Page 77 of SIN Looks Good On Us!

"That's not the same thing."

"I know," I exhaled slowly.

"Then why do it?"

I didn't answer right away. I sat there staring at the floor, turning his question over in my head because I already knew the answer.

"Because if I don't, I'm going to fall apart. I know I'm running from it, and I know this isn't going to make it go away. But I need one night before I let all of this catch up to me."

His expression softened, but he didn't argue.

He simply reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

My eyes filled again.

"Thank you." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I know you don't have to carry any of this with me, but you keep choosing to anyway."

"I'm gonna keep choosing you too."

He pulled me back into his arms, and I closed my eyes, silently begging the moment to last just a little while longer before everything fell apart. Jokah had become my peace, and I wasn't ready to let it go.

We pulled up to the lounge a couple of hours later, and the valet was already making his way toward us before Jokah had even come to a complete stop.

Before we left, I changed into one of the outfits Jokah had picked out for me at the mall. The red two-piece fit me so good it almost didn't seem real. The skirt hugged my hips, and the matching long-sleeve crop top showed just enough skin to make me understand exactly why that man had grinned the second he pulled it off the rack. I grabbed the matching red purse, slipped on my nude heels, and gave myself one last look in the mirror. I looked put together on the outside, but inside, I was still trying to keep my world from falling apart.

Hulk walked a step ahead of us as we headed inside. The employees greeted Jokah as we passed, some with a nod, others stopping long enough to speak before getting back to work. I figured it came with being Jokah. Everywhere we went, people seemed to know exactly who he was.

Poncho was already posted up at our section. The second he spotted Jokah, he stood with a grin.

"There he go," he said, dapping him up. "I was starting to think you wasn't coming."

Jokah smirked.

"Had a few things to handle first."

Poncho's eyes flicked to me before he nodded with a smile. "Kaior, right?"

"That's me."

"Good to finally put a face to the name. This nigga been talking about you nonstop."

"Poncho." Jokah shot him a look.

"What? I'm just saying."

I laughed, sliding into the booth beside Jokah as the music filled the room and the bottle girls moved through the crowd with sparklers in hand. Armani texted a few minutes later saying she was on her way with Todd. I hearted the message and sat my phone down.

A few minutes later, a bottle came out with sparklers cutting through the dim lights, and the whole section came alive. Glasses were filled, shots were passed around, and before long another bottle found its way to the table. The music was loud, everybody was laughing, dancing and the night settled into exactly what it was supposed to be.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"You know the routine," I told Cody, grabbing my purse off the counter. "Doors locked, phone charged and don't open the door for nobody."

"I know, Ma."

"I mean it."

"I know, I know." He waved me off, from the couch, only paying attention to his game. "I got it."