08-06-2018, 02:47 PM
He didn't answer the question, though some small part of her had not expected him to. Attention like that rarely came from a place of welcome, and Jay only lied to himself. Her gaze blinked back up when he spoke. Nothing in his voice betrayed him, but there was a new gravity to the words that forged steel in her spine. As the scene ahead erupted he moved with an urgency she couldn't keep pace with even if she'd wanted to. Their window with Jensen narrowed the larger the crowd grew, though it seemed to her it was the scrutiny that set coals beneath his feet.
He hadn't answered the question, but she had her answer anyway.
Jay could handle Jensen without her help. The pastor's voice soared, though she could no longer see him through those jostling for a view. But that new black uniform would help part the seas to give Jay a path, and maybe a louder voice. Her attention wavered. The bejewelled man turned away, phone pressed to his ear, while the second man began to mist away into the other guests. Amidah had always scolded Natalie for teaching the Jasiri girls defiance in place of strength, but walking away now only put her at a disadvantage. If a target had in some way been painted, she refused to ignore it, nor to remain impartial.
She didn't know the connections that strung tension through Jay's muscles with a glance, and she would not pry into secrets he did not give freely. But it didn't stop her shouldering squarely to the threat. She'd trusted Jay blindly before, despite the sins he weighted against himself. Though he might not thank the directness of her action now it would not be unexpected in hindsight. Her mother was going to take a dismal view of the whole sorry evening once the tale of tonight's bargains made its way to her ears. When she asked Natalie to network, it was doubtful she intended the courting of enemies.
She threaded a path after the scarred man, careful of her foot, which by now felt more like fire than she cared to admit. Mindful too that scant moments were all she had to play with, though it was all she needed. Her presence alone was the statement. That Jay did not stand alone.
"Too shy to make an introduction?" She'd studied him from a distance but he loomed taller up close. Her pale gaze emptied of judgement, though it was difficult not to recall Evelyn's reaction to this man. "You have interesting friends." Both of them. She measured what little she knew against his reaction, then offered her hand. A modicum of politeness, though she was all marble stillness. "Natalie."
He hadn't answered the question, but she had her answer anyway.
Jay could handle Jensen without her help. The pastor's voice soared, though she could no longer see him through those jostling for a view. But that new black uniform would help part the seas to give Jay a path, and maybe a louder voice. Her attention wavered. The bejewelled man turned away, phone pressed to his ear, while the second man began to mist away into the other guests. Amidah had always scolded Natalie for teaching the Jasiri girls defiance in place of strength, but walking away now only put her at a disadvantage. If a target had in some way been painted, she refused to ignore it, nor to remain impartial.
She didn't know the connections that strung tension through Jay's muscles with a glance, and she would not pry into secrets he did not give freely. But it didn't stop her shouldering squarely to the threat. She'd trusted Jay blindly before, despite the sins he weighted against himself. Though he might not thank the directness of her action now it would not be unexpected in hindsight. Her mother was going to take a dismal view of the whole sorry evening once the tale of tonight's bargains made its way to her ears. When she asked Natalie to network, it was doubtful she intended the courting of enemies.
She threaded a path after the scarred man, careful of her foot, which by now felt more like fire than she cared to admit. Mindful too that scant moments were all she had to play with, though it was all she needed. Her presence alone was the statement. That Jay did not stand alone.
"Too shy to make an introduction?" She'd studied him from a distance but he loomed taller up close. Her pale gaze emptied of judgement, though it was difficult not to recall Evelyn's reaction to this man. "You have interesting friends." Both of them. She measured what little she knew against his reaction, then offered her hand. A modicum of politeness, though she was all marble stillness. "Natalie."