Page 61 of Relentles
“The plant, too,” Mrs. Davis ordered in a hard voice.
“It’s a gift for Mr. Davis,” CJ said.
“I’m quite aware. Now, give it to Haskell.”
“Mama,” Jaleena chided in a soft voice. “Stop, please. I asked permission for him to eat with us. Not for you to embarrass him.”
While Haskell snatched the plant away from CJ, Mrs. Davis turned her head.
No fucking way was he staying for this treatment. Fuck these motherfuckers, too.
He nodded to Jaleena’s father. “Happy holidays, sir. Thank you for the invitation, but I’m afraid I can’t stay long.”
A frown wrinkled Jaleena’s brow. “I thought we were going to playMortal Kombat.”
“I forgot to tell you that I couldn’t stay long.”
Panic entered Jaleena’s dark eyes, and she glanced at her mother.
Mrs. Davis visibly gritted her teeth. “Yes,” she said unhappily, “please stay, CJ. Jaleena has been looking forward to your visit.”
“Yeah, Leen thinks you’ve bought her a cool present,” Jillian announced.
Jaleena gasped. “I did not!”
“Come here, young lady,” Mrs. Davis said, crooking her finger at her little sister.
“Did, too!” Jillian said, unrepentant. She followed her mother’s orders, plopping on Mrs. Davis’s lap when she reached her side. She tilted her head. Her mother began whispering to her.
“You said never to lie, Mama,” Jillian protested, blaring the words. “And Jaleena showed CJ a pair of diamond earrings. She was wondering if he bought them for her.”
Groaning, Jaleena covered her face.
At some point between that disastrous dinner his mother hosted to welcome them, Jaleena decided she could live with him not being her charity case.
“It was earrings or a ring or a pair of moto boots from Neiman Marcus,” Jillian continued.
“Shut up!” Jaleena warned.
Unable to help it, CJ laughed. “It’s fine, Jaleena. I promise. My little brothers would out me, too.”
Jillian craned her neck. “He doesn’t have a big box,” she said, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Did you get her the jewelry?”
Mrs. Davis clapped a hand over her mouth. CJ laughed harder. Seeing his reaction, Jaleena giggled, the tension leaving her body.
He couldn’t help but admire her artful makeup on such a pretty face. She’d shaved her head again. The earrings he was giving her would be on full display.
“You look so pretty,” he told her.
She beamed a smile at him. Without hesitation, he returned it, pleased his compliment made her happy.
Mr. Davis cleared his throat and scowled.
CJ wasn’t comfortable. The Davises just didn’t like him and never would.
He counted Jaleena a good friend, whom he’d had good times with. More than that, she was his classmate and he didn’t wish to alienate her. It would be awkward at school and he had enough bullshit to deal with between Ryan and the Byrd brothers. His feelings for her were just sprouting, but his life was complicated enough. He didn’t need more drama.
“I have to go,” he told her quietly.
