I bolt down the hallway, shoe buckles clacking loudly until I reach the lift and smack the button repeatedly until it dings.
Bless God.
The doors slide open, and I dive inside just as he turns the corner. The lift starts closing as he approaches and I mash the button to close it faster.
“Can we at least?—”
“NO!”
The doors seal and I finally breathe. I press my palm to my forehead.Calm down, Francine.
You’re grown.
You pay bills.
You file taxes.
No one can kill you for making one mistake?—
Oh God.
Zaza.
Za candefinitelykill me for this mistake.
Oh, I am so catastrophically fucked.
How did I even get in this position? ?What the fuck was I thinking? Like, honestly.
I replay last night’s ‘dreams’ in flashes, and each one makes my stomach drop harder.
Did I really think turning on DEXTA DAPS was gonna result in anything other than fucking? Mr. Bedroom? Mr. Call me if?
But scratch all that.
How did I even get in Jabari’s bed to begin with? What demon possessed me to go back to his spot with him? Get in hiscar? Where did it all go left? When I left the club? No… much earlier than that. When did I even… When?—
Oh no.
No. No no no.
I pull out my phone and speed dial. “Hey, how was last—” Tasha starts.
“Put Mantis on the phone. NOW.”
“Christ. Alright. Calm down.” Shuffling goes on in the background and someone whispers, ‘what did you do?’
Then:
“Heeyyyyy.”
“Don’t ‘heyyyy’ me,” I snap. “What the fuck was that new strain?”
“Oh, that?” she says, too lightly. “It’s good, ain’t it?”
“Samantha I swear I’d skin you with my teeth right now. What the fuck did you give me?”
“That’s what we callOne Love, babe. It evens out all negative emotions.”
