I started toward the living room, but she stepped in front of me and blocked the way.
“You don’t get to pop up on me, talk to me crazy, then start throwing out orders like you run shit,” she said, jabbing her finger in my chest.
I looked down at her hand, then back up at her face.
“I swear I hate you,” she muttered as she spun around and stormed off to her bedroom, making sure to slam the door behind her.
I sank onto the couch and started flipping through channels.
Jasmine reappeared a short while later in black leggings and a gray crop top, her face still scrunched up as she snatched her purse off the table. “Well?”
I shook my head, chuckling as I turned off the TV and pushed off the couch.
She didn’t say shit as we walked to the elevator. When we got in, she posted up in the corner with her lip poked out, arms crossed like a brat the entire ride down.
“Don’t slam my shit like you did the last time,” I warned when we got to my car.
She sucked her teeth and climbed in, but closed the door softly.
Princess’s shop wasn’t far from Jasmine’s. I pulled up in front of the nail salon, cut the engine, and turned to face Jasmine.
“About what I said earlier…” I pressed my tongue against the inside of my cheek. “I was outta line. I let my anger get the best of me—I shouldn’t have come at you like that.”
She let out a dry huff, still looking straight ahead.
“Stay in the car,” I told her. “If she gets reckless, let me handle it, alright?”
She nodded and rolled the window down.
Through the storefront glass, I spotted Princess laughing with one of her girls. Her friend noticed me and tapped Princess on the shoulder, pointing in my direction. Princess lit up instantly when she saw it was me. She smoothed her shirt and strutted out the door with a little too much pep in her step.
I leaned against the passenger door, blocking her view of Jasmine.
My eyes dropped to her stomach, looking for the “bump” Jasmine mentioned. It was there, barely noticeable, but it was there.
“You got something to tell me?” I asked as she approached.
Her smile faltered. “Um… no?”
“You sure? ‘Cause I heard you had some news to share.”
I stepped aside, giving her a clear view of Jasmine in the passenger seat.
Princess’s smile vanished. Her eyes jumped from me to Jasmine.
“What’sshedoing here?” she asked tightly.
“Don’t worry about all that,” I said, looking over her shoulder at the shop. Her clients were pressed against the glass, trying to piece together what was happening.
“I… I was gonna tell you,” she mumbled, wringing her hands.
“Nah, bitch. Tell him exactly what you told me,” Jasmine interjected, leaning out the window. “You had a big-ass smile on your face last night.”
“Chill,” I told Jasmine without taking my eyes off Princess. “Honestly, it don’t even matter. That baby’s not mine.”
Princess’s face crumpled. “How can you say that?” she screeched. “This is your baby, Cash!”
“That’s your problem, P,” I said, shaking my head. “You think you smarter than everybody. I shoot blanks, shorty. Got my shit snipped a year ago for this exact reason.”
