Zaza’s laughing beside him, shoulders shaking, face open and easy in a way I don’t feel right considering she spent so much time complaining about how he was always getting special treatment from everyone else.
And Jabari’s talking. “—and Mum was so mad at you!”
Zaza groans. “Mum’s always mad at me…”
“I don’t know why,” he shrugs before taking a bite of something.
“Of course you don’t,” she rolls her eyes in annoyance. Then she notices me. “Oh. Did we wake you up?”
I know I look unhinged.
Hair everywhere.
Shirt hanging off me.
Fists clenched at my side.
“Why are you here?” I ask simply in my very tired voice.
Jabari turns to face me slowly, eyes flicking over me like he’s amused. “I came to see my sister. Is that a problem?”
“Yes,” I say, instantly. “When you’re shouting while I’m trying to sleep, it is a big fucking problem.”
Zaza steps forward. “Cici, I’m sorry. We weren’t thinking about being that loud we’d wake you. We’ll tone it down.”
But Jabari just shrugs.
Hm.
That shrug does something to me. Like my comfort, my sleep, my space don’t register as things worth caring about.
Then he takes a bite of whatever that was he was eating again.
It was so flaky it was sprinkling across his beard. Like chunky glitter.
Yellow, flaky… wait.
I feel my stomach drop.
“Is that my veggie soy patty?” I ask, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it.
“Is it?” He glances at it. Chews. “I don’t know, just was starving after practice so I grabbed the first thing I saw.”
Something tightens behind my eyes.
“I’m going to combust,” I say quietly.
“Kinky,” he replies, smiling.
My eyes are twitching now.
“Jabari,” Zaza snaps. “Stop teasing her. Cici, look. I’ll replace the one he ate. Okay?”
He takes another bite.
“You can’t replace it. My dad sent the pack from Jamaica.”
She stills. “Well, it’s just one, right? You wouldn’t miss it.”
