Page 38 of Black Jack (Advantage Play 5)

“You think I don’t know that?”

“Come on, Jack. That’s terrible––”

“I know!” I rub my hand over my face and replay the conversation before repeating myself a little softer. “I know.”

“That’s…that’s bad, Jack. What are you going to do to make it up to her?” Ace asks.

“That’s the thing. I bought her flowers the last time I messed up and found them in the trash. From what I’ve pieced together, she doesn’t like chocolates or things high in calories ‘cause she’s way too self-conscious about her weight. So, that’s out. And the idea of buying her jewelry….” I groan.

“What’s so bad about the idea of buying her jewelry?” Ace asks.

“I don’t know? She’s already cost me so much money––”

“Jack Connelly! Are you kidding me right now?”

“Again with the full name?” I argue. “Am I really in that much trouble?”

“Uh, yes. You’re being an asshole, which I’ve never really seen firsthand, by the way.”

“Apparently, it’s the only thing I know how to be lately,” I reply sarcastically.

“Bullshit. Again, I can say this from personal experience. You are not an asshole, Jack. Not usually, anyway. I know this, and you know this.”

“Then why is she pushing my buttons every damn second of every damn day?” I seethe.

“Maybe it’s because she’s so used to being around explosive men that she’s learned to deliberately push the explosive buttons so that she knows it’s coming instead of tiptoeing around them only to be burned by accident when she least expects it?”

My forehead scrunches. She might have a point. Shit. That’s exactly what she’s doing. She’s fighting for control because I always seem to throw her off kilter the same way she throws me off mine. Until I can learn to slip past her defenses and she can learn to trust me, this isn’t going to get any better. And instead of making headway like I’ve been trying to, I’ve been burning down the entire bridge.

“So, what do you suggest I do, Ace?” I rasp.

“I already told you. Be nice. Be a friend. And don’t explode, even when she presses those buttons. The more you prove her wrong, the easier it’ll be to get those walls she’s built around herself to come down so you can get to know the real her.”

“And if she is really a bitch-slash-slut?”

“Don’t call her that,” Ace defends.

“But I want to know,” I press.

“Then you wait for Reed to be behind bars before pulling the plug. But if she has access to your money like Kingston told me, then you’d be smart to stay on her good side, regardless of how she acts to you. Like I said though, I’ve seen her brother. I’ve heard the rumors of the shit she had to put up with. Cut her some slack, and you might be surprised by the girl she’s hidden underneath her façade. After all, we’re all guilty of pretending to be someone we’re not in order to protect ourselves. Right, Jack?”

The little brat is referring to our rocky past. She was a card counter before falling for Kingston Romano, and I was an undercover FBI agent who’d been investigating him along with a common enemy named Burlone. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end but not without its issues.

“Yeah,” I admit on a sigh. “You’re right.”

“I’m always right,” she quips. “Now, go get her something that sparkles. She deserves it for putting up with your ass.”

I roll my eyes. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Do you still want to talk to Kingston?”

“Nope. Seems you pretty much cleared everything up.”

“That’s ‘cause I’m awesome,” she reminds me in a singsong voice.

“You’re something, alright,” I mutter under my breath.

“Hey, Jack?” she adds, ignoring my sarcasm.