“Easy,” he shrugs. “You’ve been doing a great job so far.”
He’s testing me, I know it. There’s this tiny, smug tilt to his mouth that makes me want to throw something at him.
“Unless you suddenly remember something, hm, Francine?” His tone dips lower when he says my name, and I swear my pulse skips.
He’s staring now, waiting for my answer. And he’s leaning in close enough that I can smell his cologne—clean, faintly citrusy, and maddeningly good. His gaze drags across my face, and I silently pray my mother got every last stray hair when she plucked earlier.
“No, I don’t…” I blink up at him, feigning confusion. “What’s your name again?”
He laughs, but when my face doesn’t change, the sound falters.
“You’re joking, right?”
Za groans. “Bari, we’re in the middle of a serious discussion, so if you could please leave, that would be great.”
“Please,” he echoes, mocking her tone and opening one of his many ice lollies. “What could you possibly be talking about that’s more important than me?”
I shoot her a look.Does he hear himself?
“Literally anything,” she fires back.
“Like?”
“Our broken coffee table,” I cut in. “So, unless you’ve got a carpenter tucked somewhere behind that massive ego, I suggest you fuck off.”
My reply must be amusing to him because he grins, and it’s that kind of grin that people do when they know they’re getting under your skin.
“I could fix your table.”
Za laughs. “Yeah, right.”
“No, serious.” He shrugs before taking a massive bite of the lolly that finishes it instantly. “How hard could it be?”
“Do you even have experience with that?” Za asks.
He discards the popsicle stick and opens another. “I made a stool in woodworking class once.”
“My God,” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I think we should end the conversation now.”
“Plus, it’s free,” he says, doing the same thing to yet another ice lolly.Who the hell eats ice lollies this way?I know my face is painted in judgment.
Za gasps. “You’re hired!”
I blink at her. “Wait—huh?”
“Come on, Frankie. It’s free.”
He grins wider, clearly enjoying himself. “It’s gonna be the best fucking coffee table ever made by man. I’ll stop by tomorrow after training.”
I look at Za in confusion, and she only gives me a warm grin.
Didn’t she just vent to me about her brother’s arrogance less than twenty-four hours ago?
I thank Jah that my parents only procreated once because mi nah understand this siblings ting none at all.
six
playing the field.
