Page 34 of Test the Ice
He tips me before moving away toward the line.
“Wow,” I whisper, staring at the amount.
Malaki adjusts himself in the front seat, spreading those long legs. “You’re welcome.”
I cross my arms, making no attempt to drive anywhere with him still inside the car. “For?”
“Admit it, Dimples.” His blue eyes twinkle with mischief. I hate the way my breath catches. “You make more money when you’re with me.”
I huff. “That’s because you pay me to hang out with you!”
Malaki scoffs and points to the backseat. “How about what just happened? I gave him an autograph too. Imagine if I had told him no, or if I kicked him out of the car and took his Uber completely, leaving him stranded at the arena.”
“I should leaveyoustranded at the arena,” I exclaim. “What are you even doing in my car? You have your own!”
He turns and stares out the window. “It broke down.”
“Liar.”
I can see his smirk through the reflection. It makes me want to smile in the worst way–that or hit him. I refuse to do either. “You’re insane.”
“I’m not insane,” he argues. “I’m persistent.”
“You mean annoying,” I quip.
“Charming.”
“Irritating.”
“Handsome.”
I can’t help but laugh.
He shows me his heart-stopping smile. “I’m funny too.”
I give up. I drop my head against the back of my seat and sigh. “Well…where am I taking you? Home? Back to your car that is most definitely not broken down?”
Malaki rests his head against the passenger seat just like me. We both turn and stare at each other with nothing but the air conditioner whirring in the background. “You can take me wherever you want…after you tell me who Charlie is.”
This again?
I bite the inside of my cheek.
It’s not necessarily a secret. I’m not hiding that I’m a mother from Malaki for any reason other than I don’t like people privy to my life. I’m protective of not only my daughter, but of Zoe too, and our well-being. I’m cautious. It’s as simple as that. Which is why Benedict’s threat has my stomach turning every time I have to make a decision that could give him or anyone else ammunition to use against me.
“You’ve given me no other choice,” Malaki announces.
I squint at him. “What–” I gasp when I realize he’s staring at my Skittles. “Don’t you dare.”
He eyes me from the side as he reaches for the bag of candy. I quickly sit taller, my spine locking. He wastes no time. He moves just as quickly as he does on the ice. The wrapper crinkles in hisgrip, even more so when he tips his head back and opens his mouth.
“Tell me, or I’m eating every last one,” he says, his neck bobbing up and down.
I jump into action and undo my seatbelt. I lean over the center console as a single Skittle drops into his mouth, the candy clinking against his teeth. Malaki turns towards me now, our faces inches away. He proudly shows me one lonely Skittle resting on his tongue.
“Give my Skittles back,” I stress, half-playful, half-annoyed.
I know it’s absurd, but the candy is sort of like a protective blanket to me. I’ve been indulging in Skittles since I was a kid, and somewhere along the way, they became more than just a sweet treat.
