“What made you do that?”
“’Cause…” she drags. “You need prayers, innit.”
I suck my teeth. “I’m being serious, Za.”
“So am I.” She just shrugs, not offering anything more.
I chuckle to myself. She’s so easy to read, and it makes me smile.
“Well,” I sigh. “In any case, thank you. I appreciate it. Really.”
She shrugged again. “Whatever.”
I swear I see her cheeks heat, but then again, I may be wrong. Because I could also swear I see Frankie’s soft grin next to me.
After an exhaustively long church service,we make our way outside.
Mum marches over to us as soon as she steps out. Her eyes flick between Zaza and Frankie, her lips already pressing tight.
“You two,” she places a hand on her hip. “Late again. And clearly still drunk—”Well, hungover.“—Why can’t you ever take the things of God seriously?”
Frankie rolls her eyes behind her frames, and Zaza opens her mouth, ready with a retort, but I cut in before it gets messy.
“They weren’t late,” I say quickly. “They were here on time. We just didn’t see them ’cause they were in the back.”
Covering your little sister’s mistake is a part of being a big brother, right?
Mum narrows her eyes, suspicious, but I don’t flinch. It’s a challenge I’m willing to take. If she wants to argue, she’ll have to do it in front of the church members, and she won’t risk that.
“Right?” I push the girls to back me up.
“Right,” they both chorus together immediately.
Mum looks between the three of us before she closes her eyes.
“Fine,” she sighs, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her dress. “But next week, I expect better.”
Zaza shoots me a look of relief and a little curiosity.
“Chinaza,” Mum says like a warning. “Sister Janet wants to greet you.”
We all groan collectively.
Fucking Sister Janet.
“Mummy…” Za begs. “Not today.”
Mum grabs her forearm. “Yes, today. And if you act uninterested, there will be hell to pay.”
“There’s always hell to pay,” I muttered, which earned a little giggle from Frankie.
With a cold glare, Mum pulls Zaza away, leaving me stranded with her best friend.
Her very attractive best friend.
Her very attractive best friend, who smells disgustingly good and looks a million times better.
I wonder if she’s still upset about yesterday.
