Page 91 of Never His Girl
Those things that are supposed to be built on trust. Honesty.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
As soon as that statement leaves my mouth, Southside tenses against me.
“Okay.” She sounds skeptical, so I don’t prolong explaining.
“I met up with Ricky Monday,” I admit.
“How? Why?” she asks, only sounding curious. Not angry.
“Because I needed to make sure you’re safe,” I say gravely, not wanting her to worry, but shit… maybe we shouldallbe a little worried. “I had questions I believed onlyhehad the answers to.”
“And?” she asks. “Did he tell you anything?”
A frustrated sigh leaves me. “Not really. Only that his uncle and my dad have some kind of connection. And that, before your brother got locked up, he was in on a lot of their meetings.”
I wait after telling her that part, knowing that family is a major soft spot of hers.
“I… didn’t know that.” Her voice is quiet, and it isn’t lost on me that—whether I like his ass or not—she has Ricky on some sort of damn pedestal. At least where honesty is concerned.
Despite myself, I decide to clear his name, but only becausesheneeds that. In no way do I do it for him.
“He only left you out of things because he didn’t want you to worry,” I clarify, hating myself a little.
“I suppose I can understand that,” is her thoughtful reply.
“Talking to him confirmed that my dad’s at least as dirty as we thought he was.”
What Idon’tsay is that I’ve been envisioning what that means. Especially for my family. If he’s as deep in this shady shit as it’s starting to seem, where does it end? It has me questioning the legitimacy of his business, how it’ll all effect my mom. Hell, for all I know, she’s already up to speed on all this, in on it even.
I don’t know what to think.
Don’t know who to trust.
A soft hand lands gently on my cheek just as I’m starting to silently spiral. My gaze rises, meeting hers in the dim light that filters in from outside.
“We’re in this together now,” she reminds me. “As long as we don’t forget that, and do what we can to protect each other, we’re okay.”
That shouldn’t be enough to calm me, but it is. I pull her hand away from my face and kiss it before placing it over my heart.
Relationship.
There goes that damn word again. Ever since Dane said it, it’s haunted me, making me imagine things with her it might be too soon to imagine. I’m even wondering if I should at least see where her head is.
Fuck it.
“Dane said something interesting tonight. He brought up you and me, asking if we’re just casual or… if we’re claiming titles and shit.”
As far as smooth segues go, that one was rough and bumpy as hell.
“As in boyfriend/girlfriend titles?” Southside asks, making me cringe hearing it said that way.
“Well, yeah, but maybe a little less kindergarten than that.”
“You know what I mean,” she shoots back, playfully slapping my arm.
I slap her back, but on the ass, which has her laughing again.