“When we get back, we need to talk,” Yale said, looking up at me.
“Why, when we get back home?” I asked as we swayed to the music. “Why can’t we talk now?”
“Because I want to enjoy this moment with you without having to deal with the other shit,” she said, shaking her head. “Is that okay?”
I wanted to tell her no, but I didn’t. If she needed this moment, then I’d give it to her. But once she told me what she needed to say, I was going to do whatever I could to fix the problem.
“I got you, Sunshine,” I agreed, then kissed her. “Whatever you want, baby.”
**
“Are you asleep?” Yale softly asked, and I shook my head. We were on the plane heading back to KC. “I’m ready to talk, but I don’t want you to move.”
“Why not?” I asked and tried to move, but Yale wrapped her legs around my waist to keep me still. Her arms tightened around my shoulders, and I laughed. “You don’t gotta hold me like that.”
“I need you to stay still,” she said, and I could feel her shake her head.
“So, my moving to face you will stop you from doing that?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Why?”
“Because I’m scared,” she said softly, and my anger started to boil. I hated that she was afraid to say what she needed to. I thought we had a better relationship than that.
“The fuck are you scared of, Sunshine?” If she said me, I wouldn’t be able to accept that. I’d tried my hardest to always carry myself in a way that showed her that I was always in her corner and had her back no matter what. “You scared of me?”
“No, but I’m afraid of what you will do,” she answered. “Or more so, how you will react. And I don’t want you to react until you hear me all the way out, and I need you to hear me out.”
I ran my hand up and down her lower leg. “I won’t react until you tell me to,” I finally said. “Say what you gotta say.”
“I made a decision years ago that changed the course of our relationship,” she said softly. “After the accident, Quincy offered me a deal: marry Grant-”
“The fuck are you talking about, Yale?” I humorlessly laughed.
She let me go and quickly moved to straddle my lap to be in my face. Her eyes were filled with tears, and I could see howscared she was. I wasn’t sure if she was scared of me or what she thought I was going to do. “I married Grant because Quincy agreed to cover up the fact that I killed someone in that crash.” She cupped my face in her hands to make me look at her. “I was trying to be selfless and allow you to have the life you wanted.” Tears fell from her eyes, and I wiped them away. “The other day, when I had to leave, it was because Luther called a family meeting. Something happened.” She shook her head. “I don’t even know what it was, but after the meeting, Luther made me ride with him and Quincy so they could meet up with their family doctor. Why are you still working for the Kilmores?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, shaking my head. I needed her to keep talking, and I had a feeling that if I told her the truth, she’d shut down.
“It does-”
“It doesn’t,” I cut her off. “What happened after you saw me talking to Quincy?”
“Luther basically told me I needed to fall in line, and if I didn’t, that he’d kill everyone that I was close with, including you.”
“I’m not worried about that nigga,” I chuckled and shook my head.
“But I am,” she said. “Their family has a lot of connections. They don’t just deal with the Franklins either. It’s more, and I don’t want you getting caught up in some shit that you can’t get out of.”
I moved us so that I could lie down, and Yale sat on my lap. I was trying to appear relaxed, but I was anything but. Hearing Yale say she’d chosen me had me hot. Quincy had played both of us and would soon see me because of it.
“Is that all?” I asked as my hands went to her hips. I had a feeling it wasn’t because of the way she wouldn’t look at me.
“Umm,” she licked her lips and nodded. “It’s one more thing.”
“What is it, Sunshine?”
“Before we took that ride, Quincy grabbed me,” she said, then reached across the bed and grabbed her go bag. She reached into the bag, pulled out a small package of baby wipes, and took one to wipe her neck. I set up and took the wipe from her. “He grabbed me by the neck.”
