Page 52 of Cuffed By Your Love
Of course, Jason whistled low. “Well, damn. Y’all in assigned seating now?”
Leila cackled, smacking his arm. “Baby, don’t be mad ’cause he got her blushing and you still out here fighting lame niggas in the produce aisle cuz I smell delectable as hell.”
Everybody cracked up, and my cheeks burned hotter. I tried to roll my eyes, but Elias’s hand slid slowly against my arm, thumb drawing lazy circles that sent shivers racing down my skin. My body betrayed me, leaning back into him.
Jonell finally looked up from her phone, smirking. “Anyway, I gotta get ready for my conference tomorrow. But before I go… Sis, I saw Kam parked outside your spot the other night. Didn’t say nothing ’cause I knew you’d panic. Just… be careful.”
The room shifted instantly. Jason’s jaw flexed, his eyes darkening. “He still on that stalker shit?”
My stomach dropped, but before I could answer, Elias’s arm tightened around me. He pressed a kiss to my temple, voice calm but commanding. “She’s fine. If it escalates, she’ll stay with me. End of story. Y’all don’t have to worry about her while I’m around.”
Something in the way he said it, steady, protective, and unshaken, settled me down more than it should have. Jason studied him for a long second, then nodded once.
“Welcome to the family, bruh.” The tension cracked, and just like that, Jason slapped the deck of Uno cards down. “Alright. Who ready to catch these hands?”
Two hours later, we were all still talking trash. Leila was screaming that Jason skipped her on purpose, Jonell was accusing everybody of cheating, and Elias was shaking his head like he’d stumbled into a sitcom.
“See, this right here is why y’all my favorite. Y’all make this too easy,” Jonell declared, tossing down a draw four with evil glee. “Well, technically,”—Jonell leaned forward, grinning like the devil—“since I brought up favorites, let’s talk about how Mama and Daddy spoiled this one right here.” She jabbed a finger at me.
“Jonay been the favorite since diapers.”
Leila leaned in, nodding fast. “Facts. Sis been my favorite since day one. Don’t even argue,” she said while slapping down a skip card with glee.
“You should’ve seen her birthday parties, Elias. The whole neighborhood came out, while Jason got socks and a cupcake.”
The way Jason whipped his head toward me had me crying laughing. “Man, y’all ain’t finna rewrite history like that and do Diamond like that!”
“Oh, please.” Jonell waved him off, smug. “Remember the bike situation? Daddy said he couldn’t afford three new bikes since he had just started that new job. Guess who came pedaling down the block with yellow streamers on the handlebars?”
The whole room howled. Jason groaned into his palm while Leila doubled over.
“Y’all petty as hell!” I gasped between laughs. I laughed so hard I almost dropped my cards. “Y’all just mad ’cause I got better report cards.”
The table erupted with chaos. Elias just smirked, tightening his arm around me. He leaned close to my ear, his beard tickling my cheek.
Elias squeezed my waist, his voice low just for me. “You definitely my favorite.” His lips brushed my ear. “Witcho fine ass.”
Heat flared across my face so fast I had to duck my head. My smile was out of control, and I knew my siblings noticed.
Jonell clapped her hands together. “Look at her… Red as a stop sign! Lord, Elias, you done broke my sister, and I love that for her!”
Elias chuckled, lips brushing my temple again like he couldn’t help himself. “Nah. Just bringing her back to herself.”
“You cheated!” Leila accused.
While the room erupted again, Elias pressed a kiss to my temple, grounding me in the middle of all the noise. His thumb never stopped its lazy circles, soothing me, anchoring me.
I let myself lean into him, smiling so wide it hurt. For the first time in forever, family night didn’t feel heavy. It felt right.
I cleared my throat, trying to redirect before my siblings broke into another round of clowning. “Alright then, Detective. Since you’re so sure you and EJ own me now, what do y’all want for lunch tomorrow, baby?”
Elias didn’t hesitate, eyes locked on mine. “Surprise us, gorgeous. As long as it’s coming from you, it’ll taste like the best thing I ever had.”
And just like that, my whole chest melted again.
The way he said it, like every word was lined with devotion, had me blushing all over again while my siblings hollered about me being “soft.”
And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t mind one bit.
