Page 26 of The Prodigy

“When I can trust you,” he said matter-of-factly.

The fact that he hadn’t budged an inch on that issue was irritating.

I looked up at Cyrus the Giant and rolled my eyes.

“Fine,” I huffed. “I get off at eleven.”

“Oh, we know,” Jakari said, waving me off.

Of course he knew. And his disinterest and sheer fuckingboredomwhen it came to me was also irritating. But then again, why did I even care? I was his prisoner. I didn’t wanna be here any more than he did.

That’s what I kept telling myself.

“CanIhelp—oh.Hey,Dario.”

I didn’t show how shocked I was to see my ex-boyfriend at my job. It had been at least a year since I’d seen him last, and the way he rolled out of my apartment at the crack of dawn without saying goodbye hadn’t left me with good feelings.

He smiled brightly as he settled onto a bar stool. “Miss Malika. Ain’t seen you in a minute. Where you been hiding?”

“Nowhere,” I said with a shrug. “I’ve been right here. You’re the one that’s been MIA. What’s been up with you?”

“Just got back from DC.” His beard and goatee had finally connected. He looked good. Really good.

But not as good as Jakari.

“And what were you doing in DC?”

“Work shit.” He eyed me seductively. “Look at you. You still got it.”

I smiled at that. “Stop it.”

“I’m just saying.”

“Are you gonna order something, or just stare at me?”

“Why not both?”

I chuckled at that as I picked up a bottle of Jack Daniels. I knew exactly what he wanted. He smiled as I poured, then lifted the glass to me before swigging half of it.

“Alright.” He set his glass on the coaster and leaned forward on the bar. “What’s your situation?”

“What do you mean?”

He grinned, showing off his perfect white teeth. “We had fun last time I was here. It seemed like you were down for more. Then I didn’t hear from you.”

I twisted my lips. “Don’t even get to lying, Dario. You left my place and then I never heard from you again.”

“Come on, now. I texted you.”

“Like…a month later.”

“Well, you could have called me if it was that deep. You lowkey ghosted me.”

I let him play in my face because he was a good tipper when he was in a good mood. But deep down? It was fuck him.

“So for real, Malika. What’s been up? You don’t have anything else going on besides pouring drinks?”

“Nope.”

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