“Last night when you said you two were going out on the phone,” he says, dead serious, “I expected day drinking.”
“I didn’t expect you to invite yourself to me and Za’s day.”
“Please,” he says. “You lot had nothing better to do.”
I roll my eyes, but the corners of my mouth betray me. Fuck. Maybe I do need a drink.
He spots Za at the end of the aisle and lift his huge hand like his tall arse has to do anything to be noticeable.
“Oi!”
She looks up, sees us, and starts walking over.
“You’re paying, right?” I poke his chest.
He blinks. “For the books or the drinks?”
“Both, big man,” I say. “Come on. Swipe that card. Professional athlete.”
He grins. “Why should I pay for your things? What’s in it for me?”
“I let you touch me,” I say without missing a beat. “That’s more than you deserve.”
He laughs. “That doesn’t seem fair.”
“I could always stop,” I add. “If you want me to.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “My God. Woman. Does everything have to be a quip with you?”
I shrug, unbothered. “You could always stop talking to me.”
Za arrives just in time to hear that.
“We are out in public, Abeg!” she says, looking between us. “Can’t you two manage to get along for twenty minutes?”
“We weren’t even fighting this time,” I say.
“Exactly,” Jabari adds. “We’re actually playing nice.”
“It doesn’t sound like it.”
I let out a sharp breath, rubbing my forehead. “Yeah. I need a fucking drink. Should we try the pub?”
Za shakes her head immediately. “No. I want a Caesar salad with chips. Think Benny’s is packed?”
My body stiffens before I can stop it. “No Benny’s.”
She turns to me, frowning. “What? Why?”
“It’s just gonna be awkward,” I mutter. “We haven’t talked much.”
The silence that follows is brief but loud. I don’t have to look at Jabari to feel his attention lock onto me.
“Who’s Benny?” he asks, too casually.
“A guy.”
“Hm. I’m guessing he was a part of that infamous roster.”
