Scared of Beautiful (Scared #1)(31)

Jade raises an eyebrow and looks towards me. “I guess a lot has happened in the last two days,” she says, seeming less than impressed.

“Jackson,” I say looking towards him, “that’s not my decision and you know it.”

“Why not?” he asks.

“Because this is your responsibility. Your choices. I won’t make them for you,” I reply, annunciating the won’t. He looks wounded as his gaze meets my firm and concerned stare.

“Fine,” Jackson says without conviction.

“As soon as she finishes talking to Emmanuel out the front,” Jade replies. The mere mention of Emmanuel’s name immediately elevates my irritation level. What does he want? I’m sure as hell that Jackson doesn’t want to hear anything he has to say.

She turns back to face me. “So…I’m sorry for skipping out on you like that. I needed to come back here to see Shana. I felt like I had to. Then I got to thinking, and most of what I learnt about music came from here. In this neighborhood. All that theory and shit took all the soul out of it.”

“Jade,” I say, holding up a hand. “There’s no need for an explanation.”

“There is. I should have told you about all this before I left. Maybe it would have been easier to digest.” Jade looks anxiously towards the door.

“Why?” I laugh. “Am I about to get myself tangled up in some baby mama drama?”

Jade laughs nervously. “Shana’s the straight, blonde equivalent of me. I wouldn’t go pissing her off. She’s really sweet, but she can battle with the best of them when she’s pissed.”

“Noted,” I reply, nodding. I feel so deflated knowing that Jade won’t be at Brown for the remainder of the semester, at least. And maybe not at all.

A small knock interrupts my thoughts and in walks the leggiest, most gorgeous blonde I have ever seen, hand in hand with the cutest little girl, full head of curls and all. Jackson is silent as they walk through the door. At first, he doesn’t even look up. He knows he has to face it. I really think he just doesn’t know how. The silence in the room is hanging over all of our heads, like one giant curtain.

Shana clears her throat and offering a small smile, breaks the silence. “Emmanuel asked to speak to you,” she says, looking at Jackson, but barely making eye contact. When she turns to glance in my direction, she sweeps her blonde hair over to one shoulder and shoots me a look of indifference, blended with pure, venomous hatred.

Oh, how I should have stayed in Providence.





Chapter 16




Jackson

What the f-uck does Emmanuel want? I’m already wound up enough by this whole mess without having to deal with his stupid ass. But hey, it’s an out. I feel bad leaving Maia in the room with Jade and Shana, but Maia’s more than capable of holding her own, I’m sure. And unless Shana’s changed a hell of a lot since she left, which is possible, she’s not a troublemaker. I can’t stand what she did to me, but even I have to admit, she was never a bitch.

I walk out the screen door and Emmanuel is leaning against his Range. He straightens as I walk over. I don’t bother to hide my anger today. I’m in no mood, and this * disrespected both Maia and I yesterday. At least he looks straight and sober this morning. That’s a bonus. There’s always a first for everything.

When it becomes obvious that I’m not going to talk, Emmanuel does. “Jackson, man, look, I don’t remember much of last night, but I do remember being an * to you and the girl.”

“The girl has a name, it’s Maia,” I say through clenched teeth. What the hell kind of apology was that?

“Right,” he continues. “I’m sorry man. I was just so stunned that you brought home a girlfriend. Before you left a few weeks ago, we were still discussing which chick you were putting the moves on next.”

“That was then,” I say abruptly.

“You know I wasn’t myself last night, and being polite has never been one of my strong points,” Emmanuel admits. “Anyway, can we squash it? It ain’t worth the fight.”

I think about his last words for a beat before answering. “Maia is worth it. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt ‘cause you were high as shit, and because we’ve been close for a long time. But if you ever disrespect her like that again, we’re gonna have an issue,” I say firmly. I don’t really care that Emmanuel is crazy, or that he has a pistol strapped to his back.

He nods, and then says, “We’re going to the club tonight. Since you’re only in town for a few days, hit it up with us. Now that you’re all Ivy League, who knows when we’ll see you again. Maia can come.”

I doubt Maia will even entertain the idea of voluntarily being in the general vicinity of Emmanuel again. “I’ll call you later,” I say. “I’d better get inside.”

“Yeah, you should. Now that you have all this baby mama drama, you better make sure that there’s no throwing down happening in there,” Emmanuel replies laughing. I shoot him a warning glance. He raises his arms in surrender. “My bad, I’m gonna go now, later.” I wait for him to pull off. I don’t really need to. I just don’t want to go inside.

To my surprise I hear Maia’s voice sounding quite animated and cheerful as I walk back in the house. “And what else do you know?” she asks.