Zuri’s eyes darted toward mine, pure venom. “What permanent upgrade?”
“Hmm …” Madison grinned. “Don’t worry, Zuri. As long asBig Countrystares at you like you’re the finest piece of art in the entire store, I think he’s the onerunning. After you.”
“Why you gotta say my name like that, huh, sis?” I hugged her. “You and Momma make it sound like it came from some backwater bayou.”
But my girl—slow to warm up—ate up her compliment. “Oh, he stares at me, huh?”
“And the way he had his arm around you after y’all little messy,McNastyincident?” She chuckled. “I’m inclined to say he’sprotective”—her voice seemed to break—“of you too.”
“Hey,” I asked, wondering if she missed my brother’s love and protection. “Does Wash know the store is closing?”
Her upper lip curled. “For what?”
Damn, Mad!“Listen, I want to buy everything. Also need you to make a couple more vases for me.” More than a couple, but I wouldn’t press with Zuri around.
She shrugged. “Grab what you see. Everything’s free. Hell, even the shelves. That’s a no regarding the vases. Don’t need the commission. The cash you gave me in January? I used it to negotiate a way out of eviction rather than just walking away from the store. I gotta hawk everything by the end of the month. So, as I said, it’s all free.”
“Maddy, why you tripping?”
She glared at me flatly. “I’m not a glassblower anymore.”
“You should’ve told me exactly how much you needed! You can’t?—”
“YouBaby-Noslove to tell someone what they can’t do.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sorry. I promised only to call your brother that, Mr.Babineaux. Now, tell your brother to stop stalking me.”
“Whatchu talking about?”
“Montana, I’m tired … of Wash. Stalking. Me.” Madison fisted her keys and took a step back. “I left the door unlocked! All this crap still here. Nobody wanted it. Take it all. Just leave the floorboards.” She glanced at Zuri, offering a smile. “The landlord owns them.”
zuri
. . .
Acouple weeks had passed since embarrassment nearly made me blend into Madison’s floorboards. She and I had started trading text messages. She told me she was rooting for my relationship with Montana, which made my countdown to February 14theven more excruciating. I felt like I was making a friend. People had never cared about what I wanted. When I fished for information from Madison, she didn’t text back. So much for trying to support Washington for all those stakeouts at my old apartment.
Now, Montana was extra moody, harassing me at all hours of the … morning. He stood at the edge of my bed in a blue-green Nike Tech outfit that popped against his skin. I hadn’t moisturized or brushed my teeth and tucked the sheets to my chin.
“Chère,bébé, get up.” He held up a matching outfit in hot pink. Miss Peaches would tear it off me, limb from limb. Her favorite color was gorgeous. He winked. “This is fake date approved.”
My head almost did a full 360.Fake. Date.“First, it’s too early. Second, it’stoo early. Third?—”
He crawled into bed, straddling my covered body. “We going jogging.” His mouth smacked into mine. A drive-by kiss.
My eyes damn near swallowed my face. I hadn’t brushed myteeth. That should’ve beenthird, but “it’s too early” already created its own remix in my mind.
“I need an hour, okay?” I asked as he climbed out of bed.
“Non. You won’t get fifty grand today then.” Montana shoved his hands into his pants pocket, wriggling his jaw as if even he knew that was harsh. “We having lunch in an hour in NOLA.”
“It takes anhourto get there.”
“I decided I want to be on time, Zuri.”
On time?I joked. “We aren’tthosepeople.”
He looked everywhere but at me. My tone softened, curious. “We’re meeting someone?”
“Ezekiel. Said if I come break bread with him where he used to run the block, he gone drop that suit. Told him yeah, alright.” Montana kicked a shoulder, casual as red beans and rice. “Decided to see if he shows face. If he don’t, my attorney’s gonna countersue him straight into next hurricane season.”
