She nods once. “Yeah. And enjoy your day off.”
And she turns toward the door.
“You could stay over,” I offer, before I think better of it.
She pauses and I persist. “Hang here. Relax here. Before the show.”
She turns to face me fully now, arms folding across her chest defensively like she’s putting something between us before I can step any closer.
“Why would I want to do that?”
Up goes the wall.
“’Cause,” I say simply, because dressing it up will only make it worse, “I want you to.”
She blinks. “You want me to?”
I nod.
She exhales sharply, irritation snapping back into place like armour she knows fits. “Bari. If I spend the day with you, what about Za?”
“What about Za?”
“We have plans to meet after she’s done with church, you know that.”
“I do,” I step closer. “Which is why I asked you to meet with me early, while she's helping mum. But you came late, Francine.”
“What are we, co-parents? I came when I was available, Jabari.”
“Yeah, yeah. And I bet if it was Za you had to meet with it would turn out different. You make time for her!”
The words leave my mouth before I can soften them and I regret it immediately.
She stares at me like I’ve grown another head.
“What do you mean? What do you expect? Sex is one thing, but you really want me to choose you over Za?”
I step even closer without meaning to.
“I’m asking you to just—for once—consider the possibility that I care about you too,” I say. “That I want to be around to celebrate your wins as well. I want to hang out with you, or grab lunch with you. Fuck, I’ll even settle for laying in bed with you after you fuck my brains out. Is that too much to ask?”
The second it’s out, I know I’ve given too much.
Her face hardens instantly and the softness drains.
The shutters come down.
“See,” she waves her index finger at me. “I knew this was a bad idea. I knew you couldn’t be normal about this.”
“Normal?” I scoff, but it’s hollow. “What the hell is normal about us, Francine?!”
“Stop yelling!”
“I’m not! I—” I stop myself mid-breath. Close my eyes. Force my shoulders down. Lower my voice. “I think it’s time we tell Za.”
The room freezes.
“Fuck no!”
