CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
JACKIE
He was dressed in his brand-new pajamas.
They fit, but just barely. He definitely could’ve gone up a size.
Her baby was giving tight time, real bad.
But at least he was clean and not itching anymore, so a win was a win.
“Ma,” he whispered as they stepped into the hallway.
“Coach Cash house better than ours… and Uncle Monty’s.
” He paused. “His TV bigger too.” Jackie shot him a look and shushed him immediately.
“Boy, hush.” They turned the corner into the kitchen, and Jackie stopped short.
She had been expecting Chinese food containers and paper plates. Something quick. Something simple.
But Cash had the whole counter set up like they were in some kind of upscale noodle house.
Everything was plated family-style across the island.
Bowls stacked neatly. Chopsticks positioned just so.
Even the fortune cookies were arranged with precision.
Jackie paused, watching the steam rise off the food.
It was a lot. And she could see his effort, even if she didn’t want to.
Which of course, made things all the more complicated.
She let out a quiet breath, then looked down at Max.
“When we step into this kitchen, you’re going to sit down, eat your food, and chew with your mouth closed.
You understand me?” Max nodded fast, already trying to look past her.
“And don’t be asking a thousand questions either.
” “I’m not,” he said automatically, bouncing on his toes.
“I’m serious, Maximus.” She caught the back of his pajama shirt, then took his hand and guided him into the kitchen, stopping when he spotted the stools.
They were a little too high for him to climb on his own, and before she could step in, Cash was already there.
“C’mon,” he said, lifting Max up with ease and settling him onto the stool like it was second nature.
Max leaned forward immediately, eyes wide.
“Coach… what’s all this?”
Cash didn’t answer right away. He just started building Max’s bowl.
“Tell me what you want,” he said, nodding toward the spread.
Max pointed at everything at once. “That… and that… and that.” Cash moved around the island with him, calm and careful.
Noodles, broth, toppings, adjusting as Max changed his mind mid-sentence.
“Coach, can you show me how to use chopsticks?”
“I got you.” Max reached for a chicken wing.
“Max,” Cash said, grabbing a small plate before it made it into the bowl.
“You can’t put that in there.” Jackie turned her head slightly, already embarrassed.
When she glanced his way, she mouthed, thank you.
He didn’t acknowledge it, just kept moving like it was nothing.
For the next forty-five minutes, Cash sat there teaching Max how to hold the chopsticks, adjusting his fingers, and repositioning his grip every time it slipped.
Max talked the entire time. “Coach, how you know how to do this?”
“Coach, you eat this every day?”
“Coach, what’s this called?”
“Coach, you ever been to China?” Jackie tried to intervene once or twice, but Cash waved her off.
“I got him.” And he did. His patience caught her off guard.
So did how Max naturally responded to it.
Jackie stayed on the other side of the island, eating slower than usual, keeping her focus on her food instead of the way it felt watching them.
Her phone sat beside her. Still nothing from Kormia.
The later it got, the more that started to bother her.
“Coach,” Max said between bites, finally getting the hang of it, “You got games on your TV?” “Yeah.” Max lit up. “Can I play?” Cash glanced at Jackie.
She didn’t even look up. “If he finishes his food.”
“I’m finished.” Cash huffed a quiet laugh. “Aight. Come on.”
He slid off the stool and helped Max down, guiding him toward the living room.
Jackie stayed where she was for a moment, then stood and started cleaning.
Stacking dishes, rinsing bowls, running water over utensils, trying not to think too much.
By the time she finished, the kitchen was back in order.
When she turned around, Cash was back and changed.
She could tell he’d showered. The scent hit her before anything else, clean, fresh, a little airy, something subtle but masculine.
He had on gray sweats, a white V-neck, and white Nike socks.
He looked comfortable. Relaxed. Like tonight was just another night for him.
And maybe it was. She could be overthinking it as usual.
Still, Jackie wasn’t crazy. She felt an energy in the air.
An energy she recognized. “Kormia hit you back yet?”
Jackie shook her head. “No. Not yet.” Cash pulled out a sleek gold bottle, then grabbed two small wooden boxes from the cabinet and set them on the island. Jackie watched, confused. “You drink sake?” She leaned her hip against the counter. “I haven’t in a long time.”
“You gone drink some with me tonight?” he asked, his attention settling on her. She hesitated, then— “Yeah.” Her eyes dropped to the wooden boxes. “Those coasters?”
Cash half-smiled, that slight dimple showing.
“Nah. They’re called masu. Traditional Japanese measuring cups.
“He poured slowly and careful, making sure the liquid rose just enough to kiss the rim before settling. “You drink from the glass,” he said. “The masu catch the overflow.” Jackie picked it up, turning it slightly. It looked light. It fucking wasn’t. She took a sip, then blinked.
“Damn. That’s strong.” Cash huffed. “That shit sneak up on you, don’t it?”
“No, it don’t sneak,” she said, setting the glass down. “It kick the damn door in.”
That earned a real smile from him. They poured again, and again.
The conversation stayed light at first, small comments, easy observations.
But somewhere between the second and third pour, the edges softened.
Jackie felt it in her shoulders first, then her chest, like something she’d been holding all day finally loosened.
Time passed without either of them really noticing.
Max’s voice had faded into silence in the other room, replaced by the low hum of whatever game Cash had left running.
They drifted into the living room, glasses in hand, settling onto the sectional.
Fat Daddy was out cold at the far end, sprawled across the cushions, one sock missing, controller still clutched in his hand.
Jackie smiled at the sight before easing herself down.
Cash sat beside her, not touching, but close enough to feel.
They both let out a small laugh at the same time, like the moment caught them off guard.
Then it quieted enough for the room to breathe.
Jackie leaned her head back slightly. “Cassius… I am drunk.” He glanced at her.
“I think I am too,” he said, letting out a quiet laugh.
“I’ll be honest… I never drank that before.
” She turned toward him. “What?” He nodded toward the bottle.
“It’s been in my fridge for like three years.
Got it on my last trip to Japan.” Her brows lifted.
“So that wasn’t even regular sake… that was Koshu?
” Cash looked at her, surprised. “What you know about that?” Jackie shrugged, a small smile pulling at her mouth.
“I know stuff. Just ’cause I ain’t been to Japan like you don’t mean I don’t know the vibes.
” Their attention lingered for a beat longer than it should have before Cash shifted slightly.
“You forgive me for that club shit?”
Jackie blinked, caught off guard, but she didn’t dodge it this time. She exhaled slowly, her attention still on him. “I don’t want to,” she admitted. “But it’s getting harder to stay mad at you, especially after the way you showed up for us tonight.”
He didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted for a moment before returning to hers.
“I was in my feelings,” he said after a moment, his voice roughened by a vulnerability she'd never heard from him before.
“I regret everything about that night.” He leaned back slightly, every bit as composed as she'd come to expect.
“You gotta know I would never let anybody play with your name. Fiancée or not.” Jackie stared at him, allowing his words to finally reach the part her heart his silence had bruised.
“I got a lot of respect for you, Jackie.” Neither of them spoke for a while.
The quiet felt different this time, lighter somehow.
Jackies lips curved a little bit. “That's it?” she asked, tilting her head.
“That's all you got for me?” Cash’s expression shifted, subtle but noticeable.
“What else you want?” he asked. Jackie traced the rim of her glass with her finger, glancing at him sideways, feeling a little braver than usual.
She didn’t know if she could blame it all on the alcohol.
All she knew was she was feeling things.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just thought you might’ve had a little more to say.
” Cash leaned in slightly, closing some of the space between them.
“I said what I meant,” he replied, voice steady. “But if you need more… I can talk.” Jackie swallowed, subtle but there. “You are always this smooth?” she asked, trying to play it off. Cash huffed a quiet laugh. “Only when I’m being watched.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she smiled.
“I’m not watching you.”
“Yeah,” he said simply. “You are.” That pulled a real laugh out of her, soft and unfiltered.
Jackie leaned back, turning toward him now instead of away.
“You different tonight,” she said, studying him.
Cash didn’t flinch. “How?” She shrugged lightly.
“I don’t know… less guarded.” He nodded once.
“Yeah.” A brief pause. “Well, you ain’t the only one that contain multitudes, Jackie Brown.
” That stuck. Jackie held his attention a second longer than she meant to before looking away.
“Good,” she said quietly. The silence that lingered now, felt different.
Neither one of them rushed to break it. Jackie shifted, tucking one leg beneath her without thinking.
The sake had settled into her now, softening the edges of everything.
Cash’s gaze dropped to her feet. “They hurt?” he asked.
“I mean, I been on them all day,” she admitted. He nodded like he already knew. Then, without asking again, he reached forward and closed his hand around her ankle, guiding her legs across his lap like it was nothing. Jackie’s breath caught. “Cash… what are you doing?”
“I told you,” he said calmly, adjusting her foot in his hand.
“I got you.” His thumb pressed into the arch of her foot, firm enough to pull a quiet exhale from her before she could stop it.
Her fingers curled into the couch. “Relax,” he murmured.
And that was the problem. She was too damn relaxed.
His hands were warm and steady. The tension gave way with each stroke of his hand.
Jackie leaned back slowly, her head tipping into the cushion as another breath slipped out.
She tried to keep it together. But the sake, coupled with the long ass day she had.
, and now the way he was touching her… It was blurring her, “What would your fiancée think?” she asked, her voice softer now, but still holding onto something sharp.
Cash didn’t pause. “She do her… I do me.”
Jackie let out a quiet, breathy laugh. “Yeah?” He glanced up at her then, steady.
“That’s what it was supposed to be, she been on some other shit lately.
” He confessed. His attention dropped back to her foot, pressing deeper into the tension.
Jackie’s body reacted again, subtle, but real.
She shifted, suddenly too aware. Her attention flicked toward Max on the other end of the sofa.
He was knocked out, sleeping peacefully.
Then back to herself. Jackie pulled her legs back, sitting up straighter, smoothing her hands over her thighs like she needed to reset.
“I should probably call the locksmith,” she said, her voice more controlled now.
“Kormia not answering, and it’s getting late.” Cash leaned back, his arm stretching along the back of the couch behind her. “You could,” he said simply. “Or you could stay.”
Jackie glanced at him. “Max already knocked out,” he added. “I got two extra rooms.” She shook her head slightly, even though the suggestion didn’t land as crazy as it should have.
“Cash… I need to go home.”
“Why?”
“I’m dirty,” she said honestly.
“I need to get in my own tub, wash this day off me, and change into something comfortable
“I can get you something to sleep in, Jackie. That’s nothing.” That made her pause.
Then she looked at him. “You’re engaged,” she said, quieter now.
Cash leaned forward, closing the space again. His fingers brushed beneath her chin, lifting her face toward his. “She don’t live here,” he said, voice low. “She ain’t even allowed here.” Her breath hitched. His thumb brushed once, slow, before his hand dropped. “Now what else?” he asked.
Jackie didn’t answer right away. The rain came down harder against the windows, steady, like it wasn’t letting up anytime soon.
She stared at the glass for a second. This wasn’t a good idea.
She knew that much. But right now… this felt like the easier option.
And for once, Jackie wanted easy. She exhaled.
“Okay.” Cash didn’t say anything. He just watched her. “
Bet. Lemme go lay Max down and get you something to sleep in,” he said, pushing up from the couch.
Jackie’s eyes followed him without thinking as he stood.
And that was her first mistake. Her gaze locked straight on his dick print like a magnet.
The gray sweats did nothing to hide how thick and heavy it looked hanging down one thigh.
The shit looked big, even on soft. Her breath caught before her brain caught up.
She blinked fast and yanked her eyes away, cheeks burning.
Cash paused mid-step, like he felt the shift in the air.
When he glanced back, his expression sharpened. Quieter and more aware.
“Your Room’s down the hall,” he said, voice even.
But his eyes moved over her once, slow, controlled, like he was taking his time now. Jackie swallowed, her fingers curling slightly into the couch cushion. “Okay,” she said, softer than she meant to. The space between them felt smaller now. Heavier somehow.
Jackie knew she was playing with fire. But for once she didn’t care.