Page 49 of Cuffed By Your Love
Jason’s arm slipped around her waist, pulling her back against him. “Yeah, shine, but shine for me. Don’t be out here smelling like a snack getting randoms fucked up. I’ll have to square up in the produce aisle again, and that shit gon’ be on yo’ sexy ass.”
I laughed, shaking my head as I scooped butter into another jar. “Y’all ridiculous. This is why I don’t invite y’all over when I’m working.”
The room was still buzzing with Jason’s words when the front door creaked open, and Jonell’s voice rang out loud as a trumpet.
“Where my butter queen at?”
I groaned, already bracing myself. “Back here, nosy.”
Seconds later, she burst in with her sunglasses pushed up in her curls, phone in her hand, and trouble on her face. She took one sniff of the air and threw her head back like she’d been blessed by Heaven. “See? This is why you my plug, sis. Forget Sephora. Forget Ulta. Jonay got the real hookup.”
Before I could roll my eyes, Leila cackled and pointed at me. “See? Even your look-alike knows the deal. You her plug. Elias been sayin’ the same thing.”
The way my cheeks flamed, I almost dropped my spatula. “I swear, y’all gon’ make me?—”
Jonell swooped in like a hawk, snatched my phone off the counter, and started scrolling. “Lemme see whatDetective Fine Shytbeen texting you.”
“Nelly, no!” I lunged, but Jason grabbed me around the waist, holding me back with ease.
“Nah, nah, nah, Diamond.” He laughed, shaking his head. “You not rescuing that phone, not today. Let her cook.”
“Let her cook?” I hissed, squirming in his grip. “That’s my phone!”
Jonell was already scrolling, eyes wide, grinning like she hit the jackpot. “Ooooh! The way he said ‘beautifulandcomfortable’? Girl, that man is already cuffin’ you in his head.”
“Give me my phone, Jonell!”
“Nope!” she sang, darting toward the doorway.
Leila blocked her path like a point guard, laughing so hard she almost doubled over. “Nah, sis, we need to hear the good parts. Read it out loud.”
Jason leaned against the counter, smirking like the devil himself. “Go ’head. Read it. I wanna hear how this man talk to my baby sister.”
“Y’all triflin’.” My face burned so hot it felt like my freckles were glowing.
Leila waved her hand, perfume from the butter still clinging to her skin. “You’ll be fine. You blushin’ already. That mean he already got you. Y’all in deep.”
And then Jason, my big, overprotective brother, slid his hand around Leila’s waist again, tugging her close. He bent down, kissed the top of her curls, and said low but clear enough for all of us to hear, “Don’t worry, baby girl. I’m always gon’ ride your nerves, but real talk? Elias got you. I can tell. And I ain’t never liked Kam. Not once. You different now; you smile more. Andme?” He kissed Leila’s temple, eyes softening. “I get to worry a little less. ’Cause I already got my hands full keepin’ this one from blinding the world with all this fine she walking around with.”
Leila swatted his chest, laughing as she melted against him. “Boy, hush.”
I looked at them. Jason was all hard edges, softening only for her, Leila, glowing like butter and honey under his love, and something in my chest eased. I wanted that. Hell, I was starting to believe maybe, with Elias, Ihadthat.
Meanwhile, Jonell was still scrolling, dramatic as ever. “Ooooh, here we go—Not he callin’ you his pretty cargo! My brother-in-law smooth with it. I like that shit. Sis, you got you a sweet, smooth one… That’s a package deal!”
I covered my face with my hands. “Lord, just take me now.”
But deep down? I was smiling, smiling in a way I hadn’t in years.
“Give me my damn phone, Jonell!” I shouted, chasing her around the island like we were ten again. She dodged me with a grin, thumbs still scrolling through my messages like she was reading scriptures on the Bible app.
Leila was bent over cackling, while Jason leaned against the counter, cool as ever, arm looped around his wife’s waist. “Read the one about the cargo again, Ruby,” he drawled, lips twitching. “That shit was smooth… Ya commentary killin’ me.”
“You know what?” I put my hands on my hips, glaring. “Y’all got too much time on your hands.”
Before they could shoot back, the front door creaked open. Heavy boots on hardwood. A familiar presence rolled through the house like gravity had just shifted.
And then he appeared.
