“Wait, I don’t get it.” Zuri stared at the black background and white text I’d used, basically for the last three weeks. “Besides the Lives, which disappear after twenty-four hours, there’s only one photo of us. But you have that vague picture of me holding the sun near the Eiffel Tower and by the rail near the Île de la Cité. I looked too cute near the Pont Neuf. Why didn’t you …? Oh …” She realized. “You were respecting my privacy.”
“Yep.”
“But what does this mean?Mon cœur est à Paris…”
“Bébé, you just butchered it. Not sure what you said, but that there says,My heart’s in Paris with her.”
She scrolled over the days and read out, “Bourbon Street, St. Louis Cathedral. So, you said my heart is with you in all those places we’ve been?”
“Except for when we spent one day at Crescent Park with Darius. Then us at City Park,” I told her. “These are the places we visited in the past couple of weeks. I figured, you, mybébé, the world didn’t need to have you. That honor goes to me. So, they get what I’m willing to give them. Basically, they know my heart stays wherever you go, Zuri.”
“Oh, Montana. I’m not leaving.”
“Now, Big Country’s alive and well, ready for round two,” I said, tugging her back around toward me. I pressed a kiss to the hollow at her throat, and her pulse beat against my mouth like a hidden message meant just for me.
She looked up at me, her voice a whisper wrapped in laughter. “Just make me forget how cold it is, Montana.”
The next morning, I drank coffee in a home I hadn’t known would get so loud in the silence. Must be why Momma passed on this multi-million-dollar home. My Valentine’s Day plans were in full effect. Just one last piece. I knew who’d pull this off for me.
I made a call, smashed the Speaker button, and placed the phone on the counter.
“I said no already,” Madison answered, tone salty.
“Chill, I got all the vases I need. You get your invitation to my Mardi Gras Valentine’s Ball?”
“Yep.”
“You ain’t respond.”
“Don’t want to seeJudgeBaby-No, dang!”
“Do me a solid, Maddy.”
“You mean, Mad. Your girl istotes adorbsby the way.”
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not. I’ve taken her under my wing. Teaching her how to navigate. Anyway, I can tell she got more brains than all the women you’ve screwed. Hell, so many brains she probably really assumed y’all’s crap talk was normal. Calling meMad.”
I took a sip of coffee. “Ain’t nobody talk about you, sis. We just … thought the title stuck. You made it stick.”
Her voice became a taunting song. “Sure did.” Mad put Zuri’s ass to shame when she put on a front.
“Madison. I need you to make me one glass mask. Just one.”
“A glass mask? Montana, that’s ridiculous! It will be too heavy. If you plan to wear it.”
“Zuri’s wearing it.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, then snapped my fingers. “Make a Venetian half mask.”
“What color?” She sighed. “This must be some party.”
“Gold. Come, Maddy. Remind everyone of the girl who gave my brotha all his swag. How much you want for the mask?”
“A lot!”
“A lot works. Just add the fam-bam discount at the end.” I tapped the Off button and stared at a text.
Ezekiel. Bruh? Right now? Since nobody I knew spoke to him, he definitely didn’t find out about my party.
