“Yeah,” Marcus cut in, eyes locked on Cash. “Me and Juicy used to be real close. Shorty was my lil’ nah mean.”
Cash’s jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists under the table. I sent up a silent prayer that he’d left his gun in the truck.
“Like a million years ago,” I added quickly with a weak laugh. “Anyway, good seeing you, Marcus.”
“Likewise, beautiful. Yo, your number still the same?”
I hesitated. Lying wouldn’t help—Marcus was like Cash, he’d find out anyway.
“Yeah…”
“Bet.” He nodded and licked his lips.
He turned to Cash. “You from out here?”
Cash gave a tight nod. “Westside.”
“True.” Marcus’s mouth twisted into a half-smile. “Heard there's a lot of motion out here.”
Cash scoffed and glared at him.
Marcus let out a short, dry laugh and turned back to me. “Juicy, I’ma hit you up before I head back to the city. We definitely gotta catch up.”
“Sure,” I said, sliding back into my seat, wishing I could disappear.
Marcus looked between us, smirking like he knew he stirred up some shit.
I turned to Cash. His whole energy had shifted.
“That’s the nigga you said got locked up on a RICO?” he asked icily.
“Yep.” I stabbed at my mac and cheese. My appetite seemed to have packed up and left with Marcus.
“Hm.” He stood and walked off, returning with two to-go containers. He set one in front of me and started packing up his food.
“You’re done eating?” I asked, confused.
“You gotta get back to work, right?” he said without looking up.
“Monica’s covering for me, so I’m good to chill,” I said lightly, hoping this wouldn’t turn into a thing.
“Nah, I got some shit to handle.”
“Okay…” I muttered, packing up my food.
The silence followed us all the way back to the car.
“Are you mad at me?” I asked once we were back on the road.
“You good, Jasmine,” he said, eyes fixed ahead, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
“Look, I know that whole thing with Marcus was weird, but I haven’t seen him in ten years. It’s not that serious.”
Cash slammed on the brakes. My body jerked against the seatbelt as cars honked and swerved around us.
His face was hard when he turned to me. “You was giggling and blushing in that nigga’s face—and then called me yourfriend?”
“First of all, I was caught off guard! Two, are we not friends?” I snapped back, heat creeping up my neck.
