“When you shut him down, it was like something shifted. He wasn’t as confident anymore. He actually shut the fuck up for once.”
“Wow,” I laugh. “You really paid attention to everything.”
She shrugs again. “You gotta when you’re raised the way I was.”
I nod in understanding. “I get that. But what does all this have to do with me?”
“Knowing my brother? When he feels like people aren’t paying him enough attention, he’ll do one of two things: completely shut them out and ignore their existence…” she trails off.
“Or?” I press.
“Or—become obsessed with them acknowledging him.”
I stare at her, then scoff, then laugh outright. “Excuse me, but what?”
My friend has lost it.
“You laugh now, but I’ve seen it. With classmates, teachers, our parents. Even women.”
She fixes me with a pointed stare at that last word.
“No,” I shake my head. “No. No. Not me.”
“Yes you, stupid. He’s gonna try to get you to. I know it.”
This is so amusing to me.
“Well, he’s only gonna hurt his feelings more. I’m not interested.”
She folds her arms, unconvinced. “You say that, but Bari’s persistent. Once he gets something in his head?—”
“Then let him drive himself mad.” I lean back into the booth and fold my arms as well to mimic her. “Me not remembering him? That’s already making him crazy. Anything he does to get a reaction out of me will only make it worse.”
Zaza studies me for a long second, chewing her lip.
Does she really think…?
“Chinaza,” I sit up. “You really think I’d go for it?”
“No. It’s not that. It’s just…he’s not a terrible, irredeemable monster. He’s just a cocky arsehole. If not feeding into it makes him dial it back a bit, maybe we could be close again.”
Her voice softens on that last bit, and I catch something deeper behind her words.
Zaza’s childhood had always been in his shadow—everyone watching Bari, praising him, expecting him to shine. She got used to people using her as a shortcut to get closer to him, or worse, forgetting her entirely. I’d been there through it. That’s why I am her safe place. Her one person who never chose him over her. No matter what I felt before.
“Do you even want that?” I ask carefully.
Her eyes dart around the room in thought. “Maybe.”
Interestingly, I’m actually shocked by her answer. Rebuilding the relationship between her and her brother is something she never discussed with me before. Well, if lowering that ego is what needs to happen to make my best friend happy, so be it.
“Hm. Okay.” I nod, already plotting ways to tear his arrogant arse apart.
For Zaza, of course.
“Frankie,” Za eyes me.
“What?”
