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She sniffed and dabbed under her eyes. “I’m a little emotional.”
“Get out.”
She ignored me. “What y’all eating?”
That part I had already handled. “Chef at the resort is packing everything.”
Yoli nodded approvingly. “Drinks?”
“Water, sparkling shit, and everything for lemon drops.”
“Of course.”
I shrugged. “She likes them.”
She stared at me for a long moment. I stared back before giving in.
“What now?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“You doing that shit again.”
“Nothing,” she repeated, her voice softer this time.
I knew her well enough to understand the difference in her tones. She wasn't teasing anymore.
“What?”
Yoli looked at me. Like really looked at me. “You happy?”
That caught me off guard. I looked toward the glass doors. Beyond them, sunlight glittered across the pool where Topaz had been wrapped around me the night before.
Happy wasn’t a word I used much. Saadiq Masters was successful, proud, sometimes satisfied. I’d built something from very little. My kids were healthy. My father was still here to see the man I’d become. I had more money than I had ever imagined when Yoli and I were young, hungry, and making choices that could’ve easily put either one of us in the dirt.
I had a good life. But Topaz— I smiled before I could stop myself. Yoli saw it.
“Damn,” she murmured. “You happy. My nigga!”
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t say nothing!”
“You about to.”
She laughed. “Nah. I’m gon’ leave you alone.”
That might have been the biggest lie she ever told. She started gathering her things.
“By the way,” I said, “you’ve been here three days and somehow Reign has eaten every meal with you.”
Yoli froze. Now it was my turn to smile.
“That work-related?” I asked.
She flipped me off. “Fuck you.”
I laughed. “Now, I’m just observing.”
