Page 14 of Levee

I wouldn’t say I was exactly a do-gooder. But I hated the idea of a dad finally turning his life around for his family and trying to build them all up, only to get fucked over by the system.

“You’re sure he’s innocent?” I asked.

“He cried,” Lily told me. “When he called, he cried. I’ve been with him since we were sixteen. I’ve never seen him cry.”

“Give me your number,” I said, passing her my phone. “I will have someone look into this,” I told her, thinking I could eitherfund it myself, or ask Teddy—the club’s friendly local billionaire—to have his lawyers get on it, see what they could do.

“Really?” Lily asked, suspicious but typing in her number anyway. “But we don’t even know you.”

“I grew up in this neighborhood, in this building.” My gaze slid to her kids, bickering over some characters from a show, then over to the baby, resting her head on Jade’s chest as she slept. “Back then, I wished my family had tried to get me out of here. Least I can do is put some feelers out.”

“Thank you,” Lily said, turning away to wipe tears off of her cheeks.

Thank you, Jade mouthed to me as I glanced at her.

Hey, I was just doing it to be nice. But if it scored me some brownie points with Jade, I wasn’t gonna be mad about that.

My washer started buzzing, prompting me to walk over to turn the clothes over into the dryer.

In the time that took, Lily took the baby back from Jade, and was trying to shush the other two, who were complaining that they were still hungry.

“Why don’t you take them upstairs to get some food?” Jade asked. “Levee and I can watch your machines.”

“Are you sure?” Lily asked.

“Of course,” Jade agreed, seemingly in a hurry to rush them along. “Right?” she asked, looking at me with eager eyes.

“Definitely. Take your time,” I added.

“Thank you. Thank you both,” Lily said, pretty blue eyes full of hope as she shuffled her two older kids toward the door.

When their voices trailed off, I turned back toward Jade.

“Now why do I get the feeling that you want to get me alone?” I asked, turning back toward Jade.

Just as she reached up, grabbed my face, pulled me down, and sealed her lips to mine.

CHAPTER FIVE

Jade

It wasn’t like I was in the habit of making out with somewhat random men in laundry rooms.

But, well, this particular man was ridiculously gorgeous, charming, and—miracle of all miracles—he was kind.

Kind enough to offer to help complete strangers with their seemingly hopeless situation.

I adored Lily and her family.

Lily and Curtis had been the first people in the building to say hello to me, to tell me that if I had any questions about the building or area, to let them know.

I’d babysat for them when there had been conflicts in schedules. And I went out of my way to get a few minutes playing with their sweet baby a few times a week.

I’d come across Lily sitting outside her apartment door sobbing in private so her kids wouldn’t see her breaking down when she’d gotten the call from Curtis saying he was arrested.

I sat with her for as long as possible, crying with her, before the kids became too unruly, and I had to go inside to try to placate them while their mom got herself together.

I was new to the area, new to this sort of neighborhood. It was hard not to feel my heart crack and splinter every day at the sadness I saw all around.

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