Page 212 of The Sweetest Return

“How many times?”

“That is personal.”

“So more than twice.”

She looked down at her plate.

“Camille.”

“It is not serious.”

“You are glowing like a woman who has been moisturized from the inside.”

She gave me a look. “That is vulgar.”

“That is friendship.”

“It is sex.”

“With Malcolm.”

“With Malcolm.”

“The man you used to argue with so hard I thought one of you might bite the other.”

Her lips pressed together.

“Oh,” I said again, softer this time.

“No.”

“You like him.”

“I like the sex.”

“You like him too.”

Camille reached for her tea, then set it down without drinking.

For once, she did not have a quick answer.

That told me everything.

“It’s okay to really like him, girl.”

Her shoulders lowered.

“You know I have tried to stay far away from love.”

“I know.”

“No, Imani. I mean far. Across the street. Different zip code. Fake phone number. Emergency exit mapped out before appetizers.”

“I know,” I said again, gentler this time. “But you and Malcolm are playing a game that only love wins.”

Her eyes closed for a second.

When she opened them, the shine there made me reach for her hand.