Chapter 28

𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚢𝚗

“Can’t believe my dad’s ordering you to run errands.” I gently squeezed her shoulders as she looked down at me. “Today of all days, seriously?”

I tapped her shoulder as a signal before jumping into her arms. Her hands instantly caught under my thighs and I smiled when she adjusted me against her.

“He’s being reasonable,” she huffed, glancing back at me. “Plus, he’s not too fond of your ex.”

I hummed, wrapping my arms around her neck tighter. “You always look this good out the shower?” I muttered and she chuckled softly, shaking her head.

“This towel better not drop.” she groaned and I smirked immediately.

“What if it does?” I questioned and she raised a brow at me.

“Behave.” she warned, putting me back down onto my feet.

My jaw dropped and I let out a scoff. “That’s my thing.” I chuckled.

She hummed like she ain’t give a damn before slapping my ass on the way back to the bathroom.

“Get to class!”

I rolled my eyes, grabbin’ my bag off the couch before headin’ toward the elevator.

My phone suddenly dinged.

I unlocked it quickly and my face instantly grew hot at the message sitting on my screen. I locked my phone just as the elevator doors opened downstairs.

I walked out the lobby and immediately heard Imani honking obnoxiously from the curb.

I waved her off while heading toward the backseat. She rolled the window down slowly, eyeing me real hard.

“Why you look so flushed?”

“I just got out the shower,” I muttered quickly while unlockin’ the door and climbing in.

Britney chuckled from the passenger seat. “She lying straight through her teeth.”

I huffed, shoving her shoulder lightly from the backseat. “Let’s go, my bab—”

I stopped myself so fast my throat damn near hurt.

Both of them turned around immediately.

I looked out the window quickly. “Y’all ready?”

Britney gasped loud as hell. “Nahhh. Hold on. Rewind.”

“There is no rewind.” I crossed my arms tightly. “Drive the car.”

“Did you almost call Aries ‘baby’?” Britney twisted around in her seat with a grin.

“No.”

“Yes you did,” Imani laughed, pulling away from the curb smoothly. “That came out way too naturally.”

Britney clutched her chest dramatically. “Look at our girl fallin’ in love. This is beautiful.”

“I’m not in love!” I snapped too fast.

The car went quiet for exactly two seconds before both of them burst out laughing.

“Yeah,” Imani chuckled. “You cooked.”

“Anywayy. We needa have a girls night out or something.” Britney showed me a video on her phone of some crowded club with neon lights flashin’ everywhere while girls danced on sections like they ain’t have knees to worry about.

I raised a brow slowly, leaning back against the seat.

“Absolutely not.” I said flatly and they both groaned instantly.

“You acting like Imani and Chelsea are single.” I replied and Britney pointed at me immediately.

“Don’t forget yourself!” she smirked and I rolled my eyes.

“What are y’all gonna be there for? The men?” I questioned flatly. “If so, I’d rather stay my ass home.”

“Londynn,” Britney dragged my name out dramatically. “You been locked in the house cuddled up with Aries for like two weeks straight.”

“That is not true.” I defended quickly.

Britney twisted around in her seat. “You literally almost called her ‘my baby’ just now.”

“I was talkin ’bout my hoodie!” I snapped and they both burst out laughing.

I rolled my eyes. “Yall so irritating.” I muttered, crossing my arms as I looked out the window.

But the second the laughter settled, my phone buzzed again.

My stupid ass smiled immediately.

Imani caught it through the mirror too. “AHT AHT.” She pointed. “There it is.”

“There what is…?” I said softly.

“That lil ass smile.” Britney snorted. “Lemme see the message.”

“No??” I turned my phone over quickly against my thigh and they both groaned louder.

“Oh my gosh, you’re so gone.” Imani laughed. “And I’m talkin’, Cooked. Fried. Air-fried. Deep fried. Cajun seasoned.”

I huffed despite the smile tuggin’ at my lips. “Can you please drive the damn car?”

Britney gasped suddenly. “WAIT. Did yall kiss?”

My brows furrowed. “Again???”

“Oh, so that’s a yes—”

“No!” I snapped too quickly. “We didn’t kiss again…”

The car went quiet for a second.

“Wait…again?!” Imani repeated slowly, brows lifting.

I closed my eyes.

Damn.

“No—we, I—”

“Londynn.” Britney slapped the dashboard. “You said again!!!”

“I hate yall.” I groaned, sliding lower in my seat while they screamed and laughed like I told them I was going on tour with Beyonce.

My phone buzzed again.

> Aries: behave in class today.

I stared at the text for a second too long before typing back without thinking.

> L: make me.

The three dots appeared almost instantly, then disappeared before they came back again.

My stomach flipped.

> Aries: londyn.

Heat crawled up my neck and I locked my phone before either of them could snatch it.

“Yup.” Britney nodded knowingly. “You’re sick.”

“Terminal,” Imani added.

I rolled my eyes, but my smile stayed as I looked back out the window. The city blurred while music played low through the speakers, but slowly my attention drifted elsewhere.

Toward the sidewalk. Where someone in a familiar black hoodie stood across the street near campus.

My smile slowly faded.

He leaned against a parked car with his hood up, head tilted down at his phone, but I knew that stance.

I’d seen him around Jalen before. And the second our car passed, his head lifted.

His eyes followed the car slowly, my stomach tightening instantly.

“…Londyn?” Imani glanced at me through the mirror. “You good?”

I blinked, forcing a smile before looking away from the window.

“Yeah,” I lied quietly. “I’m fine.”

My eyes automatically scanned the lot before I even got out. “Right, Imani?” I cleared my throat while grabbing my bag. “How’s… your man?”

Imani shut the car door and adjusted her purse on her shoulder. “He’s still recovering,” she said softer this time. “He’ll be alright though.”

I nodded slowly before following beside them toward the building. The hallway stirred with noise once we stepped inside. People talking too loud, shoes squeaking against the floors, professors already looking irritated and it wasn’t even noon yet.

Normally I tuned all this out ’cause Aries would be around. But today I noticed everything. Every face. Every hoodie. Every voice.

I tugged lightly at the sleeves of my sweater while glancing around again. It wasn’t hard to recognize Jalen’s people anymore. After everything that happened, their faces sat in my memory clear as hell.

And the one day Aries isn’t around. They’re here.

Ain’t that some shit.

“Hey, um…” I turned back toward Imani and Britney, while biting the inside of my cheek. “I’ma stay with y’all for your next class.”

Britney snickered instantly. “I’m guessing you saw that one stud in that class?”

My brows furrowed fast. “What—?” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Sure. Yeah.” I nodded with a fake smile.

Imani hummed, side-eyeing me. “I thought you had a thing for Aries.”

“Girl, shut up.” I glared, and both of them folded, laughing loud enough to make people turn around.

I rolled my eyes. But honestly? Them joking around helped a lil’. It took the edge off the weird feeling crawling under my skin.

But once we made it to class, my attention kept drifting.

Every time the door opened, my head lifted. Every loud ass laugh from the hallway made my shoulders tense for half a second before relaxing again.

And the entire time, part of me kept wishing, hoping, that Aries would just walk through the door. Just show up randomly with that calm look on her face and ask why I was staring so hard at everybody. But I knew she wasn’t, because my father had her busy all damn day.

“I’ma use the bathroom real quick.” I tugged on Imani’s hoodie and she nodded, pointing toward the entrance.

“I’m bringin’ my car around. We’ll see you inna minute.”

I halted for a second before sighing softly. In a rush, I headed toward the bathroom, my eyes roaming around the hall. I still wasn’t sure where Jalen’s people disappeared to and that shit was makin’ me mad paranoid.

My phone suddenly dinged in my pocket and I quickly pulled it out.

> Imani: Your wife’s here to pick you up, girly.

A smile instantly tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

I locked my phone and quickly used the washroom then walked back out into the hallway, only to bump into someone hard enough to make me stumble back with a huff.

My heart dropped the second the smell of tobacco hit my nose.

A hand quickly wrapped firmly around my wrist before I could step away and my stomach twisted instantly.

I glanced up to Jalen staring right down at me with that smug ass smirk stretched across his face.

“Hey, baby.” he said.

I glanced around, yanking my hand away from his grip with a wince. “The fuck do you want..” I seethed.

“I missed you.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and I instantly felt my stomach drop. I pulled back, glancing at the people rushing past. None of these people would think this nigga is tryna kill me, they prolly just think his bitchass is here to make me reconsider his foolish actions and take him back.

“Miss me from afar, nigga??” I took another step back, my voice cracking. I wasn’t taking shit serious before, but ever since seeing Aries bruised. I knew I shouldn’t be playin around with someone elses life the way I did when I first knew her.

“Your girlfriend aint here, huh?” he tilted his head and I clenched my jaw.

“She is, now cut left, nigga.” I tried to brush past him, but he gripped my arm, holding me right in place.

“Since when you turn gay?” He glanced down at me and I huffed, shoving him off.

“Mind your business.” I warned and he raised a brow.

“You was just suckin my dick months back.” his voice lowered, his grip tightening on my arm as I tried to pull away.

“Nigga, we is not together. And Ion give a fuck about that shrimp dick you got in your pants? The fuck?” I said a lil louder and his jaw clenched.

“Bitch, you got me fucked up-“

“And you got me fucked up if you think I’m finna keep lettin you touch me.” I snapped, yanking my arm back harder this time.

His eyes darkened. That same look before he’d start tweaking.

He muttered. “She got you feelin untouchable, huh?”

My stomach twisted. “Leave her out your mouth.”

He stepped closer anyway. “What, she fuckin you now?”

I shoved his chest. “Back the fuck up.”

Jalen looked around before laughing under his breath. “See? Ain’t nobody give a fuck.” he murmured low enough for only me to hear. “Keep makin me look stupid over this bitch and I swear to—”

My heart pounded against my chest roughly. People were still walkin’ past us, conversations echoing through the hallways like none of this bullshit was happening. Like this nigga wasn’t grippin’ my arm hard enough to leave marks.

“Lemme go.” I said low.

Jalen stepped closer. “You gotten real mouthy now that that dyke started hangin’ around.”

My jaw clenched instantly. “Watch your fuckin’ mouth.”

He laughed. “Nah, I’m serious.” He tilted his head. “You really lettin’ some bitch play captain-save-a-ho for you?”

I shoved him by his chest again. Hard enough to make him stumble back a step. “And you still obsessed with somebody who don’t want you, nigga.”

His expression dropped.

His hand shot out, roughly grabbin’ my jaw this time, his fingers squeezing my cheeks together as he pushed us both back into the washroom. “You think she can protect you from me every time?”

“Answer me when I’m talkin to you!”

Fear crawled up my spine so fast I felt my stomach twist, but I forced myself to glare back at him anyway.

“She don’t gotta protect me from shit.” I snapped through his grip. “You just mad nobody wants your bitchass anymore.”

His jaw clenched but suddenly his hand disappeared from my face.

A body stepped between us so fast I barely processed it.

Her hand shoved Jalen back hard enough that he lost his footing and fell against the washroom door. Her body blocked mine completely and for the first time all day, I could fuckin’ breathe.

“What the fuck did I tell you?” Aries’ voice came out so calm that it caused a shiver down my spine.

Jalen looked past her at me and scoffed. “So she really follow you everywhere now, huh?”

Aries took one slow step forward. “You got five seconds to walk the fuck away before I forget we at a university, my nigga.”

People started staring. Slowing down. Whispering and Jalen noticed too.

He smirked, quickly standing up. “You threatenin’ me?”

“Nah,” Aries replied softly. “I’m promising you.”

My fingers wrapped around the back of Aries’ hoodie before I even realized I moved.

Jalen’s eyes dropped to my hand clutching her.

“You really pickin’ this over me?” he laughed harshly. “A bitch that play dress up?”

Aries moved before I could. She grabbed the front of his hoodie and yanked him close enough that even I inhaled sharply.

“Keep disrespectin’ her,” she said low, “I dare you.”

“Aries,” I whispered quickly, gripping her arm tighter.

Not here. Please not here…

Her jaw tightened before she finally shoved him away. He staggered back, glaring between both of us.

Then his eyes landed on me again. “I ain’t done fuckin’ with you, Londyn.”

My stomach dropped.

Aries stepped forward immediately. “The fuck you is.”

But Jalen was already walking backwards down the hall. The second he disappeared around the corner, Aries turned around so fast her hands landed on my face.

“You okay?” she asked immediately.

I nodded too quick.

Her eyes narrowed. “Londyn.”

“I’m fine.” My voice cracked instantly and I looked away.

She stared at me for a second before her hands slid down from my face to my wrists with a gentleness that I’ve been missing since she left the house.

“How long?” she asked quietly.

My chest tightened. Because she knew.

“You knew they were here today.”

I stayed quiet.

“Lo.”

“I didn’t wanna stress you out…” I muttered finally.

Her face relaxed and her shoulders dropped in defeat.

“You thought I’d rather not know somebody puttin’ their hands on you?”

“I handled it.”

“He grabbed your face, Londyn.” Her voice sharpened on that part and I flinched.

Aries noticed immediately, her expression softening again as she exhaled hard through her nose. “C’mere.”

Before I could react, she pulled me against her chest. One arm wrapped tight around my waist while her other hand cradled the back of my head.

My whole body melted embarrassingly fast.

“I’m sorry….” I whispered into her hoodie.

“For what?”

“For makin’ you worry.”

She pulled back just enough to look down at me, brows furrowed like I said the dumbest shit alive.

“Londyn,” she murmured, thumb brushing under my eye softly. “That’s my job.”

“I know. I just—” I looked down, and she tilted my chin back up, shaking her head like she already knew the rest of that sentence. “I’m here to protect you. You need to tell me these things.” She pulled me in gently before guiding us out the building toward her car.

Aries opened the passenger door for me and I climbed in without a word. She shut it gently before walking around to the driver’s side.

The second she got in, she stared at me for a second while shutting the driver’s door. Her hand rested on the steering wheel, the other drumming lightly against her thigh while her eyes stayed locked on me.

“You lyin’.” she said flatly.

I rolled my eyes immediately. “Can you drive?”

She leaned back into her seat with a harsh sigh, rubbing a hand over her face before gripping the steering wheel. “Lo.”

“What!?” I snapped.

The car grew silent and I felt my chest tighten.

Aries leaned back against the seat slowly, studyin’ me too damn closely. “You flinchin’.” she pointed out quietly. “And you keep rubbin’ your arm.”

I looked away toward the window. “He just grabbed me too hard.”

Her jaw flexed.

“Did he threaten you before I got there?”

“No.”

That one wasn’t technically a lie. Not fully.

She nodded, but I could tell she ain’t believe me for shit. Her fingers tightened around the steerin’ wheel before she started the car.

The whole ride was pure silence. She didn’t have one hand on my thigh, she didn’t tease me ’bout something dumb, making me roll my eyes while tryna hide my smile. Nothing.

I glanced over at her a few times. Her expression calm, but I knew her by now. Knew that the tightness in her jaw meant she was pissed. Knew that the way she tapped her thumb against the wheel meant her mind was running laps.

“You mad at me…?” I muttered finally.

Her eyes flicked toward me briefly before back to the road. “I’m thinkin’.”

“So yes.”

A small huff left her nose. “I’m mad somebody keep puttin’ their hands on you.”

My fingers curled tighter around my sleeve at that.

“I promise you I handled it.” I said quietly.

“You shouldn’t have to, Londyn.” She huffed.

My chest ached as I glanced at her. She said shit like that so easily. Like protecting me was breathing to her.

I looked down at my lap, my voice smaller this time. “I didn’t wanna make things worse…”

Aries went quiet for a moment. Then softer, “Lo…you think hidin’ it from me gon make it better?”

I didn’t reply. Because honestly? I didn’t know anymore.

The car slowed at a red light and she finally looked over at me fully. Her eyes dropped to my arm again before she reached over carefully.

“Lemme see.”

“It’s fine—”

“Londyn.”

I sighed before pulling my sleeve up. Finger-shaped bruises already bloomed against my skin.

The second Aries saw them, something flickered across her face. Her whole body went still.

“Aries.” I said quickly.

She exhaled once through her nose, slow and controlled, before gently brushing her thumb near the bruise without actually touching it.

“Has he seen you before today?”

I nodded once.

Her hand dropped back to the steering wheel immediately after like she was forcing herself not to react. “And you ain’t tell me. Aight.”

The light turned green and she drove off quicker than usual. The rest of the ride home went silent. And suddenly I realized this was exactly what I was afraid of.

Not Aries yelling, not even her being angry at me.

It was this. That look in her eyes.

The one that said she was already thinking about doing something reckless without thinking about the consequences.