His “but” caught her off guard, if only for a moment. She swallowed, like there was cement in her throat as she stared at him with wide eyes. Then, they lowered, staring at the bottom of the tub, at their feet.

Of course he needed time. And what if he found it not satisfactory, being with her?

Jessie nodded, not meeting his gaze for a moment before trying to pull a smile back onto her lips. She hoped it didn’t wobble as her self confidence waned.

”Okay. Are you ready to get out?”

She pulled away, to reach for the knobs. To give herself a moment to regain her composure and confidence.

His hand stopped her before she could reach to turn the water off. Looking back at him, she blinked before nodding. Accepting his hand as he reached for hers.

”I’m sorry. I just have a lack of self confidence. Comes with the family.”

She paused before reaching out to hug him. Something intimate.

”I like you too. A lot. But that was probably obvious from the first night. I’m a lot to handle, but if you’re willing to try this, then I’m willing to give you the time you want to adjust.”

This time, she actually turned off the water.

”Come on. I’m getting all wrinkly, and I want to get back in bed.”

It was tempting to stand there and allow him to hold onto her forever. But she allowed him to pull away so they could get out, towel off, and get back to her cozy bed.

It was welcoming and warm, especially with the promise of Niko joining her. Would he join her all the time now?

"What made you want to become the head honcho of this gang, Niko? Isn't that a lot of work?"

The question sprang into her mind. How much did they know about each other, besides the physical? She was curious about him.

His response posed another question right off the bat.

”So… could you have lived a somewhat normal life without the responsibility then?” she asked, her eyes ever curious.

Of course, Jessie didn’t understand gang life. Not entirely. She only knew things from pop culture, movies, TV. She shifted in bed so he could be comfortable, but when he settled, she came closer, to feel him beside her again.

Call her an innocent lamb of sorts.

Jessie wondered that. Ever since she decided to rebel, to join Rocket, she pondered over her decision. If it was a good idea in the end. If she could’ve lived a normal life as a night life performer without the extra baggage. But would she have been here, now?

”So there’s a good man in you. Someone selfless for other people,” she teased, snickering to herself.

”You helped a lot of people, though. You could’ve left them in the dust to fend for themselves.”

She rested her hand on his chest, above his heart, before resting her head against his shoulder.

”I joined Rocket to rebel against my family. Sort of. Mostly my dad,” she started, looking back at him.

Jessie thought for a moment, thinking over his question before giving her genuine answer.

"I don't think so. But, honestly, there are probably a million ways he could find out."

And the idea of it sent a shiver down her spine.

"He's a councilman now. But before, he was able to track us down before. His kids, I mean. He came into one of my clubs while I was working to tell me I was making a big mistake working as a nightlife performer."

The cogs turned in her head as Jessie compared her father to a Rillaboom. And then she burst into a fit of laughter, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.

"That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. But you're not wrong."

She wiped away the tears that had accumulated from her laughter, shaking her head.

"Gabriel Black is my father, yeah. As much as I wish he wasn't..."