Page 36 of Cuffed By Your Love

“That’s… heavy,” she said softly. “You’re carrying all that and still showing up for people?”

“I don’t know any other way, gorgeous.”

“Why me?” she asked abruptly.

“Huh?”

She leaned in closer, her brown eyes filled with a mix of softness and caution.

“You could flirt with anyone in this crowded room, yet here you are, stepping into my grief uninvited. Why check on my mama after everything? What makes you care so much about us?”

I took a slow sip of my drink, savoring the answer as it lingered on my tongue.

“You walked into that hospital as if you challenged grief to confront you again. I understand that feeling all too well, gorgeous. I saw the fight in you and the brokenness.”

Jonay remained silent, her eyes wide as she blinked slowly, taking in the moment. With a shaky hand, she reached for her drink, clutching it tightly as if it were a lifeline, hoping it would quell the tremors coursing through her.

“Damn,” she whispered, then blinked as if trying not to feel too much too fast. “You’re really good with words.”

“I’m good with the truth, mama.”

Just as the air began to warm between us, like something soft was stirring underneath the ashes, he walked in.

Kam, the man who had shattered this beautiful woman’s heart, who had left her to grapple with feelings of self-doubt right in front of me. It was painful as hell to witness her struggle with her worth after such a deep betrayal.

He walked in as if he was the main character of a story. He looked exactly as I had imagined, caught between regret and rage, rocking a too-tight, fake Versace shirt and exuding an energy that screamed desperation. The moment he saw us, he halted mid-step, sneering as if he still believed he had access to her heart.

Jonay stiffened, her body going rigid like a coiled spring, while a deep frown creased my forehead. My jaw tightened, and I began to tap my fingers against the table in an impatient rhythm. It infuriated me to see him making her feel so uneasy.

I spotted him before he even made it past the host stand.

“Don’t turn around,” I said quietly. “He’s walking in.”

Her nostrils flared. “How does he know I’m here?”

“I’ve been asking God how clowns always know where the real ones are. No answer yet.”

Kam made his way over, his gait unsteady like that of a toddler with fragile ankles, as he eagerly clutched his phone in one hand.

Kam approached with that dumbass smirk he probably practiced in the mirror. “Wow. So we moving on already?” he asked loud enough to catch attention. “That’s crazy. It’s only been what,… a week since you caught me in your bed, and now you sitting across from the opps?”

The opps? Like he wasn’t trying to be me and have my exact same job at one point.

Fucking clown.

Before Jonay could utter a word, I rose to my feet, moving slowly and deliberately. The light glinted off my badge, catching his eye, while the outline of my Sig subtly revealed itself beneath my shirt, a silent reminder that I wasn’t merely a collection of good vibes and inspirational quotes.

“Step back,” I said, keeping my tone calm and flat. There was no anger in my voice, just a sense of consequence.

Kam blinked. “Or what? You gon’ arrest me for speaking, Edmonds?”

I took a careful step forward, drawing close enough for him to catch the earthy scent of woodsmoke mingling with the warm, aromatic notes of frankincense that lingered in my beard oil.

“Nah,” I replied, taking one step forward. “But your presence is making this queen feel uneasy, and I don’t like that shit, so I will escort your ass outta here so fast your weak ass cologne will still be sitting here looking confused.”

Jonay rose from her seat as well, exhibiting calmness and grace, but she didn’t raise her voice. Instead, she leaned in slightly, her eyes cold.

“You’re worried about who I’m drinking with instead of focusing on your own freedom? Because the way I caught you on camera with my cousin’s county-issued gun… You’re lucky I haven’t filed charges. Yet.”