Page 110 of Lennox Lane

The kitchen held one full second of stunned silence before Tariq whispered, “Jaw locks is crazy.”

Nova exploded, and Cadence laughed so hard she had to grab her belly. “I’m not supposed to laugh this hard. These babies are sitting on my bladder.”

KC leaned against the counter, shoulders shaking. “I’m leaving. I can’t be a witness to Booty Talk 103: Jaw Locks.”

Lane’s face went hot, but she lifted her chin. “What?”

Lennox turned to her slowly. His expression was dangerous. Not angry anymore. He was amused and nearing insufferable. “You’re definitely about to lock your jaw tonight.”

Tariq stood. “On that note, I need air.”

Cadence pointed at Lane, still laughing. “Good luck, friend.”

KC looked at Cadence, then at Lane, then at Lennox, then back at his wife. “Come on.”

Cadence blinked. “Where?”

He moved toward her, eyes darkening with shameless married intent. “Waddle your ride-or-die ass upstairs.”

“Khalil Reed.”

“My dick hard, baby. Let’s go.”

Nova screamed, “I hate it here!”

Tariq covered his ears. “That’s my brother!”

Lane stared at them. “Y’all are unwell.”

KC pointed at her while guiding Cadence toward the stairs. “Says the woman who just threatened to drag the fast fashion clothes off a woman.”

“Lane.”

She looked at him. “Yes, Robot?”

His eyes moved over her face, hot and serious now beneath the humor. “We’re leaving.”

“Oh, are we?”

“Yes.”

“And your car?” She snipped.

“One of many; I’ll find my heartbreak Horcruxes tomorrow.”

Lennox ignored him, holding his hand out to Lane as she took it. Every bit of anger she’d carried for the past week had lost its clean edge. Not because the hurt hadn’t been real. Seeing him with that woman had dragged old fear straight out of the grave. Lane knew she was foolish for trusting the fear, foolish for believing a man like Lennox wouldn’t eventually choose the easiest version of himself.

But he hadn’t. He hadn’t broken it off when it got complicated and messy. He tried to explain.

And Lane, who had spent years demanding honesty from people, had blocked him before he could give it. She wasn’t apologizing yet. Lennox pulled her gently toward him, leaning down until his mouth hovered near her ear.

“You scattered my doors across Stonebridge,” he murmured.

“You hurt my feelings.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “For how it looked. For not telling you before I met with her. For giving your fear room to tell you a story I should’ve killed before it had legs.”

Lane looked up at him. That apology was sincere and touched her in a way she hadn’t expected it to.