“Girlfriends?” I all but laugh.
“You know what I mean.”
“So, it’s okay if Justice is having se—”
“Don’t, Truth.” He holds up his hand. “I did my job. The guy you’re dating knows the drill, and I know my limits. This is you and your mom’s conversation from now on.” He walks over and pulls me into a hug. It’s tighter and longer than usual. “Just want you safe, happy, and onstage.” He kisses the top of my head then sighs.
When he steps back, he looks at Mom. “You got this, Birdie?”
“Yeah.” She walks over and hugs him.
“Love you girls.” He kisses Mom’s cheek. “Goodnight.”
After
TOBIAS
When Truth called me the morning after, she was freaking out about the video of us dancing on our date being leaked on The Sound. She was sure the waiter did it. I corrected her real quick and told her that I did it. She asked why, and I told her I wasn’t hiding anymore. She giggled then quickly asked if I was upset about her dad insisting I come to Sunday dinners. I assured her that, if that’s what it took, that’s what I would do. I also told her that Cyrus told me the secret I kept was mine. Only Tara, Cyrus, and Truth knew about Tony, aside from Frank obviously. Together, they all agreed that no one needed to know. Kind of felt shitty that Justice didn’t know, but I didn’t dare tell him myself in case they hadn’t told them about Tara’s past. With that out of the way, all the anxiety about it all lessened.
We spent the better part of the day texting screenshots of all the comments people were posting about her and me on The Sound, and yeah, I deleted some of the hater’s comments.
At school, we held hands, kissed on occasion, worked out at lunch together, and spent study hall together. She didn’t even know I was in the same class as her, and I told her that was because I didn’t let her know.
After that we fell into a routine, and although I never thought I’d like that, I realized how much I truly needed it.
As promised, I did the Sunday dinner thing, and I got a lot of shit from her uncles and the two youngest boys, Amias and Max. The rest of them were chill.
Every night, we fell asleep on the phone. Mondays, I spent doing my shit and a couple hours at the jewelry store with Frank, and she went to dance. And no, I didn’t always like the guy, but if not for him, I would have been placed in the system and never would have met Truth.
Tuesdays, I went to counseling in the slot after Tara, which Truth now knew about. Afterward, I’d grab a few dozen tacos and bring them to her place, eat with her family, and chill for a couple hours. Yep, Taco Tuesdays.
Wednesdays, she danced.
Thursdays, she danced.
Fridays were my favorite—date night and dessert at my place. Always at my place.
Saturday mornings, Truth danced, and I worked at the store. Saturday nights, we occasionally went to parties, where we would always find a quiet corner or a closet. As hard as I tried to make sure she didn’t think I needed to be inside her all the time, she convinced me otherwise. Let me be honest; it wasn’t hard to convince me, but fuck if it wasn’t hot letting her start shit with me. If we didn’t go to a party, we chilled at her place with her folks and cousins, playing board games, watching movies, and eating all sorts of shit.
Two weeks before our one-month anniversary, she got her period, and she also got the birth control shot. I was cool with using condoms—never went without them before—but she told me she, and I quote, wanted to feel me raw.
Two days before our one-month anniversary, while she was at dance, I was in Justice’s room, getting some new ink.
One on my middle finger, where she and her crew had Forever Steel inked, I now had it, too. Was not the plan, but JT and Tricks talked me into it. Then the fuckers told me, if I fucked up, they were cutting my finger off. That was the first time they gave me a hard time about Truth and me. When I told them I’d cut it off myself and mail it to them, they looked shocked but quickly realized I wasn’t fucking around.
After that was done, Justice got down to doing the piece on my arm. He didn’t question shit; he just went to work.
When Cyrus walked in his room and saw me sitting there, he just shook his head, walked over, and looked at the outline of the tattoo.
“You shading this in?” he asked Justice.
“Planned on it.” Justice smirked.
Cyrus lifted his chin as he put on a pair of gloves. “Give me your machine.”
Justice stood up and handed it to him.
He didn’t say a thing as he finished it up.
After cleaning it, he sat back, and I looked it over. Then he looked at me. “Wanna explain?”
“Stay True.” I shrugged. “Want her to look at it and remember who it was I fell for at the store, not the shit afterward. Maybe remind her, when I’m at Columbia, not to let the bullshit at school or the assholes drag her down. And when I look at my arm, I want a piece of her with me.”
He simply nodded, pulled off his gloves, and tossed them in Justice’s trash. “We’re having a graduation party for you on the—”
“No, I don’t want—”
“Truth asked if she could. You want her to Stay True, then you let her do that for you.”
“It’s—”
“She’ll do it anyway,” Justice interrupts me. “Just go with it.”
Cyrus walks to the door then looks back. “You got your passport?”
“No, and I don’t—”
“Get it. I don’t need her pouting the whole time we’re in Italy.”
Next In Steel
Want more of the Steel Crew series?
Left wondering what secrets are still locked away at Seashore Academy?
September 1st, Justified Steel releases.
Justified Steel
Coming soon
When offered the keys to the kingdom I all but pissed on the throne.
I didn’t need the figurative crown to become the king, and I sure as hell didn’t want anything more to do with the little Queen.
When the power started to shift and lives were being torn apart, justice needed to be served, and who better to serve it up… than me.
Pre-order Justified Steel Now
Also by MJ Fields
THE STEEL WORLDS
(Recommended reading order)
The Men of Steel Series
Jase
Cyrus
Zandor
Xavier
Forever Family
Raising Steel
The Ties of Steel Series
Abe
Dominic
Eroe
Sabato
The Rockers of Steel Series
Memphis Black
Finn Beckett
River James
Billy Jeffers
The Match Duet
The Unsocial Dater
Match This!
ImPerfectly Matched!
The Steel Country Series
Hammered
Destroyed
Wasted
Tied in Steel series
Valentina
Paige