Dad shrugs and keeps walking.
Mum mutters under her breath, grabs a pen from the side table, and starts scribbling onto a small shopping list. She tears it off and hands it straight to Frankie.
“This. Go get this quickly.”
Frankie takes the paper, scanning it. “This is a lot of things to get on the tube, Aunty.”
“I could drive you,” I say immediately.
Mum turns to me. “Jabari, it’s your party.”
“I don’t mind,” I reply. “I need the fresh air.”
Za steps forward, not trusting me at all after our talk. “I’ll come too.”
Mum doesn’t hesitate. “No. I need you here to serve the guests.”
Za’s shoulders drop. “Seriously?”
“Seriously,” Mum says firmly. “Go check the drinks.”
Frankie glances at Za.
“We won’t take long,” she says softly. “I promise.”
They exchange one of those silent looks where entire conversations happen without words.
“Okay.” Za exhales. Then she looks at Frankie again. “We should talk when you get back.”
Frankie stiffens just slightly. “Oh… um. Okay.”
I move toward the door,grabbing my keys from the table. “We’ll be back.”
Mum waves us off, already shouting instructions at someone about portions.
Frankie steps outside first and I follow. The door closes behind us, muting the noise of the house.
For a second, neither of us speaks.
Then Frankie lets out a slow breath. “Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“Well she knows.”
“Not fully,” I say. “But she’s circling.”
“Christ. She asked me weird questions earlier too.”
“We can’t keep dancing around this.” I unlock the car and we get in. “She asked if I had feelings.”
Frankie stares straight ahead. “And what did you say?”
“I didn’t answer.”
She turns to me slowly. “You said nothing?!.”
“What was I supposed to say? Yes, I’m in love with your best friend and we’ve been sneaking around behind your back?”
