She’s already halfway across my desk before I can stop her.
“Tasha—no,” I warn, but she’s got one hand on my mouse and the other shoving my chair aside with her hip.
“Oh relax,” she says, swatting my hand away as I try to reclaim my keyboard. “We’re calling her.”
“This ismycomputer!”
“And she’smycousin,” she fires back, clicking furiously.
We end up in a brief, ridiculous tug-of-war—me trying to closeFacetime, her prying it back open, both of us hissing insults under our breath like feral siblings. Somewhere in the chaos, she hits video call.
The screen rings.
“Traitor,” I mutter. “I’m calling HR.”
“WeareHR, stupid.”
The call connects.
“Hey, Mantis!” Tasha beams, immediately crowding the camera.
“Oi! Posh Tash!” a voice shouts back, accented and loud and unmistakably amused. “Is that you, Francine?”
I sigh, straighten my posture, and lean into frame like a reluctant celebrity. “Hello, Mantis.”
“Look at her,” Mantis grins. “All professional. You coming out tonight?”
So these two planned this.
I open my mouth to refuse automatically, but Tasha pinches my arm under the desk.
“Maybe,” I say carefully.
“Maybe,” Tasha echoes loudly.
Mantis lights up. “That’s basically a yes.”
“It’s literally not,” I argue. “I have work. Responsibilities.”
“Boo,” both of them say at the same time.
I glare at the screen. “You’re ganging up on me.”
Mantis leans closer to her camera. “Come out. One drink at the club. One smoke of a new strain. You’ll survive.”
I hesitate, then sigh. “Fine. But I’m talking to Zaza first. And if she says it’s not cool, I’m not going.”
Mantis groans dramatically and it makes me wonder what really is the issue between them. “Ugh. Fine. Go consult the council.”
She starts to move her phone, and I squint at the background behind her with her messy flat, warm lighting, and a framed photo on the wall.
My brain clicks into place.
“I know that guy,” I say slowly. “In your photo. The big one with the locs and tattoos. He stayed in London a few years ago. Theodore, I think?”
Mantis freezes. “…You know Theo? How?”
“Did you fuck him?” Tasha asks.
