“I’ve dated girls like that before,” I admit. “Model types. Influencer types.”
“And?”
“And I was bored.”
Her brow lifts.
“They didn’t challenge me, or argue back or grab my dick in the middle of Tesco and risk public indecency charges.”
Her lips twitch.
“They didn’t know me,” I continue. “You know me. Before the cameras. Before the ego. That’s not something you can replace with aesthetics.”
She looks down at her body for a second. Then back at me.
“You ever wish I was smaller?” she asks.
“No.”
“Not even a little?”
“No.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
I grab her chin gently so she looks at me properly. “If you were smaller, you wouldn’t be you. And I like you. You don’t shrink yourself for anyone. Why are you trying to shrink now?”
Her eyes soften at that.
“I don’t care if people think we don’t ‘match,’” I continue. “They don’t know what we are. They don’t know how we think. How we move. How we handle ourselves. If anything, I worry people will find out I’m not good enough for you.”
She actually laughs at that. “Shut up.”
“I’m serious,” I shrug. “You’re the one who bagged a professional athlete.”
She rolls her eyes but she’s smiling properly now.
“I hate that it even crosses my mind,” she admits. “I can’t believe I said it out loud! I can’t believe that I,Francine Campbell,was vulnerable in front of you. Is this what dating is? Exposing your insecurities for the other person to see?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” I say, pushing the trolley again. “Just lots and lots of showing your soft side.”
“Eeeeyuck!”
The music is still playingwhen we get back. Frankie’s still holding the bag with the plantain and I’ve got the rest. The front door swings open hard enough to hit the wall and Za storms out.
Her eyes are red—proper red. Her chest is tight like she’s trying not to sob in front of whoever’s watching from inside. She nearly crashes into Frankie.
“Zee—?” Frankie drops the bag instantly. “What’s wrong?”
Za shakes her head. “I’m leaving.”
“What happened?” Frankie asks softly.
Za laughs, but it’s ugly. “Ask your favourite aunty.”
From inside the house, Mum’s voice carries out but I can’t make out what she says.
Za flinches and Frankie’s jaw tightens. “What did she say?”
