Page 111 of Call Me Mrs. Taylor

“Oh, you know. The usual,” I say. “Weird noises. Squeaks when I brake. And the check engine light’s been on since last year.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “That’s not good.”

“I knowwww,” I whine. “I don’t know anything about cars. They scare me.”

He frowns. “I’m surprised Ace didn’t offer to help you out.”

I shrug, neglecting to mention I never let him get close enough. “So you’ll take a look at it for me?”

Something flickers in his expression. Hesitation, and distrust, but also intrigue. He knows dealing with me is a bad idea. I can see it in his eyes and in the way he leans back in his chair, putting more distance between us, trying to break the tension.

Finally, he sighs, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “I may be able to help you out.”

There we go.

I sigh in relief. “Not Mr. Taylor being my hero.”

His smile is loose this time. Carefree. His guard is down.

And I know I’m almost to the finish line when he says, “Call me Jackson.”

30

Ace

A sea of red and black moves eerily in sync, like some kind of living organism. The roar of the crowd is deafening, filling Mercedes Benz stadium with electricity.

Me and the guys came out to watch the Falcons do their thing, which, if previous seasons are any indication, is not gonna be much. But the beer is flowing and the energy is high. I should be enjoying myself.

Instead, I feel numb.

Dayton, Titus, Jovan, and Bron are hyped, fully locked into the game. I’m watching, but not really seeing. Every time I try to focus on what’s happening on the field, my thoughts drift to her.

Her name is a fucking echo in my head. Her face is behind my eyes every time I blink. And the sound of her voice is curled around my brain like a vice.

“Damn, bruh. At least pretend like you’re having fun,” Dayton says, nudging me hard enough to rock me in my seat. “You act like we dragged yo ass here at gunpoint.”

I take a few swigs of beer. “Nah. I’m good.”

Bron shakes his head. “You know how I know you lyin’? You ain’t have one nice thing to say about being in the wedding.”

Yeah, Dayton asked us all to be in it when we first got here. I didn’t know I was supposed to be excited about that shit.

“Yeah, out of all of us, you usually have the most positive shit to say.”

Dayton raises an eyebrow. “Try again, man. So we know you’re okay.”

They’re fucking with me, I know, but I conjure something anyway.

“Yeah, man. I’m looking forward to it.” I lift my beer. “Hope it works out.”

Titus shakes his head. “That was weak as hell.”

Dayton huffs out a laugh. “Just say ‘fuck you’ next time and save yourself the trouble.”

Jovan side-eyes me. “You fuckin’ up the vibe, man. Fuck is wrong with you?”

I scrub a hand down my face, exhaling hard.

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