CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE #3
Still, it was there, and Jackie felt it…
deeper than she ever wanted it to reach.
For a beat, he held her gaze, and she held it back, determined not to fold.
Her pride was rearing its ugly head, the way it always did when she felt cornered.
And rather than fall on her sword, Jackie stood on it.
Even if it was bullshit. Najee never looked away.
He removed his glasses…slowly. Then he reached off camera for a wipe and began cleaning the lenses with quiet precision, eyes lowered and focused.
He didn’t speak. But somehow, she could hear his silence loud and clear. It wasn’t hesitation…it was control.
“Now, you can give me your location like I asked,” he said evenly.
“Or I can get your location. It’s actually very simple. My family owns that field therefore It wouldn’t take much. However, I would much rather you give it to me,” he added, eyes lifting to the camera in that steady way that always did something to her.
Jackie couldn’t lie, she felt handled. A part of her wanted to clap back at his ass and ask him just who the fuck he thought he was talking to.
Because that was her default. That was the version of herself she knew how to protect.
But then there was this other part, a much softer, quieter part, she hadn’t even realized existed until just now.
That part liked how he spoke to her, and lowkey wanted to listen and allow him to step in.
Now, that realization? May have shaken her far more than his tone ever could.
Jackie didn’t know if this was act right? Or worse submission. Either way she knew better than to argue with this nigga. So before she could overthink it, she sent the damn pin.
Jackie watched the exact moment it delivered. Najee didn’t thank her. Didn’t gloat. Didn’t make a big deal out of it. He just looked back at her like he expected nothing less.
“Now, was that hard?” he asked, adjusting his glasses again, a faint smirk touching his mouth.
It wasn’t mean, cocky, or condescending.
However, that tone, or rather the quiet authority that existed within it, was doing something to her.
Something she refused to unpack in a parking lot at nine in the morning.
Najee reached for another phone off-camera and started typing, his focus shifting smoothly like he was already moving on to the next step.
“May I speak with Max?” he asked after a beat, tone lighter now.
“I’d like to offer him some words of encouragement for his big day. ”
Jackie called him over and handed him the phone, and instantly his whole body lit up.
“As-salamu alaykum!” Fat Daddy grinned. “Wa alaikum salaam,” Najee replied, and Jackie caught the small smile that softened his face when he said it.
“Dr. Najee, what you doing up this early? And where Dr. Ish? You know it’s Saturday.
School closed!” Fat Daddy came at him with questions back-to-back, no breath in between, mouth running a mile a minute.
That pulled a real laugh from Najee, the kind that didn’t feel measured or controlled.
Jackie watched them for a second as Max walked off with her phone, giving Najee a full tour of the field like it belonged to him.
“Don’t go past that tree!” she called after him, then leaned back against the hood, trying hard not to overthink why this man wanted her location, and why she felt so compelled to give it to him.
Thirty minutes later, one of those Minister Farrakhan-looking brothers that Najee and Cash always seemed to have on speed dial pulled up like it was a delivery for a diplomat.
He popped the trunk and started loading her back seat with bags like it was Thanksgiving.
Jackie blinked, stunned. Najee sent enough food to feed the team.
Turkey bacon, beef bacon, vegan sausage, turkey sausage, eggs, grits, home fries, hash browns, waffles, pancakes.
Protein bars. Orange juice. Water. A mini case of Gatorade.
Fresh fruit. A throw blanket. Sock warmers.
Hand warmers. He even sent a cooler packed with lunch too.
Jackie was at a loss for words. She just watched the brother shut her back door gentle, nodded once, and drove off like this was regular.
She turned the phone back to her face, eyes wide.
“Najee… you didn’t have to do all this for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” he replied. Jackie blinked.
“Then who did you do it for?” she asked, sarcasm coming out because it was safer than letting him see how much it meant to her. “Max?”
“Didn’t do it for Max either.”
“So if you didn’t do it for me, and you didn’t do it for Max, Jackie paused. Who could you have possibly done it for?” Jackie asked, trying her best to hide the blush that crept across her face.
“For me,” he said, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
Jackie opened her mouth, just as Najee propped the phone up.
Then he pulled his shirt off. Sweat still glistened against caramel skin and inked muscle, Jackie had to look away, fast, because if she didn’t…
She would’ve told him to angle that camera a little lower.
“Anyway,” she said, staring up at the sky like it had answers.
“You were saying?” Najee’s mouth curved.
“I did it so I could have a good day,” he said evenly “And I wouldn’t have had a good day, if I didn’t know y’all was having one too.
His eyes held hers through the screen. And y’all couldn’t have had one, if y’all weren’t equipped.
Now I know y’all have everything,” he continued.
“I can now enjoy my day. Selfishly.” Jackie tried not to be affected by his words, but it was too late.
“Thank you,” she said, a small smile slipping through anyway.
He nodded. “Anytime.” They held each other’s gaze a second longer before Max’s voice cut through the moment.
“Oooh, Ma! We got pancakes and waffles!” Jackie turned just as he popped open the platters, excitement written all over his face.
“I know you better grab that hand sanitizer,” she called out, snapping right back into mom mode.
Najee’s laugh pulled her attention back to the screen.
“I’m sorry,” she said, laughing softly. “He was over there about to violate.”
“Nah, I get it,” he replied. Their eyes met again, something quieter bloomed between them this time. “Call me when you get home.” Jackie tilted her head, a small smile playing at her lips.
“You asking or telling me?” she said, her tone lighter than before. Najee’s mouth curved just slightly. “What I just say?” Her eyes held his. “Call… when I get home,” she said softly. His gaze didn’t move. “Atta girl.” Jackie rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching.
“Bye, Najee,” she said, ending the call.