The next day, after practice, I drove to Sin’s house to see Mimi. She’d texted me again this morning. Giving her another excuse for why I couldn’t come see her would’ve caused her to worry.
Sin’s house was right next door to Zoo’s. When I pulled in to park behind Mimi’s car, I peered over at Zoo’s house to see if he just so happened to be outside. All I needed was a peek at him. On my way to the front door, my heart sped up at the sound of Zoo’s voice. He sounded like he was in the backyard.
Knocking on the door, I waited for someone to answer, hoping Zoo would see me and miss me just as much as I missed him.
“‘Sup, PJ?” Sin answered the door and let me inside.
Immediately, my eyes went in search of Zoo. He came through the patio door, looking sexy per usual. The smile he’d had on his face dimmed at the sight of me.
“Naomi’s on the patio.”
I was really focused on Zoo, who walked towards me. His gaze traveled the length of my body. Inside, I shouted for joy.
“Hey,” I spoke as he neared.
“‘Sup?” Zoo walked right past me out of the door as if he’d never laid in bed with me. “Call me later,” he said to Sin.
Sensing that something was wrong between the two of us by how Zoo had just brushed me off, Sin followed him out of the door.
“What’s that all about?” Mimi stood by the patio door, hand on her hip.
Forcing myself to smile, I went to hug my sister.
“Uh-uh, don’t try to ignore what I just said.”
“He’s mad at me,” I admitted. Although he said we were still cool, Zoo didn’t evenstopto speak to me.
“Why?”
“I was kinda mean to him the other night.”
Mimi pursed her lips. “Which Penelope was mean? The one who’s in love with him, or the one who’s occasionally a bitch?”
“Mimi! You’re my sister.”
She turned on her heels and went to take a seat on the patio sofa. It was a beautiful day, and Mimi’s skin was glowing under the sun. I was happy to see that she was getting some fresh air and not cooped up in the house. I plopped beside her and laid my head on her shoulder.
Like the big sister she was, she put her arm around my shoulders. This took me back to the time when we were younggirls. Mimi was the big sister any girl would want. Despite our petty little sibling drama, she protected me and loved me to no end. If I wanted the truth, Mimi was going to keep it one hundred with me. No matter how deep her truth cut, Mimi only wanted the best for me.
“Wrong is wrong, boo, even when it comes to men. If they’re trying to do right, then they deserve just as much respect as you’d want from them. So, tell me what you did.”
I explained my side of the story with Mimi side-eyeing me two seconds into me explaining.
“Bitch, wait—” She turned until her body completely faced me. “You told this man to ‘leave you the fuck alone’, and now you’re crying ‘cause he done left you alone?”
“Mimi…”
“Peeg, you are so special, sis.”
While I tried to argue my case, she kept making faces at me.
“I don’t wanna hear anymore. Zoo really likes yo’ ass, and now you ran him off.”
“He doesn’t seem broken up about it,” I said, recalling the smile he’d had on his face before he saw me standing in the doorway.
“What you want? For him to be walkin’ ‘round lookin’ sad like you?”
“No.”
