet and I muttered at the same time.
“We all have a past in some shape or form,” Vi continued. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Her past is a bit more colorful than some people’s. As I said, I don’t hold that against her. All of that was before we met, and I know she’s mine now, so I’m not going to go all alpha bitch on someone’s ass. Unless they deserve it. They make my girl cry, and I’m going to put a bullet in their head.”
The elevator stopped in the garage, and we walked out as two other people were getting in. But we only took a few steps before stopping to continue our conversation.
“Kayla, I get that. But what does this have to do with what Jagger has to tell me—” I broke off as the realization hit me. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” Kayla nodded affirmatively. “Jagger seems like a great guy. What little I got to talk to him last night, I know he won’t be an issue. I was just wondering how you feel about him living down the hall from her.”
I turned away from her and Violet and walked off a few steps. Jagger’s stomach had started bothering him when Kayla and Dana showed up. Now I understood that it wasn’t his stomach so much as his