fourtytwo
Aaliyah's POV
I wake up smiling.
Not a normal smile.
A stupid, lovesick, post-date, "I kissed this man under streetlights" smile.
I roll onto my stomach, check my phone, expecting maybe a message from Leo.
I do have a message from him ("Morning, pretty."), but that's not what catches my eye.
Oh no.
It's the Instagram DMs.
Specifically-
a message request.
From some girl named Jenna.
Her profile:
highlight reels of selfies, club pics, and should-I-be-worried captions.
I click her message.
And nearly laugh out loud.
Jenna:
wow. didn't know leo was posting girls now.
hope u know u weren't the only one he's had lol
...
Oh.
Oh this bitch wants to PLAY.
My smile drops.
My eyebrow lifts.
I sit up slowly-like a villain rising in an anime intro.
Zaria, who stayed over last night, peeks into my room.
"You good?"
"Oh," I say with a terrifyingly calm voice, "I'm great."
She pads over.
I show her the message.
Zaria gasps loudly, hand over her chest.
"Oh ABSOLUTELY the hell not. This ... LIZARD. This REPTILE. This-"
I'm already typing.
Zaria: "YESS BEST FRIEND GET HER-"
But I stop.
Delete.
No.
We're being strategic.
We're being devastating.
"Hold up," I whisper. "I need a prop."
I go into my camera roll and find exactly what I need:
The picture Leo took of me last night.
But not the posted one.
The other one.
The one he took after kissing me goodnight.
The one where I'm smiling shyly, his hand on my waist, and HIS gold chain is in my fist because he pulled me in too close.
And his lips?
On my cheek.
Yeah.
Yeah, this is the one.
Zaria screams into a pillow.
"You're insane. You're crazy. I love it. Send it."
Then I caption it:
Aaliyah:
stay pressed boo. :)
Attached: the pic.
I hit send.
And I feel God smiling down on me.
Zaria falls on the floor kicking her legs.
?
My phone buzzes.
"Morning, pretty," Leo texts.
I smirk.
Then send him a screenshot of the entire exchange.
Not because I'm mad.
Because he needs to know how I handled it.
And because I know his RESPONSE is going to be juicy.
It takes him 12 seconds to reply.
Leo:
she texted YOU???
Leo:
i'm blocking her. right now.
Leo:
don't even worry about it baby
Leo:
and that picture you sent her??
Leo:
god i love you
My cheeks heat instantly.
He sends another message.
Leo:
you want me to come over?
I type back:
Aaliyah:
nah she handled
but you can come kiss me if you want :)
He replies in ONE second.
Leo:
give me ten minutes
Zaria SCREAMS.
"I LOVE YOU TWO SO MUCH IT'S DISGUSTING-"
?
Ten Minutes Later...
There's a knock.
I open the door.
Leo stands there in sweats, hoodie, hair messy, eyes warm-
and the moment he sees me, he does not hesitate.
He cups my face and kisses me like he owns the building.
Slow.
Deep.
Possessive in the softest way.
When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead on mine.
He smirks-
a smile that looks sinful and proud and wrecked all at once.
"You're really mine, huh?"
I tug lightly on his hoodie strings.
"You posted me, didn't you?"
His eyes flash.
"Yeah," he whispers.
"And I'd do it again."
My heart flips into the stratosphere.
?
Leo's POV
He pulls back just enough to look at me-really look.
"You defending me like that..."
He shakes his head, jaw clenched in that sexy way.
"You have no idea what that does to me."
I grin.
"Oh, I know."
He groans softly, leaning in again.
"I'm taking you out again tonight," he says against my mouth.
"Somewhere even nicer."
"You don't have to-"
"I want to show you off."
My toes curl.
"And after that," he mutters, voice deepening, "we're going home. And you're wearing one of my shirts again."
I melt.
Actually melt.
He kisses me again-slow and sweet and claiming without being forceful.
And then he whispers:
"No one messages my girl ever again."
I smile.
"And no one messes with my man again."
He smiles too.
A dangerous, beautiful smile.
"Good."