We make it to the front door before Mrs. Mac calls out, “Don’t forget we have church in the morning!”
Zaza groans. “Mum…”
“And I don’t want to see either of you girls stumbling in half-drunk. Understood?”
Zaza rolls her eyes, muttering something under her breath. I catch Jabari smirk, finally breaking his broody mood.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say sweetly, just to play along.
Mrs. Mac beams. “Good girl. Unlike some people.”
She throws a pointed look at Zaza.
As we step outside, the cool night air hits me, and I can still feel his gaze lingering.
It’s ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
And yet… I don’t hate it.
“And didyou see how Mum didn’t even say anything when he got the ice lolly?” Zaza drops her bag beside her with a huff.
Benny’s is half-full as the usual Friday night crowd spills into booths with chatter, and the music is low how I like it.
Zaza and I slide into our usual spot by the window, menus already ignored because we both know what we’ll order.
A pint, chips, and a Caesar salad.
I share her frustration as I drag out, “Yesss. And I bet he only got one because she told you no.”
Za’s eyes widen. “Exactly! He took one and got no lecture or anything. Meanwhile, I so much as look at a can of Coke and I’m getting a sermon.”
I snort.
“I will say, I sort of expected him to come back with a much heavier accent. He sounds almost the same as us.”
“That’s ‘cause he’s been media-trained,” she props her hand up on her cheek. “Plus it’s not like he was actually hanging around locals.”
My eyebrows knit together. “He wasn’t?”
“Girl no! Did I not tell you?”
“Chinaza,” I say seriously. “I know I was joking earlier but I’ve really forgotten most of your brother's lore.”
“Oh! Well let me tell you!” She leans in like she’s trading country secrets. “So basically, he was giving a lot of problems in school?—”
“Doing?”
“Girl, I don’t know!” She’s so animated as she chats her brother's business. “Anyway. My parents decided to step in and remove him. Daddy thought a prep school would be best but Mommy was hell bent on sending him to Nigeria.”
“Makes sense, she’s from there.”
“Frankie please. That lady left home when she was nine. My grandmummy raised her here. The only reason she sent Jabari over there was to prove to people back home she wasn’t going soft as a mother.”
“… Huh?”
“And! Daddy made such a big deal about it that the only way he’d compromise is if Bari got sent to a private, prep school with the best football program. He didn’t even stay on their campus! They paid a family over £5000 a month to let him stay in their guesthouse. And Mommy was so paranoid the whole time, she flew there months later, begging for him to come back and act right.”
I blink slowly. “… £5000?”
