Page 57 of Flame
“Looks like we’re late to the party,” Jess says.
If I weren’t busy strangling Banks, I’d tell him that any man walking a chicken has no business laughing at anyone.
“Don’t antagonize them, Jess,” Mom says, sighing. “Are you boys hungry?”
“Help me,” Banks hisses before I increase the pressure again.
“Sure. Do you have ham?” Jess asks.
Maddox picks up Banks’s sandwich from the edge of the table. “I’ll have this one. It looks good.”
Banks continues to flail. Maddox takes a bite of his sandwich and comes closer to investigate.
“I think purple means he can’t breathe,” Maddox says, pointing at our brother.
I ease up enough to fade the purple to a shade of red.
“You’re going to promise me on our mother’s honor—”
“Don’t bring me into this,” Mom says.
“—that you aren’t going to pull this kind of shit anymore,” I say. “You’re going to mind your business. Right? You’ll promise that?”
I stare at him, warning him not to play games with me. Then I ease the pressure around his neck.
Banks hauls in a long, deep breath. Then another.
“Promise me,” I say, repositioning my fingers around him.
He stills. “Okay. I agree. I promise not to hook you up with rich, beautiful women ever again.” He smirks. “Good enough?”
I squeeze until he starts to choke again. He turns his head simultaneously as Dad comes into the room. “Dad!” he says hoarsely. “Help!”
“Oh hell, Foxx. What did he do now?” Dad asks.
Jess strolls up to the table and takes a bite of his sandwich. “Don’t stop them, Dad. This is good entertainment. I got a free meal and a show.”
Dad grins. “So I’m guessing Bianca left?”
Fuck.
I push hard against Banks one final time and then let him go. He wastes no time in rolling off the table and getting to Mom.
Jess smacks his lips. “Bianca is at your house?”
I glare at him. He grins back.
I hate all of them, I think.
“She said she was leaving last night,” Dad says, screwing with me. “I’m guessing that’s why Foxx is a little testy today.”
“As a matter of fact, I came over here with news.” I cross my arms over my chest. I might as well just tell them all at once and be done with it. “I’m getting married.”
Mom drops something. The clanging sound rattles through the room.
My heart begins to pound.
Maddox cocks his head to the side. “Did you just say you’re getting married?”
