“And you,” she says, rounding on me now. “You were the one telling me to talk to her! You were the one telling me she loved me! You were the one saying she’d never do anything to hurt me! You sit there and let me cry to you about her!”
I don’t even know what to say.
“You’re my brother,” she says, voice shaking. “You’re supposed to protect me. Not— not sneak around with the one person I trust more than anyone else in this world.”
“I love her,” I say before I can stop myself.
Za freezes.
Frankie’s head snaps toward me.
“What?” Za presses.
“I love her,” I repeat.
Silence detonates in the room and I stand next to Frankie.
Za’s laugh takes over. “Of course you do.”
“Za—” I try but she doesn’t even let me explain.
“No, it makes sense,” she says, nodding. “You get bored of everything else, why not ruin my life too?”
“That’s not fair?—”
“Oh it’s not fair?!” she yells. “Well, what part of this is fair, Jabari?! You lying to my face for months? You sneaking into my flat for my best friend? You letting me defend you to her while you’re in her bed?!”
Frankie steps forward. “It’s not him you’re mad at Za. It’s me.”
“I can multitask!” Za screams. “The two of you can get it at this point!”
“But we can talk this out,” I try. “Let’s all just calm down and have an adult conversation.”
“Wow.” Za wipes her face roughly. “Where was this energy yesterday?”
Damn.
My lips fold automatically before she turns her attention away, addressing Frankie. My poor Jelly is trying, and failing to hold in tears.
“You really are something else, you know that?”
“I’m sorry, Zee?—”
“No, I’m serious. Like, of all the guys in all of London. After all the men you went through.Jabari?Seriously? Come on, Frankie. I thought you had more self respect than that. But, then again, what else could I expect from Croydon’s mattress?”
Frankie doesn’t even hesitate. Her hand connects with Za’s face so hard her head snaps to the side.
For half a second, no one moves.
“Don’t fucking disrespect me,” Frankie states coldly.
Then Za lunges. They crash into the coffee table I took my time repairing, knocking it sideways as they grab at each other, hands in hair, nails digging into arms.
“Don’t you ever—” Frankie starts.
“You’re a fucking snake!” Za yells back, shoving her.
They stumble into the wall and I grab for them but…
