Page 52 of The Body Checker

Those words shouldn’t sting quite as much as they do. We did, after all, agree to keep what’s going on behind closed doors a secret. And the truth is, I am Zander’s sister, and maybe I should remember that’s all I am to Jonah.

“Oh, I didn’t realize.” Instead of thanking me, she says, “I can’t drive home. Do you think I could spend the night here?”

“Jonah, I should go,” I say quickly, and his gaze flashes to mine, worry blazing in his eyes.

“No, I’m taking Shari home.” His eyes search mine, like he’s trying to see if I’m okay. “Would you mind watching Daisy? She can’t drive like this. It’s lucky she made it here without killing someone.”

“No problem,” I say, and back up until I’m on the first step.

Jonah leans Shari against a wall and heads to the kitchen to grabs his keys, leaving me alone in the front entrance with Shari.

“Why are you in a towel?” she asks. She points a finger at me. “You trying to take my man away from me?”

“I was swimming,” I say, and tighten the towel around my body.

She steps toward me, wobbles a little. “You keep your hands to yourself. He’s mine. I didn’t go through all the trouble of having a kid for nothing.”

My heart crashes against my chest and my brain spins in my head. She trapped Jonah! Oh, my God, she trapped Jonah by having a kid.

Jonah stalks back into the room, the muscles along his jaw rippling as he clenches his teeth together. His eyes meet mine and soften. “Thanks,” he says, and I make a move to reach for him, tell him what’s going on, stop this from happening. But as I do, Shari falls into him, wrapping her arms around his body in a show of possession.

“Bye, Queenie,” she says, and I’m about to tell her off, but Jonah speaks first. Probably a good thing. I don’t want to get in the middle of a fight or do anything that could mess up the relationship between him and his daughter.

“Here name is Quinn,” Jonah says, his voice rough, angry.

“Isn’t that a guy’s name?” She looks me over again, and I resist the urge to throat punch her. “Then again, I guess she could pass as one,” she says, and laughs.

Jonah goes ramrod straight, holds her by the shoulders and pulls her off his body. “Being drunk is no excuse for being rude. You have no idea what she’s been doing for our daughter.”

“What’s she been doing for you, Jonah?” she flings back at him

“That’s none of your business.”

She reaches out, cups his cock, and says, “As long as she knows this is mine.”

Jonah removes her hand, tosses me an apologetic look, and practically drags her out the door.

“You think about what I said, Queenie. Or I’ll lawyer up, and Jonah will never get to see his daughter again!”

I stand there, legs too numb to move, as Jonah locks the door behind himself. It’s only when I hear her car start up that I’m able to breathe again.

I lower myself onto the step and think about calling my best friend. But Jonah’s business is his, and it wouldn’t be right of me to tell secrets. I pick myself up and fight back the tears. I turn, deciding to go to bed, when my cell rings.

I rush to it, and my heart races when I see it’s from Zander.

“Hey,” I say.

“You okay?” he asks, and I hear the concern in his voice.

“Not really.”

“Jonan called me. I’m going to pick him up at Shari’s and bring him home. He asked me to check in on you. He said Shari was pretty nasty. I know you can handle yourself but still.”

Tears threaten, and I wipe them away. Not because of anything Shari said, but because of Daisy, Jonah. They’re both in a terrible position. “I’m okay.”

“Hey, it’s me,” he says, his voice softening. “I know you’re not.”

“Zander, she basically said she trapped him.”

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