Page 206 of Kentrell

A moment passed. Then:

Mars

Stacia

Oh it’s like that now…

Ayesha

Zoe, I get it… but still… like this is crazy.

You had my auntie crying to my mama about you.

We were all worried.

Like… is you coo, Zoe?

My jaw clenched.

Not at them.

At her.

My mother… running to my auntie’s house… dialing up the dramatics like she wasn’t the reason I didn’t want to answer anyone’s call.

Playing the victim like she didn’t know exactly why I left.

I could picture it:

Her, dabbing fake tears with a dish towel… sitting on Aunt Peggy’s couch, talking about how she was so “worried” while knowing full well she’d been the one to wreck me.

I pulled in a slow breath, thumbs back to work.

Me

Tell your mama to give her a tissue.

Look… we about to go to bed.

I can’t deal with this right now.

Ayesha

Wow.

You bogus as hell Zoe.

Letting dick scramble your fucking brain.

I blinked at the screen, then let out a dry, tired laugh I didn’t know I had left.

Stacia jumped in fast:

Stacia

Ayesha NO!

Don’t do that!

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