"The gears working."

Chapter 17

I didn't understand why John was freaking out. He didn't have to tell me, I could tell as his face got pale once he looked at me.

I sat in between John and Karrie so I could talk to them without everyone's nosy arses listening.

I leaned closer to John and put my mouth next to his ear. "Stop being so awkward John. I've already said that I've forgiven you so you don't have to make it any weirder." I smiled.

We stayed in the living room for a few hours until we got hungry so I went to make a meal.

I opened the marble cabinets in the kitchen looking for spaghetti.

"What you looking for?"

I quickly swiveled around and took a deep breath. "For fuck's sake John, you shit me up."

"I'm sorry for that," he sighed "and everything else."

"John, I've already forgiven you. Does Karrie know?"

He shook his head and averted his gaze to the floor.

"Get her in here in about 10 minutes and I'll explain everything to her." John nodded and left the kitchen so I grabbed a pot and started cooking spaghetti and I grabbed a saucepan and made bolognese.

I heard footsteps, so I stopped what I was doing and turned around.

Karrie had a bright smile on her face, and she looked cute and sweet.

"Karrie, you know that I've forgiven John right," she nodded "I'll tell you what happened okay?"

She smiled slightly but I could see a hint of worry in her eyes.

"So before I met Liam, I was single for a while until I met John. We were amazing for 6 months but then our relationship became rocky..."

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Flashback

I was standing in John's living room while he was pacing furiously in front of me and throwing things around.

"Jay baby, what's wrong? You're scaring me!" my body trembled with fear.

"Shut up!"

"I-I'm sorry," I sniffed "whatever I've done to you that's made you hate me please forgive me."

His brown eyes flashed with an unknown emotion before I saw him raising his arm, clenching it into a fist and connecting it with the side of my face.

By the force of the punch, I stumbled back and fell onto the white carpet.

I let out a yelp and cradled my cheek.

John turned to look at me when he heard my voice and stumbled back.

He slowly approached me and I crawled back with every step he took until my back hit the wall.

He bent forward and took my hand off my cheek.

I felt paralysed. Too scared to move. Too scared to think.

Would he hurt me again if I said anything?

He brought me out of my thoughts when he cradled my cheek and a tear from him dropped on the edge of my white shorts.

I didn't understand why he was crying. He wasn't the one that got punched by someone twice his size.

"I'm so sorry Kehlani. I don't know what came over me, I just don't know what to do or how to tell you. I love you so much I can't stand to see you hurt." he cried.

I guess he knew the terrible blunder he made.

I said nothing, just stared at him.

"I didn't know how to tell you without getting hurt. And now I've hurt you physically. I'm so confused Kehlani. I know what I want but I'm not sure if it's the right thing."

"What did you want to tell me, John?" My voice came out raspy, so I cleared my throat quietly.

"No, baby please call me Jay."

I stared at the wall and ignored his request.

"I'm in love with your cousin, Karrie. It scared me to tell you and I was just angry about hurting you and leaving you I ended up punching you. I'm so sorry, baby."

I slowly stood up with the help of the armchair.

I nodded at John with a few tears in my eyes and left his house.

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"It wasn't until after I'd met Liam that I saw John again and asked him about you two." Throughout the 'story-telling' I had turned around so I could keep cooking the food and not look at them. But once the food had finished, obviously I had to look at them.

Karrie was crying slightly, and I had the urge to hug her but I knew I'd cry too and I hated doing that.

"Is that how you'll be with me, John? Once you find someone else?" Karrie came and stood next to me and held my hand.

"No Ri! Once Kehlani left me I went to anger management classes to control it so it wouldn't happen again. Trust me baby I love you so much."

I could tell when he looked into her eyes that he genuinely meant it and I couldn't be happier for them. Even if it was my cousin and my ex-boyfriend.

A strained noise came from the doorway and all of us turned our attention to the person stood there.

Liam.

"I will kill you, John!" He stormed towards John but before he could hit him I grabbed his arm and halted his steps.

"Hurt him and I'll never speak to you again."

I could practically see the gears working in Liam's head. He was contemplating the outcomes of his decision and I was scared about what he'd do.

Would he hurt John and risk me not speaking to him again or would he listen to me and not do anything?