“I’m okay,” I assure him.
“Where are you?” His deep voice is more alert now. And harder.
“Remember when you promised you’d never lie to me again?”
He clears his throat. “Yeah, I remember.”
I lean against the metal railing, staring at a flickering streetlight. Shawn lives in a second-floor apartment, so I have a lovely view of the parking lot that belongs to the complex behind his. And a prostitute’s ass cheeks while she’s propositioning someone at the curb. Southern California has some breathtaking coastlines, but the so-called City of Angels definitely lives up to the term concrete jungle. It’s busy, loud, and bright, even in the middle of the night. I never minded it before, because it was all I ever knew, but living in the west hills these last few months has shown me something different. I’ve grown used to the quiet—the stillness.
“Jazzy? You still there?”
I shake out of my weed fog. “Sorry. Been smoking a little.”
“By yourself? Where are you, Jazz? You scared the shit out of us earlier.”
“My location doesn’t matter. I’m somewhere safe. Swear.”
He sighs heavily. “Why’d you leave, baby girl? What happened?”
“I think you know, Bentley.” I choke back a sob. “And I need you to be honest with me.”
“Are you crying? Tell me where you are, and I’ll come get you.”
I shake my head before realizing he can’t see me. “Tell me, Bentley. Please.”
He releases a pained groan. “You and Davenport really need to learn how to communicate better. It’d prevent a shit ton of problems. I don’t want to get in the middle of this, Jazz. I wouldn’t have to get in the middle of this if your stubborn asses would just talk to each other. C’mon, Jazzy, you know Kingston has a reason for everything he does. It may not always be the right thing, but he does genuinely believe it’s the best thing to do, whatever the circumstances.”
“So, you’re telling me the best thing to do in this situation was fuck some rando?”
He doesn’t say anything for at least thirty seconds. “You followed them to that house, didn’t you?”
I belt out a sardonic laugh. “No, I actually followed someone else and got there before them. But yes, I saw Kingston and his father enter the sex club, or whatever it was. I had a clear view of everything from the back door, which means I also saw my supposed boyfriend fooling around with a naked girl right before he disappeared with her down the hall. ”
Damn it. I didn’t mean to tell him that. My high is obviously making me more loose-lipped than usual.
“Jazz, please call him. It isn’t what it looks like. He’s in a really fucked up place right now, worrying about you.”
I sigh. “Am I a hypocrite, Bent? Am I crazy for feeling so betrayed, considering what happened between the three of us that night?”
“Naw, baby. There’s a big difference between stepping out on your boo versus the two of you inviting someone in to play with you. Talk to him, and you’ll see it’s not what it seems. I know my boy, and I know he’d never do something like that to you. You’re his world, Jazzy.”
I look over my shoulder when the door slides open, and Shawn steps out. “You okay out here?”
“Who the fuck is that?” Bentley shouts angrily.
Shawn scowls, obviously hearing Bentley’s words through the phone.
I hold up a finger, asking him to give me a minute.
“Bent, I need to go. I think I just need to sleep this off. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Jazz, wait. Don’t—”
I end the call and pass it back over to Shawn. “Thanks.”
His eyes bounce between mine. “You okay?”
“I really think I need some sleep.” A yawn escapes, further proving my point.