Page 47 of The Plus One

“Everything isn’t about you Markel.”

“Out of every nigga you could’ve brought, you chose him?”

“I didn’t choose Ace because of you.”

It might not have been completely true in the beginning, but it was now. “You expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t give a fuck what you believe.”

Tiana walked over with her helmet tucked underneath her arm. “Markel, why are you over here begging this bitch to talk to you?”

I turned toward her. “Who are you calling a bitch?”

She rolled her eyes. “If it applies.”

I stepped forward, but Markel moved between us. “Tiana, chill.”

“No. Every time I turn around, you’re staring at her. Now you’re trying to pull her away like y’all have something to discuss.”

“We do,” Markel said.

Tiana’s face changed. “Excuse me?”

I smiled because this had officially become none of my business. “Y’all have fun with that.”

I turned to leave. “Yeah,” Tiana called after me. “Go run back to your fake-ass boyfriend.”

Before I could turn around and give Tiana exactly what she had been asking for I felt Ace’s hand slide into mine. Like my body knew it was him I relaxed into his touch. “Come on, Kema.”

His face was calm, but the muscle jumping in his jaw told me he had heard everything. “You’re not going to say anything?” I asked.

Ace glanced back at them. “Nah. Neither one of them got shit to do with us.”

Us. One small word shouldn’t have affected me the way it did. Ace tightened his fingers around mine and led me away. For once, I didn’t care whether Markel was watching. The only thing I cared about was the man holding my hand.

Ten

Ace

We had the rehearsal dinner tonight. After the excursion, everybody separated and headed back to their rooms to shower, get dressed, and pretend we weren’t exhausted from spending half the day riding four-wheelers through mud and jumping off cliffs.

I had fun today... But if I was being honest my favorite part was the kiss I shared with Kema. I knew I wanted her. Hell at this point she knew I wanted her but kissing her with everybody watching did something to me. Then she jumped off that cliff with me even though she was scared.

Watching her face her fears with me meant the world to me. I liked that she trusted me enough to know that I had her back and that I wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Kema, can I ask you something?

"Wassup?"

“What you meant earlier when you said you didn’t have anybody to bury you?”

Kema looked over at me. “Exactly what I said. I grew up in foster care. I bounced around until I aged out.”

I stared at her realizing we were more alike then I ever knew. I thought when she said she didn’t have family, she meant they weren’t close. Not that she literally didn’t have anybody. Maybe that was why my soul felt like it knew her when I met her.

She shook her head. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”