I don’t understand signing body parts. Please don’t tattoo my name on your body. I do not give permission. I’ve never said that to anybody, but I really hope no one’s ever done that.
Once I’m finished, I look up and Zea is gone.
I scan the area and see her talking to Lily.
I feel sweat prickling my skin.
I want to walk over there, but I don’t want to walk over there. What am I going to say? “Hey, Lily...” and then what? I’ve got no game plan. I wasn’t expecting to see her here.
Zea is animated as she speaks.
I approach quietly and stand behind my sister.
Zea elbows me. “Look who’s here.”
I nod and smile at Lily, my mouth feeling heavy.
“Hey, Javonte,” she says. “How’s it going?”
I nod, mute for a second, then clear my throat. “Things are good. Just out shopping with my sister.”
She looks between the two of us and smiles. “Y’all look just alike.”
Zea nods. “Except I’m pretty.”
Lily laughs. “Of course. You’re the pretty version of him.”
“Well, what does that make me?” I ask.
“You,” Zea says. “It makes you you. Stop trying to make this about you. It’s about me. Main character.”
Lily bursts out laughing and looks at me with wide eyes, giving a little shrug like she doesn’t know what to do with her either.
“What are you getting into?” I ask her.
“I just needed a little retail therapy, so I bought a couple of things.” She motions towards Zea’s bags. “Not nearly as much as Miss Zea here.”
“My brother spoils me,” Zea says, leaning into me.
“Not by choice,” I say.
“You love me.”
“Of course I do. And that’s why I can’t tell you no.”
Lily makes eye contact with me, a small smile on her face.
“We don’t want to hold you up,” I tell her and tug Zea away.
“He misses you,” Zea whispers to her.
“Zea!”
“You know it’s true. You keep orbiting her, but when are you going to talk to her.”
Lily’s mouth falls open, and she laughs.
“Not right here.”
