They bypassed a handshake and went in for a hug. “No introductions needed, I know Jazzy.”
“Oh, sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“It’s cool.” Jazz tucked her hands into her pockets. “You’re taking classes from Fare?”
“I’m not very good at it, but yeah.”
Farrah tutted. “You’re doing just fine. No one expects you to be stage-ready your first time.”
I tilted my head, glancing between Jazz and Farrah. “How do you know each other?”
Jazz pursed her lips before sighing. “You can’t say anything to anyone.”
“Lips are zipped.” I mimed the action and grinned at her.
“Farrah and I work together at Les Bijoux.”
“Oh my god, really? That’s so cool!”
“Mama doesn’t know and I’d like to keep it that way. She thinks I work as a gymnastics coach. I’m pretty sure Amara might suspect, but none of the family knows for sure.”
“I won’t tell a soul.”
Jazz’s shoulders dropped with relief. “Good. I didn’t think you’d be a snitch, but better safe than sorry.”
“I get it. I had to jump through a lot of hoops in my old life.”
“It’s not that I think Mama would be mad, or disappointed, but I don’tknowhow she would react and I’m too nervous to find out. She’s pretty chill about a lot of things, you kind of have to be with six omega daughters in the family. I just worry she’s got a conservative streak in there somewhere and we just haven’t found what will make it jump out. I don’t want her baby girl performing on stage in very little clothing to be what does it.”
I nodded, absorbing her concerns. “That’s totally fair. I’ll keep your secret as long as you want me to.”
“You’re part of the sister squad now, so I would expect nothing less.” She held out her pinky finger to me. “Swear a sister’s promise.”
I only knew what a pinky swear was because of movies, but that had been enough education to know I had to hook mine around hers. “I pinky swear your secret is safe with me.”
“So, what’s everyone doing in the baby store?” Farrah asked.
“This one is making me an auntie in about eight months,” Jazz announced. “I came to snoop.”
“Congratulations!” Farrah beamed at me. “I know you were wondering. I’m glad you found out for sure.”
“You’re not here for you, are you?” Jazz asked her. “I’d hate to lose you at work.”
“No, not for me. Razi is having another baby in a few months and the hand-me-downs are getting a little worn, so I’m being a good cousin and getting new stuff for the baby, plus a new outfit for each of the kids so they don’t feel left out.”
“That’s so sweet,” I gushed. “Why wouldn’t you be able to work if you were pregnant?”
“They don’t really recommend flinging around as hard as we do if you’re pregnant,” Farrah explained. “I wouldn’t be able to do more than half my job, and it wouldn’t be safe for me to try working with an altered center of gravity. Thankfully, though, Razi is the only one adding to the family ranks, and I remain the childless spinster auntie who shows up with treats and goes home to sleep in her quiet apartment.”
Jazz laughed. “I love when we twin.”
“I might be proven wrong,” I said carefully, “but I had a painfully quiet home the last few years, and I’m tired of it. I can’t wait to have a whole family living together.”
“You looked overstimulated as hell at the cookout,” Jazz pointed out.
“But that was strangers. It’s different if I know everyone, so the next time there’s a family event, I won’t be so high-strung.”
Jazz nodded. “Fair enough. Let’s pick out some cute stuff together.”
