Page 9 of Nothing Without You

“Girl, stay with that man. You’re in real good hands,” Icelynn said as she patted Keegan on the shoulder before she walked past us both.

“Icelynn,” I hissed, but she ignored me as she walked to her car, giggling the entire way.

After what she just witnessed, how the hell could she leave me here with Keegan? I mean, I knew I was in good hands with him, but this was her first impression of him. How the hell could she know that?

“I like her. She good people,” Keegan said.

I stared at him incredulously. “That’s because y’all are both insane. Keegan, really? That was so unnecessary.”

“Ain’t nothin’ unnecessary when it comes to you.”

His words hung in the air between us as we gazed at each other. Finally, I cleared my throat and said, “I can’t stay with you, Kee. It’s too much . . . I’m . . . I’m your employee,” I said lamely.

He grabbed his chest as if he was hurt. “I thought we were friends.”

I smiled shyly. “I mean, we are, but⁠—”

“Then stop arguing wit’ me and go pack your shit. I’m hungry, and I know the boys gotta be.”

“Where are they, anyway?” I asked.

He nodded his head toward his car. “In the car.”

“Did they see all that?” I asked, panic now taking over. I never allowed Liam to see me sweat. I definitely didn’t allow him around violence. What he saw when he was around his ain’t-shit daddy was beyond me, but that was only once a month. Most of the time, he stayed as innocent as possible.

“Woman, I got this. Go pack a damn bag,” Keegan demanded, but his voice was still soft.

I shook my head slowly. “You won’t take no for an answer, will you?”

“No.”

I sighed, and suddenly, the events of the day had me completely exhausted. “Fine. I’ll be back out in a few minutes.” I started toward the house.

“And don’t worry about your car.”

I stopped in my tracks. “What? I need my car.”

“What I say?”

I clamped my mouth shut and walked into the house. Keegan followed me up to my doorstep but stayed outside so he could watch the car. I heard him talking on the phone but was unsure who he spoke to as I moved further into my damaged home. None of my furniture in the rooms with water would be salvageable. This time, when tears clouded my vision, I allowed them to fall. Today had been one hell of a day.

I quickly packed a bag for both me and Liam. I would have to buy a few things tomorrow to get us by, but I would worry about that later. I couldn’t stress about what I would do next or where I would move right now. It was too much, and all I wanted was some food and somewhere to lay my head.

I wiped my tears and made my way back out to the front door where Keegan had just finished up his call.

“You good?” he asked. I nodded as I locked the door. He stopped me before we could walk off the front steps. “You gonna be aight. I just made a call to one of my lawyers. They gonna make sure you’re protected from all this, and we gonna try to get you some money too. Your landlord has you in living conditions that aren’t up to par wit’ the law. I got you.”

I simply nodded again. It was all too much to think about.

We walked to the car in silence, and when Keegan opened the back door, my brows pulled together.

“Why are the boys crouched down like that?” I asked.

Keegan grinned. “Because they know how to listen to Daddy.”

When he said that, something in my core stirred.

Keegan reached both arms in and tickled the boys. They shrieked with laughter as they squirmed around on the floor.