even going to question how he got one of the SUVs.
“How’d do you know I was getting out now?”
He shrugs, keeping his eyes on the road. “I didn’t. I heard you handed yourself in, so I came straight down here. Seeing the media frenzy out front, I hid out the back, knowing the lawyer would take the easy way out.”
“How long were you waiting?”
“Seven hours. Are you going to tell me why you went after Lockdick?” he asks. He’s going through his own shit, but he still came down here for me. I’m feeling the love.
“Haven’t you spoken to anyone?”
“I told you, I heard about you in the club and came straight here.”
I find it strange he didn’t make any calls, but him waiting through the night, not knowing if or when I was going to be released on bail, makes me drop the conversation. Something’s going on in his head, but it’s a conversation for when he’s ready to talk it through. I know him well enough to know, he’s searching for something, and he won’t come to us, not yet.
Craving a shower, I’m almost giddy when he pulls into the underground parking garage at the hotel. Clutching my bail papers, a flash flickers through the dimly lit parking lot. Lowering my head, I walk alongside Baz to the hotel door and follow him inside.
We’re both quiet during the elevator ride up to our suite. Whipping my shades off my face, Baz puts them on himself just as we’re about to head in and face the music. I hope, as it’s still early, everyone’s asleep in their rooms, but luck’s not on my side. Everyone’s awake, staring at me, but all I can see is Jamiee standing by the window, holding herself as she locks eyes with me. The bruising is more prominent since I last saw her a few days ago, and her lip has scabbed over.
But she came back.
Baz bumps into me, forcing me to step farther into the room, keeping eye contact with her. Baz walks around me and falls on the chair, kicks his feet up on the coffee table and that’s when he notices Jamiee. His head jerks back and his eyes widen.
“Whoa! What the fuck happened to you, baby Coleman?”
Everyone in the room gives him a shut-the-fuck-up glare, but he doesn’t catch on.
“Hold on… is this why you beat Deacon’s ass?” he asks, turning back to me.
Keeping my eyes locked on hers, I nod in response. He whistles, and River steps in front of me, blocking my view of Jamiee.
“Are you going to tell us what happened?”
“I’ve been charged with Aggravated Assault. I’m out on bail.”
My legs, suddenly feeling like they’re made of stone, have me taking a seat.
“There wasn’t any point in denying the assault, but the lawyer advised me to say nothing. I’m not concerned, nor is my lawyer.”
“Maybe you should be. The video of you kicking his ass is pretty damning,” Damon challenges, speaking for the first time.
“He should definitely be concerned.” My focus goes back to Jamiee. “We need to talk.”
I stand, glad we’re not doing this in front of the guys. Heading toward my room for some privacy, I turn, instead following her out of the suite and down to the next level, to where I assume is her room.
“Are you going to prison?” she questions as soon as the door’s closed. I lean back against the wall and sigh. I can’t lie to her.
“It’s a possibility.”
Sitting on the end of the bed, she lowers her head and fists her hair. Not wanting her to hurt herself, I cross the room, pull her hands away, and take a seat next to her.
Neither of us say anything. I’m content to sit beside her and enjoy her presence in the same room as me for once. She, on the other hand, I can feel her anger, as she refuses to look at me.
“You didn’t have to run off to your sister’s.”
She snorts before looking up at me. “Maybe if I didn’t, you wouldn’t be in trouble.”
Her words are laced with anger and venom, but fuck, I’m angry too. I jump up from the bed and round on her. There’s still so much left unsaid between us, but I’m done. We both want answers, and I want mine tonight.
“Why him? After everything we went through, why did you go for him?”
She’s on her feet in the blink of an eye, jamming her finger into my chest bone. “Because it would hurt