“Yeah. For Lit with Lily. Classes, storage, supplies, everything. She won’t have to keep hauling tables in and out ofvenues. She won’t have to stack paint in her garage. She can have a real home base.”
CJ whistles. “That’s big.”
“It is,” I say.
Jalen watches me, not smiling. “She asked for that?”
The smile leaves my face. “Why does everybody keep asking me that?”
“Who else asked you?” Tank asks.
“Zea.”
Tank laughs. “Little sister got sense.”
“She’s sixteen.”
“So?” Jalen says. “She asked a good question.”
“It’s a good thing,” I say. “Why are you acting like I bought her a haunted house.”
CJ shrugs. “I mean, if the ghost casa had good lighting and storage, maybe.”
I ignore him.
Jalen leans forward. “I’m not saying it’s bad. I’m asking if it’s hers.”
“It is hers.”
“But did she ask for it?” Jalen studies me.
I blow out a breath. “She wants Lit with Lily to grow. She hates her job. She’s tired. She needs space. I didn’t pull this out of nowhere. I’ve been paying attention.”
Jalen nods slowly. “I believe that.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, paying attention and asking are not the same thing.”
Everybody wants to be deep now. Terrible timing.
Tank lifts both hands. “I’m not getting in this. I bought Joy a car one time and she cursed me out because it was the wrong color.”
CJ frowns. “You bought a woman a car and she complained?”
Tank points at him. “That’s why you’re single.”
“I’m single because I’m desired.” CJ waves his hand on front of him, like he’s the gift.
“You’re single because you don’t listen,” Jalen says.
CJ opens his mouth, then closes it. “That one hurt.”
I stand and grab my bag. “I hear y’all. I do. But once she sees it, she’s going to understand. I left the creative parts for her. I didn’t make it mine.”
Jalen looks at me for a long second. “All right.”
“What?”
