#messyyy

Smoke pulled up to Annie’s apartment complex before nine. He already dropped Tiana at school with lunch money, and a reminder to call him after class. The custody meeting was at ten, and he needed to fetch Annie at her place first. They had to ride together since it was another mandatory mediation.

He jogged up the stairs, checked his watch, then knocked on her door.

Footsteps shuffled from inside, lock clicked and the door opened on random nigga he ever seen before : shirtless, towel wrapped around his waist, locs hanging loose, holding a bowl of cereal.

“You fuckin’ kidding me?”

Jamal’s brow frowned but right before he could respond back, Annie called from inside the apartment. “Jamal, who’s at the—”

She appeared behind him, towel wrapped around her body, hair in a bonnet, and froze mid-sentence when her eyes met Smoke’s.

“Shit” that all she mumbled.

“Yeah. Shit,” Smoke pushed past Jamal, shoulder knocking into him hard enough to splash the cereal milk onto floor.

“Nigga is you coo—?”,Jamal barked, catching his balance. “The fuck you put hands on me for—?” He stepped forward, fists clenching.

Hell no, Annie thought. She tightened her towel hard around her chest and quickly moved between the two men. “Wait— okay cowboys, enough”

“Who the fuck is that nigga ?” Jamal gritted, knuckles pale around his cereal bowl.

“Her husband.” Smoke hissed — eyes lazy — lighting a cigarette.

“EX—” Annie snapped loud, “Ex-husband. And YOU—” she snatched the cigarette from his mouth, “don’t smoke in my damn place. We ain’t in a dragon dungeon.”

Jamal’s whole body stiffened. He strode to the counter, dropped the bowl on it and looked at Annie, then back at Smoke, then down at himself in nothing but a towel, and let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Aight. Bet.” He nodded, backing toward the hallway. “Should’ve stayed my ass at work.” He muttered “I ain’t in no Tyler Perry shit.”

He disappeared into the bedroom without another word.

The second Jamal was out of earshot, Annie spun on Smoke. “What the hell is wrong with you ?!”

“What’s wrong with ME ?” Smoke shouted back, furious. “You got niggas in your crib, where my daughter—”

“Your daughter WHAT ? HUH ? TALK YO SHIT !”

“You know damn—”

The bedroom door creaked open, cutting him off. Jamal walked out fully dressed : jeans, graphics tee, locs tied back. He grabbed his phone on the table and shot Smoke a glare as he passed.

“You need to check yourself bro. Can’t claim what ain’t yours no more.”

“Jamal—” Annie warned.

“aight’, ‘aight.” The bartender held up a hand, never breaking eye contact with Smoke. “I’m out.”

He reached the door, pulled it open, then tossed Annie a grin that made Smoke’s blood boil.

“Last night was fun, Annie.” He let her name roll off his tongue deliciously. “Real good. Hit me up if you tryna do it again.”

Jamal winked then stepped into the hallway, disappearing.

The door clicked shut and Annie massaged her temple. That was not necessary.

Smoke stood there, fists shaking, jaw so tight it hurt. His whole body went on fire, rage bubbling up from his gut. “You really fuck that clown ass nigga to get back at me.”

Seconds of silence before Annie burst out laughing. It was a bitter, annoyed laugh. Of course she did it to get her lick back, but hell if she would ever admit it.

Jamal was good with his hands and mouth, she could definitely used some backies on times.

“Get back at you ? Baby, I don’t think about you enough for that. Not everything about you. We done there ?”

Smoke grimaced before dragging a hand down his face. “You unbelievable, you know that ?”

“Me ? You the one barging into my apartment like you got the right—”

“I got every right !” His voice boomed through the small space. “We got a daughter, Annie ! And court in less than an hour, and you out here playing house with some random motherfucker just to spite on me ?”

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you !” She shifted the tower higher to prevent it from falling, “You made me sign divorce papers ‘cause you can’t get your shit right when you face responsibilities.”

“We spent most of our last years arguing what was I supposed to do huh ?”

“I ain’t gon’ have this convo with you nigga. I’m getting dressed. Move.”

She stepped past him, hitting his chest. The towel shifted loose with the movement, riding up just enough to flash the swell of her ass before she caught it with one hand.

Smoke’s eyes dropped to her bouncing cheeks — heat flushing his pants. He grinned dirty. “Guess that’s why homeboy so pressed to come back again.”

Annie stopped mid-step, hand still clutching the towel. She turned her head just enough to catch his hungry gaze, then deliberately let go of the fabric she was holding up.

“And IS !” She smacked her ass hard, making it clapped, sound banging loud in the apartment.

“Bet you wanna chew it again. Bottom eater.”

She raised her middle finger high back then entered into the bedroom, slamming the door.

Smoke stood there, clenching his teeth so hard they start hurting. He fell on her couch, sitting with crossing legs.

he squeezed his eyes, trying to calm down. However, that nigga’s arrogant voice kept replaying in his head : Last night was fun, Annie. Real good.

“Imma give you some funny shit nigga, wait and see.” He hissed bitter before checking his phone. They really needed to leave soon.

He heard drawers opening and closing, hangers scraping, her feet moving around. Taking her sweet time.

Ten minutes later the bedroom snapped open and Annie stepped out, stealing Smoke’s breath.

She wore a fitted cream blazer over a black bodysuit, high-waisted couture pants that hugged her voluptuous curves, hair slicked back in a low bun, small gold earrings catching the light. Her lips were glossed, face beat subtle with Fenty makeup.

Dawg, she looked expensive. Untouchable.

And she knew it.

For a moment, Smoke just stared. He couldn’t help it. That was still his fine—

Nah.

He sucked his teeth loud, rolling his eyes as he grabbed his car keys off the coffee table. “Bout time. Let’s go.”

Annie slung her purse over her shoulder, not even looking at him. “I’m ready. You the one standing there. Grab your jaw on the floor, I’m waiting outside.”

She left first, heels loud on the corridor. Smoke came behind her, jingling his keys.

Outside, the morning sun was already heating the pavement. Annie stood by the passenger door, adjusting her bracelet.

He unlocked the car. She got in, smoothed her blazer, clicked her seatbelt.

Smoke slid into the driver’s seat, turned the key. The engine roared, and he backed out of the parking area, merging onto the street toward downtown.

For the first few blocks, neither spoke. Annie watched storefronts blur past her window. Smoke checked his mirrors, switched lanes, his jaw working harder than ever. Then suddenly he broke the silence.

“So that’s how we doing things now ?”

She didn’t look at him, unbothered. “What ?”

“You know what I’m talking about, Annie. Don’t play.”

“I ain’t playing nothing.”

Smoke turned left at the light. “That whole thing back there was mid performance.”

“Okay.”

“Okay ?” He glanced at her. “That’s all you got ?”

Annie shrugged. “What you want me to say, Smoke ? Apologize ?”

“Nah, I want you to admit you did that shit on purpose.”

She still ignored his eyes on her “And if I did ?”

“Then you petty as fuck.” He switched lanes. “Having that nigga answer the door like that, naked shit—”

“He had a towel on.”

“Damn ! Sure it’s better—. Looking like he just came out jail, with them dirty ass locs—”

“Grow yours, you could do it too.” She sneered.

“Real funny. Less than your new standard in men though.” Smoke’s voice got sharper. “Like what you even know about dude ? Where he from ? What he do ? He could be anybody—”

“He is a bartender.”

“Oh, a bartender. Great. That’s real classy, Annie. High figure.”

“And the bitch you had in your house huh ? what she do ? Brain surgeon ? Politician maybe ?”

Here we go again. Smoke sucked his teeth, rolling his eyes. He wasn’t done with her. His hands gripped the wheel tighter, he merged onto the highway, accelerating past a truck.

“You know what kills me ?” He said, gruff and menacing. “You stood there and judged me for moving on. Walked into my house, saw me with somebody, and acted like I committed a crime. But you doing the same thing, worse even and I’m supposed to just accept it ? Bullshit.”

Annie’s head snapped toward him. “Worse ? WORSE ?”

“Yeah. At least I kept my business private. You out here flaunting—”

“You had a woman riding that sorry ass dick on your couch while my baby was in the house ! I DROPPED TIANA TO YOU. COULD HAVE WAIT UNT—”

“She was sleep—”

“I don’t care if she was sleeping, awake, or on the damn moon ! You had your hoe in the house while your daughter was there. What if she had woken up ? What if she had needed water, or had a nightmare and came downstairs looking for you ? Did you even think about it ?”

Smoke’s jaw clenched. “Don’t tell me how to raise my child.”

“Seems like I need to, thought”

“I’m a good father—”

“Then act like it !” Annie turned fully in her seat now, facing him. “Stop thinking with your dick and start thinking about what kind of example you want her to follow !”

“Example ?!” Smoke’s voice exploded through the car, laughing humorless “You the one bringing crackhead to your crib ! You talking to ME about examples ?!”

“TIANA WASN’T THERE !”

“But she COULD’VE been ! What’s the difference, Annie ?! Huh ?! What’s the DIFFERENCE ?!”

“The difference is I got sense ! I would never bring anyone in my apartment if she was with me. I made sure my daughter was safe with YOU before I did ANYTHING !”

Smoke’s laugh turned bitter, mocking. “Oh, so you did plan it. You just admitted it.”

Annie went still. Her mouth closed. Her hands, which had been gesturing wildly, dropped into her lap. She turned back to face the windshield, jaw locked, eyes hard.

Smoke kept going, couldn’t stop himself. “You so busy trying to control everything, Annie. Everything gotta be your way. Every decision, every schedule, every little thing. Damn— I can’t breathe without you telling me I’m doing it wrong. You don’t trust me. That’s why we ain’t work. That’s why I couldn’t be with you anymore. Because I was tir—.”

He stopped abruptly, realizing the weight of his words. Slowly he glanced sideways —, a knot in his throat, pressure aching his chest. Fuck, he shouldn’t have talked like that. From the corner of his eyes, he saw hers watered, her mouth clipped thin despite the fullness of her lips. Her face went emotionless, blank, stone still. She refused to blink, resisting the urge to cry.

Annie didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just stared straight ahead, breathing slow and measured through her nose.

The highway stretched out in front of them. Other cars passed. The city skyline grew closer.

“Annie—”

“Drive.”

Her voice was awfully calm, so flat, it made his stomach drop. They didn’t speak again until he parked in front of the courthouse. Smoke cut the engine and breathed loud. He must find a way to amend for the shit he said to her earlier.

Tired ? Him of her ? Of course he wasn’t, couldn’t be. But it always been like these between them… jabbing all the days back and forth. Watching for the one who could hit stronger.

Smoke sat there, hands still on the wheel, staring at the legal building. “Look… I ain’t mean—”

“You a pussy bitch. Should’ve just told the truth instead of playing poet, talking shit about we better as friends.”

Even her swinging was weak. She was hurt. Smoke knew that flat tone and unreadable eyes a way too much. Annie wasn’t a crybaby — never been —, he could count on one hand how many times he saw her shedding tears. Silence was her pain voice.

“Annie—“

“We got appointment. Let’s go inside.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “We need to sit in there and act like we got our shit together so they don’t take our daughter away from both of us. So let’s just do that.”

She opened the door and stepped out. He followed.

Inside, they signed in at the front desk. Took the elevator to the third floor. Walked down the hall side by side, pretending to be cool.

The mediation room was plain almost clinical : white walls, a long table, office chairs. Their mediator, stood when they entered, smiling professionally.

“Ms. Kennedy, Mr. Moore. Good morning. Please, have a seat.”

They sat across from each other. Annie crossed her legs, folding her hands on her lap. Smoke leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

The middle-aged woman in suit, reviewed the updated custody schedule, asked about Tiana’s school performance, her emotional state, any concerns.

Annie answered calmly, avoiding any details about their wild whereabouts. Smoke nodded at the right times. They agreed on pickup times, discussed holidays, split expenses down the middle without argument.

“What I’m seeing in front of me is very refreshing and amazing, Ms. Kennedy and Mr. Moore. Two mature parents, putting their child first !” She smiled, to which Annie answer, followed my Smoke.

“What about family retreats ? I don’t think I heard you mentioning them. For a child the age of Tiana, it helps for stability, and strengthen bonds. The more you become warm as a family, less she will bear the weight of having divorced parents.”

Vacation ? All of three ? Did this old lady nosed coke before the reunion ? Annie’s composure almost cracked before she forced a weird smile on her beautiful face.

She opened her mouth to answer honestly but Smoke was faster.

“We are planning one in mountain this winter.”

Excuse me ? Annie screamed internally.

Annie widened her eyes a second before she caught herself. She turned her head slow toward Smoke, who wasn’t even looking at her. Just sat there nodding at the mediator like he didn’t just pull that trick out his ass.

The mediator smiled happily . “Oh, that’s wonderful ! The mountains are perfect for family bonding. Will this be skiing or just a cabin retreat ?”

Smoke cleared his throat. “Uh, we still working out the details. Right, Annie ?”

Annie’s jaw clenched. She forced her features into something less than a grimace and turned back to the mediator. “Yeah. Still… figuring it out.”

“Well, I think that’s excellent initiative from both of you.” The woman scribbled something in her notes. “Tiana will really benefit from seeing her parents work together like this.”

Annie’s leg started bouncing under the table. She dug her nails into her palm to keep from saying what she was really thinking.

The woman shut her notebook. “I’m very glad to see we growing from last year. And just to confirm…there are no concerns about either household ? Tiana is comfortable in both homes ?”

Bet she is when her father didn’t fuck around like some animal in rut. That’s what Annie opened her mouth to say but Smoke beat her to it again.

“She good. She loves coming to my house, play in the backyard.”

Annie’s nails dug deeper into her palm. Yeah, flex that whorehouse of yours… she gritted behind her teeth.

The mediator looked at her. “Ms. Kennedy ? Any concerns on your end ?”

Annie stared at Smoke for a long minute. This time he met her eyes, a pleading expression running in them.

She looked back at the mediator. “No concerns.”

“Wonderful.” The woman cheered. “Well, I think we’re all set. This was a very productive session. I’ll submit the updated session to the judge. We will notice you for further arrangements. I hope to hear good news and memories next time we see each other !”

“Thank you,” Annie said, standing up fast.

Smoke stood too, shook the woman’s hand. “Appreciate it.”

They walked out into the corridor. Annie was already five steps ahead before Smoke caught up.

“Aye, hold up—”

“Don’t talk to me right now.”

“Annie, just listen—”

She spun around, finger pointed at his chest. “You just lied. To a court mediator. About a whole vacation we ain’t plan.”

“I know, but—”

“We can’t even SPEAK to each other without arguing, Smoke ! How we supposed to go on a family trip ?”

“She put us on the spot ! What you wanted me to say ?”

“The truth ! Or should’ve let me handle it !” Annie’s voice resonated in the hallway. A noisy young woman passing by glanced at them. Annie lowered her voice, stepped closer, breathing on his lips. “You could’ve said we’ll think about it. You could’ve said we’ll discuss it. But no, you just made up some bullshit about the mountains—”

“Annie—look, we can actually do it—”

She laughed sarcastically. “Oh, so now you wanna play family with me ? After everything you said in the car ?”

Smoke’s face fell, melting down in front of her. “Come on Ma’, I ain’t mean that—”

“Look well for your mother Smoke it ain’t me. And you meant it.” Her voice went quiet again, that same unemotional flat tone from earlier. “You tired of me. You said it. So don’t stand here and act like we gonna go on some happy little vacation together.”

She turned and walked toward the elevator.

Smoke stood there, hand running down his face, watching her go.

“Fuck,” he cursed. She was insufferable when she hit that stage. Stubborn, grumpy and—

The elevator dinged open. Annie stepped in without looking back. Smoke jogged to catch it, slipping in just before the doors closed.

They stood on opposite sides. Annie was browsing available cars on Uber, decided to not ride with him.

Smoke was thinking about what he could say to save his huge mistake. He could tell he’s not mad at her for moving on ? No, she will build a new argument from it saying he never loved her. Maybe apologize for the woman he had in his house ? Jesus— he didn’t even fuck her that hard.

Floor numbers ticked down. 3… 2…

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Smoke began. “In the car. About being tired. I was just… I was mad.”

Annie stared at the doors. “Okay.”

“I’m serious, Annie. I didn’t mean—”

“You always mean it when you mad.” She still wouldn’t look at him. “That’s when the truth comes out.”

The elevator dinged. Ground floor.

Annie walked out first, heels clicking across the lobby. Smoke followed her out into the parking lot, the afternoon sun bathing her obsidian rich skin.

She walked other side the parked car and Smoke reacted, chasing after her.

“Where you goin’ Annie ?”

“I’ll take an Uber. Mediation over no need to ride together.”

“Annie, don’t be—”

“I’m not being nothing. I just don’t—” he caught by her waist, pulling her close to his chest.

Then, he whispered in her ear, “don’t be a stubborn cat, I’m driving you back home Ma’”

She tried to fight but his hold was too strong.

They drove in awkward silence. As Smoke finally hit her neighborhood, Annie lazily shot : “Actually, drop me at The Palace.” She checked her phone “I got a shift in twenty, my colleague is on sick leave apparently.”

“Alright.” He simply answered, pulling back into traffic.

The Palace Hotel was downtown, not too far from Tiana’s school. Smoke merged onto the highway, strangely focus on the road, though he glanced eyes on her at times.

Annie settled back in her seat, buttoned her bodysuit top, her features sharp and face serious. The playfulness from earlier had drained out of her completely. In contrary, she felt stupid. Why the hell did she try to win back a man who had made it clear he was done.

Maybe to prove something to herself. That she wasn’t the type of woman, men get tired of. Gullible.

All that effort and he had barely flinched. Just sat there telling her to do whatever she wanted with her bartender.

She should’ve just kept her mouth shut instead of trying to make him jealous and regret everything.

Someone brings out the red nose, I’m a clown. She mocked herself internally.

Smoke glanced furtively at her from the corner of his eye but didn’t say anything. His leg bounced on quick beats, a nervous habit he had when something was eating at him.

But his face stayed neutral, unreadable, even though he was barely holding it together inside.

Every word she had said was still looping in his head. Her hand on him. Her voice dropping low when she had asked if he wanted to take Jamal’s place. The way she had looked at him with those doe eyes that still knew exactly how to undo him.

God he wanted her right now. If he listened the little voice in his head, he would just pushed her backseat and take her. Remind her exactly why no other motherfucker could compete with fifteen years of knowing every sound she made, every spot that made her lose her damn mind. How no weak ass thrusts could make her hit the seventh sky, the full moon as his.

But, he wouldn’t do shit. Because giving in would mean admitting she still had that power over him. Would mean walking back into something they had already burned down.

They hit downtown traffic. Brake lights stretched ahead of them, the lunch rush clogging the streets near the business district.

“You still working as receptionist there ?” He started, trying to ease the fire tension.

“Yeah. The salary is good.” She replied, dry.

Now that he recalled it. They did meet there for the first time. He was in the town for business meetings, he booked a room at The Palace and Annie was the one welcoming him in.

“You was rocking those Bantu Knots back then…”

She flashed him a look, seeing perfectly where he wanted to drag her.

“It’s all in the past now.”

“You regret it ? Meeting me ?”

“You was my first love. We usually don’t regret people like that.” She answered, feigning casualty.

“I have no regret either.”

Annie chuckled, swallowing the stingy remark she wanted to pull out. She looked out the window at the lunch crowd on the sidewalks, people in business suits heading to restaurants, couples walking hand in hand.

The Palace Hotel came into view, all glass and marble, valets in front. Smoke drove to the employee entrance on the side.

Annie unbuckled, grabbed her purse. “Thanks for the ride. Say hi to my baby Tiana.”

She reached for the door handle.

“Annie.”

She stopped, looked back at him.

Smoke furrowed his brows. He stared straight ahead at the hotel’s wall.

“That nigga text you back yet ?”

Annie blinked. “What ?”

“Mr Bartender. He text you back ?”

Her heart kicked up. “Why ?”

Smoke looked at her. His sugar melting eyes were darker than they had been half the day, something dangerous simmering in them.

“Just wondering if you really gonna do it. Or if you was just talking.”

Annie held his gaze. “Who knows ?”

She got out and walked toward the entrance. Inside, she swiped her badge and headed for the break room to drop her things. Her hands were shaking faintly as she opened her locker.

Annie’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out.

Smoke: Don’t let that nigga touch you Annie.

Smoke picked up Tiana from school with ten minutes late. She bounced out the gates talking about some boy in her class who ate glue during art time, her backpack swinging wild as she climbed into the backseat.

“Sorry lil mama, I dropped mom to work so I’m late ” he said, pulling out the lot into.

“You good daddy ! Treat me ice cream and we okay.”

“Right. Right.”

They stopped for ice cream on the way. Tiana got chocolate chip with sprinkles, talked his ear off about her spelling test while he sat across from her barely tasting his vanilla cone. His mind kept drifting back to Tiana’s mom, in that passenger seat. Hand on him, and that fucking text he sent.

She hadn’t responded.

At home, Tiana did her homework on the kitchen table while Smoke made pasta for dinner. She ate two plates, took a bath, and was knocked out by eight-thirty.

Smoke sat at the edge of his master bed, connecting dots.

Bartender. She had said the guy was a bartender.

That woman didn’t do bars. Didn’t drink much except when she was pissed off or celebrating something. But there was one spot she loved to go, a lounge on few blocks downtown, pink lights and tequila. She had dragged him there a few times back when they were still wife and husband, made him dance even though he couldn’t, laughed at him the whole time.

He knew the bar address and was well decided to pulled up and knock some sense into that nigga who think he could put fingers on what belong to him.

Same old hip hop bangers popping when Smoke arrived. He parked across the street, cut the engine, sat there watching the entrance.

A couple walked out laughing. A group of women in heels and micro-skirts stumbled toward an Uber. The bouncer checked IDs at the door, waved people through.

Smoke stepped out, crossed the street, nodded at the bouncer who barely looked up.

Inside, the place was dim and pretty crowded. Pink neon lights washed over sweaty bodies pressed together on the dance floor.

He moved through people toward the bar in back, shocked to see her.

Annie sat on a stool at the far end, blazer gone, just that black tight bodysuit and her pants, hair still slicked back but a little looser now. She was leaning forward on her elbows, laughing at something the bartender said.

Jamal stood behind the bar in a black t-shirt, locs tied back, gold chain catching the light. He was pouring her a shot, flexing that same cocky grin he wanted to bleed this morning.

Smoke’s jaw locked.

He watched Annie throw the shot back, shake her head and laugh. Jamal advanced and say something close, that made her bite her lip.

Then his hand reached out, fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

Smoke moved before he could think about it.

He cut through the bodies pack, shouldered past someone dancing too close, arrived at the bar and in a flash clawed Jamal’s jaw.

Jamal’s head snapped to the side. He caught himself on the bar, touched his jaw where blood was already pooling at the corner of his mouth.

His expression turned : shock, then rage.

“Damn nigga, you just fucked up.”

He came around the bar fast. His fist connected with Smoke’s nose hard enough to send him backward into a high-top table. Glasses shattered on the floor.

Smoke steadied himself and charged back. They fought chest-to-chest, hands grabbing at shirts, throwing wild hooks. Jamal’s knee drove into Smoke’s side. Smoke grunted, twisted, and slammed his elbow into Jamal’s temple.

“Break it up !” someone yelled but they didn’t hear shit.

Jamal shoved Smoke against the bar. Smoke grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him down, both of them crashing to the floor

“Stop it !” Annie screamed, but her voice got swallowed by the crowd whispering.

People backed up, forming a circle. Some pulled out phones. Gangsta Paradise kept banging through the walls, even though the DJ stopped mixing.

Jamal got on top, landed a punch to Smoke’s jaw that made his head bounce off the floor. Smoke bucked him off, rolled, got to his knees. Blood dripped from his split lip onto his shirt. He swung back, punching Jamal between his eyes. That’s when the bouncer came.

He grabbed Jamal by the back of his collar and hauled him up like he weighed nothing. Did the same to Smoke with his other hand, keeping them separated.

Jamal was breathing hard, his eye already swelling shut. Smoke’s lip and nose were bleeding.

The bouncer looked at Jamal first. “You cool J ?”

“I’m good.” Jamal wiped his mouth, smearing blood across his hand.

The bouncer’s grip tightened on Smoke’s collar. “You. Out ! Don’t ever come back here.”

Jamal stayed by the bar, touching his face, chest still heaving. His eyes found Annie standing frozen a few feet away, purse clutched in both hands. Her eyes weren’t on him though, but on Smoke.

She grabbed her blazer off the bar stool and bolted outside.

“Wait,” she called to the bouncer. “I’m going with him.”

Jamal’s face ruined in disbelief. He watched her follow them to the door without a backward glance.

Outside, the bouncer released Smoke with a shove toward the sidewalk. Annie appeared right behind.

“What the hell is wrong with you ?”

Smoke touched his lip, winced. “He—”

“I don’t wanna hear it.” But even as she said it, she stepped closer. “You’re bleeding Elijah.”

“I’m fine.”

“No you ain’t.” Her voice trembled with worry “You just got in a fight like some teenager. Over what exactly ?”

“He was touching you.”

“So what ?!” Annie’s voice cracked. “We’re divorced, Smoke ! You don’t get to—” She stopped, pressed her fingers to her temples. “You could’ve gotten arrested. Or worse !”

“I can handle myself.”

“That’s not the point !” She looked up at him, tears pricking up her eyes, furious and scared at the same time. “What if something happened and you couldn’t get back to Tiana ?”

He lowered his face, as a boy getting scolded.

“Your lip is split open and your eye— Jesus.” She burned the distance between them and carefully touched the edge of his cheekbone where it was turning deep purple. “Does this hurt ?”

He flinched, putting his large hand on her, feverishly. “Little bit.”

“Idiot.” She muttered softly “I’m driving you home. Where you park ?”

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