isha

your heels clicked against the sidewalk as you left the restaurant, your hand tucked comfortably inside his.

“you know,” you laughed, looking up at him, “i’m still mad you made me try that nasty ass drink.” jermajesty looked offended.

“first of all, it was delectable wine.”

“it tasted like cough syrup.”

“expensive cough syrup.”

you rolled your eyes.

“see? that’s exactly why i can’t take you anywhere.”

he grinned.

“you love me.”

“unfortunately i do.” you said with a smile on your face.

“wow.”

he clutched his chest dramatically.

before you could tease him again, flashes suddenly exploded in front of your face. you immediately blinked.

paparazzi had came out no where.

“jermajesty!”

“look this way!”

“can we get a photo?”

“how long have you guys been together?”

you sighed quietly. jermajesty’s grip protectively tightened around your hand. he was used to this. probably more than anybody should be.

“just ignore it,” he murmured. you nodded. the two of you continued walking toward the waiting suv. most of the photographers were just doing their jobs.

annoying, sure but harmless. then somebody opened their mouth and ruined everything.

“jermajesty!”

the voice came from somewhere behind the crowd.

“your family cool with that?”

you immediately frowned.

the comment was strange enough to make both of you glance over. the photographer smirked. then he said it something ugly and racist, something that made your stomach drop.

for a second, you genuinely froze.

it wasn’t the first racist comment you’d ever heard. but hearing it shouted at you in public? with dozens of cameras around??you immediately looked away.

pretending it didn’t bother you, pretending you couldn’t feel everyone’s eyes suddenly shifting toward you, pretending your chest hadn’t tightened.

suddenly jermajesty stopped walking, completely. you knew by just that look on his face he was going to say something crazy.

“jer…”

he slowly turned around. the crowd instantly got quieter. because even the photographers knew. they had fucked up. the smile had been wiped from jermajesty’s face. completely.

“the fuck did you say?” his voice was calm.

the photographer laughed awkwardly.

“it was just a joke—”

“nah.”

jermajesty took a step forward.

“say it again. i dare you.” the man didn’t.

of course he didn’t. because people like that were always loud the first time and silent the second. the cameras kept flashing, but nobody said a word.

jermajesty shook his head.

“that’s what i thought.”

you reached for his arm. not because you disagreed, mostly because you knew his mouth. and once he got started… lord help everybody.

“maj, it’s okay.”

he looked at you, and his eyes immediately softened. just for a second. then his attention snapped right back to the photographer.

“no.” his voice was firm.

“it’s not okay.”

the photographer shifted uncomfortably.

“i didn’t mean anything by it.”

jermajesty laughed, a short laugh. the kind that meant he was actually irritated.

“that’s funny.”

he crossed his arms.

“because you said it.”

nobody moved nor pretended to be taking pictures anymore. they were listening.

“you don’t know her.”

his voice carried across the sidewalk.

“you don’t know what she’s been through.”

another step forward.

“you don’t know how hard she works.”

another.

“and you definitely don’t know enough about her to stand there and disrespect her.”

the photographer opened his mouth.

“i’m just asking questions—”

“no.”

jermajesty cut him off immediately.

“you’re being blatantly disrespectful, and you’re hiding behind a camera while doing it.”

you could literally feel social media preparing itself. somebody was definitely recording. probably multiple people at this point. jermajesty pointed toward you.

“that’s my girl.”

your heart skipped and his jaw tightened.

“and if you’ve got a problem with her because of how she looks, where she’s from, or anything else, that’s your issue.”

the photographer stared at the ground.

“because trust me,” jermajesty continued, “i sleep perfectly fine at night.” a few people in the crowd laughed. the photographer looked embarrassed. as he should. jermajesty wasn’t finished.not even close.

“matter of fact, she’s smarter than you.”

you blinked.

“jermajesty—”

“she’s prettier than you.”

the crowd laughed harder.

“jermajesty.”

“and you know what? she makes better decisions than you too because it sure as hell wasn’t a good one saying that shit to my face.”

now even you were trying not to laugh.

the photographer looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

jermajesty finally rolled his eyes.

“exactly”

he turned around, immediately reaching for your hand again.like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t just publicly embarrassed a grown man. the second you got inside the suv, the door shut behind you.

silence filled the air.

for about three seconds.

“she’s prettier than you?” you laughed.

jermajesty looked over.

“was i wrong?”

you covered your face.

“you are ridiculous.”

“i’m serious.”

“jermajesty.”

“what?”

he leaned back against the seat, completely unbothered.

“he started it.”

you couldn’t stop smiling. he looked at you for a moment, really looked at you. the smile faded from his face.

“you okay?”

your chest tightened because he wasn’t joking anymore. he was worried.

you nodded.

“a little shaken up.”

he immediately reached over.

pulling you closer against his side.

“don’t listen to people like that.”

you rested your head against his shoulder.

“i try not to.”

“good.”

he kissed the top of your head.

“because they’re stupid.”

you laughed.

“that’s your advice?”

“yep.”

another kiss.

“they’re stupid.”

another.

“and you’re beautiful.”

another.

“and you’re stuck with me.”

you groaned.

“that’s the worst part.”

jermajesty gasped dramatically.

“see? now you’re being disrespectful.”