Home Early

Jamila pushed through the glass doors, closing them behind her, shutting out the blaring music.

She let out a breath of relief, grateful to be away from all the prying eyes of Drew's friends. And most importantly, Drew.

This wasn't the first time he tried making out with her in front of his friends. She just wasn't comfortable in their presence. She didn't like them. Simple.

As she made her way up the stairs to the quiet hallways, her phone began buzzing in her hand.

She looked down at the caller ID. 

An unknown number.

Her spine instantly turned rigid against her will, her palm tightening around her phone.

Her head was still down when she bumped into something solid.

“Careful!” 

Large hands immediately caught hold of her.

She lifted her gaze to see Malakai.

He wore a dark, baggy hoodie and sweatpants, making him look different and younger.

This was her first time seeing him in something so casual. And he looked really… nice.

“Are you okay?” Malakai's brows knit together as his eyes swept over her face.

She cleared her throat. She had forgotten about her worries for a minute.

“I'm fine.” She uttered, taking a step back out of his hold.

She immediately regretted doing that because his hands had been so warm.

“Sorry. I, uh, saw what happened down there.”

“It's nothing. Just Drew being Drew.” She rubbed at her arms.

“You don't have to pretend everything is fine. This is not fine. I know it's not my place to judge—”

“I'm not pretending.”

Malakai rubbed a hand across his face, jaw set.

“What are you thinking?” She suddenly asked, softly, catching him off guard.

“You're cold.” He simply said, shrugging out of his hoodie, leaving him only in his fitted white shirt.

“I can't take that.”

“You damn sure will. Else I'll put it on you myself.” He challenged, holding her gaze.

He held out the hoodie to her, and she hesitated before wearing it over the simple top she had worn earlier over her bikini.

If the hoodie was baggy on him, then it was extra baggy on her. 

She let out a small laugh as the hem fell around her mid-thigh, her hands lost inside the sleeves.

“Thank you.” She smiled at him, feeling instant comfort and warmth.

It smelt like him—cedar and something warm she couldn't name, just like that night in his car.

“It looks better on you, by the way.” He nodded, discreetly admiring his hoodie on her.

She giggled, brushing her hair out of her face. “I'm keeping it then.”

“All yours.” 

Their eyes met, and Jamila glanced away, distracting herself by checking the time on her phone to see it was almost 12 a.m.

“Why are you still up?” Jamila asked.

“I just couldn't sleep. I've got a bunch of kids in my house, so…” He trailed off.

“I'm not a kid.” She glared.

“My bad.” The corners of his lips quirked up.

“Do you want to maybe come to the kitchen with me and, uh, find something to eat?”

She should decline. She should go back to her room to sleep because she had a busy day tomorrow.

Instead, she followed him.

~~~~~

[NEXT DAY]

“I'm sorry, Jamila. But I have to lay you off.”

Those were the words Jamila heard when she got to work that evening.

“What are you talking about, Joe?” Jamila chuckled nervously.

“What you heard.” Her boss’s lips set in a hard line, “I need someone who can give this place their full attention, and we both know it can't be you. You're in college, you work part-time here, and I can't keep up with that anymore.”

“You can't do this to me. I’ve been working here for almost a year, and I didn't even get a notice. You never told me about your concerns. I would have—”

“You would've what? Quit school? Well, it's already done.” The man tilted his head towards his new employee—who was behind the counter, attending to customers.

“Joe, please.” Jamila quickly grabbed hold of his shirt.

“Girl, get off me!” Joe frowned. “Don't you have parents? You're too young to be suffering like this, don't you think?”

Just hearing the word ‘parents’ made Jamila back away.

There was nothing she could do anymore. She'd lost her job.

~~~~~

[MALAKAI'S MANSION]

“Jamila? Are you okay?” Nathaniel called out as Jamila entered the house.

“Yeah. Is Drew home?” Jamila asked, distracted.

“I'm not sure. I just got back from grocery shopping.”

Jamila was about to reply when their gazes drifted to the stairs.

A girl was descending the stairs, adjusting her mini skirt with one hand, and holding her heels in the other.

“Who the hell are you?” Nathaniel immediately questioned.

“Who are you? This is Drew's house.” The girl rolled her eyes, eyeing Jamila as she walked past them.

Jamila quickly ran up the stairs.

“Oh, shit!” Nathaniel rushed after her.

They both got to the room at the same time to see Drew lying in bed with another girl—both still naked.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Nathaniel snapped, and Drew's eyes flew open.

“Drew?” Jamila's voice cracked, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

“Jamila? How c

ome you're back so early?” Drew sat up abruptly.

The words barely left Drew's mouth before Nathaniel's fist landed on his face, heavily.