And there she is.
Same eyes. Same stance. Same quiet confidence that fills a space before she even says anything.
“Ahhhh!” I shriek.
And we embrace. For a second, everything in me settles, I can breathe again but it ends quicker than I expect. She pulls away first and I seeherstanding just behind Za’s shoulder.
Something in my chest drops.
Who the fuck…
Za grins. “Miss me?”
“Obviously,” I reply, stepping aside waiting for her to address the girl shaped elephant in the room. “Who’s this?”
“Oh!” She smiles brighter. “This is Nia. Since the show’s in town and she doesn’t know anyone around here, I invited her over.”
Nia waves. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I echo.Proper awkward.“So, she from your show?”
“Yeah, remember when you saw me in May? She was on stage too.”
“Oh,” I look her up and down trying to place her. “Who’d you play?”
“You won’t know to be honest.”
Bitch.
Nia shifts her weight. “It’s really nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
My brow lifts before I can stop it. “Oh yeah?”
Za cuts in quickly. “Only good things.”
“Good,” I say, still looking at Nia. “That’s good.”
Another awkward pause.
Nia smiles, a little tighter this time. “This place is nice.”
“Thanks.”
“So…” Za says, glancing between us.
“So,” I repeat.
“Aren’t you gonna let us in?”
Right.
“Yeah—yeah, come in,” I say quickly, stepping back fully now.
They both walk in and Za moves like she knows the space while Nia lingers a second longer, taking everything in properly before stepping further inside. I close the door behind them.
“Shoes off?” she asks.
“Yes please,” I say. “Jabari can’t stand prints after a wax.”
