“Maybe not. But Yusef does. And whether you want to admit it or not, you want me around.”
“For Yusef,” she said firmly.
“Keep telling yourself that.”
I pulled up to her building and she got out without a word, slamming the door behind her.
But as she walked away, I saw her glance back. Just once.
And I knew.
She felt it too.
21
ZAHARA
I knocked on Brandi’s door, a box of cinnamon rolls for my upcoming farmers market batch under one arm. She’d texted me earlier asking if I wanted to come over for wine, and honestly, I needed the distraction. Yusef had been holed up in his room for days now, barely talking, barely eating. Just practicing piano like his life depended on it.
“Come in, girl!” Brandi called from inside.
I pushed the door open and immediately heard voices. Male voices.
“—told you I’d be back, didn’t I? Stop acting like you didn’t miss me.”
I stepped into the living room and froze.
A man was there. Tall, broad-shouldered, covered in tattoos that crept up his neck. He had that look—the kind of rough you could spot from a mile away. Expensive clothes that didn’t quite hide the street underneath. Gold chains. A watch that probably cost more than a year's worth of my rent.
This had to be Zoo. Nigel’s father.
Nigel was standing next to him, looking up at his dad like he’d hung the moon. The kid was practically vibrating with excitement.
“Zahara!” Brandi rushed over, pulling me into a hug. “Girl, come meet Zoo. Baby, this is my friend from work I told you about.”
Zoo’s eyes slid over me, assessing. Not in a sexual way, but like he was cataloging information. Deciding if I was a threat or irrelevant.
“What’s good,” he said, his voice gravelly.
“Hi. Nice to meet you.”
He turned back to Brandi, and before I could process what was happening, he grabbed her by the throat—not hard, but firm—and pulled her into a kiss that made me look away. There was so much tongue involved, it made me uncomfortable. It was one of those sloppy ass kisses that came with a bunch of moaning and wet noises. It was the kind of kiss you didn’t do in front of company. At least not if you had any type of social decency.
When they finally broke apart, Brandi was flushed and giggling like a teenager.
I set the plate down on the coffee table, suddenly wishing I’d stayed home.
“Ms. Z!” Nigel bounded over, all energy and smiles. “You bring Yusef?”
“No, baby. He’s home. Still practicing for his recital.”
“Man, he’s always practicing. Tell him to come to the movies with me and my pops!” He looked up at Zoo. “Can he come? Please?”
Zoo shrugged. “If he want to. We leaving in ten though.”
“I’ll ask,” I said, already knowing the answer. “But I think he just wants to stay in and practice.”
“That boy need to get out more,” Zoo said, leaning back against the counter. “Spend too much time inside, he gonna stay soft. Need a man around to teach him how to move in this world. How to be the one doing the bullying instead of getting bullied.”
