Page 65 of Summer Breakdown
“Do you want your chair, Lan?” Jasmine asks. She needs to carry her up the front steps because Ezra lives in a townhouse, and there’s—oh. That’s what is different. There’s a large, winding ramp that starts at the driveway and hits the back of the house. There used to be steps to get in. It’s newly laid bricks and lined with flowerpots that have barely open flowers.
“I can walk a little bit,” Lani says. “And maybe Ezra will carry me if he’s not cooking.”
It’s true. Lani is rarely in her chair anyway. She likes being carried, or she’ll sit close to someone. Her chair is mainly for travelling and if her hips are hurting.
“Okay, baby.”
Jasmine knocks on the back door, even though it’s open. She can see Ezra moving around his open-plan kitchen. The back garden is small, patioed, but with raised beds full of herbs and flowers everywhere, including tomatoes taller than Lani.
“Hey,” she says, and Ezra waves them in. There’s more than just his voice, but it’s not just Cam. “God, it smells incredible in here.”
“Hi, girl,” Cam says. She’s got a matching apron with Ezra, and heavens know why they’re not together. Cam doesn’t appear aware that Ezra is in love with her, despite the matching aprons and apparent joint-hosting of lunch.
“Hi, Cam-Cam,” Lani says.
Cam spins with a gasp. “Babygirl! Look at your dress!” She always acts so excited to see her, as if Jasmine is ever without them unless it’s at the quiz. It’s nice. Lani holds her arms out, and Cam takes her admiring the dress she bought even though it meant more than one gift. She hugs Marcel with her free arm. “Hi, baby boy.”
Marcel blushes. He has the biggest crush on her. Jasmine hasn’t even said anything, but Cam might know, because Marcel is as subtle as an elephant in a china shop. Ezra looks up. “Hey, champ. Cool shirt.”
“Hi,” Marcel replies. “Did you see the match last night?”
Jasmine smiles as Marcel and Ezra talk about football. Jasmine doesn’t care about football, but she knows everything about it. She’s not mad that she doesn’t have to dissect the match with Marcel, though.
Jasmine looks at the rest of Ezra’s place. She can only see the kitchen and dining room from here. The walls are exposed brick, with wooden worktops and a butcher’s bench. He’s so fancy. There are plant shelves, some bakingappliances, and Frankie sat on the small couch. She’s wearing slightly baggy trousers and a loose top. Jasmine’s not sure she has makeup on—maybe some mascara. Lord, she’s so attractive.
Jasmine smiles. She might have been hoping Frankie was here too.
“Hey,” Frankie says, with a small smile.
“Hi, Frankenstein,” Jasmine replies.
“Mama, you can’t call Frankie ‘Frankenstein’ unless you have a monster name. That’s the rules.”
Jasmine frowns. “What’s my monster name?”
“You don’t have one,” Lani replies, her legs swinging off the counter as she helps Cam plate up some cupcakes.
Jasmine crosses her arms. “So I can’t call her ‘Frankenstein’?”
Lani’s brows furrow. “Correct.”
Frankie laughs, and Jasmine glares at her. “This is sacrilege,” she mutters, and Frankie smiles. She looks beautiful.
“You look pretty,” Jasmine says.
Frankie looks down at her outfit. “Thanks.”
Jasmine smiles. “You okay?”
Frankie nods, then, after Jasmine raises her eyebrows, Frankie asks, “Are you?”
Jasmine hums. “Yeah, thanks. I’m excited for whatever smells this good.”
“Ezra cooks every now and then. It’s always divine. You should have worn baggier trousers.” Frankie looks her up and down slowly. Jasmine tries not to buckle under her gaze. When she bought these linen, wide-legged trousers, she’d wanted to ask Frankie’s opinion on them, but she was in a meeting, and Jasmine had to get to the school run.
“No one told me the rules,” Jasmine says. She’ll unbutton them; she has little to no shame. She wonders when Mali and Zach are going to turn up. Maybe Kai too, if he’s not still pretending to be madat Frankie.
“They look good,” Frankie says quietly. Before Jasmine has a chance to blush, she carries on. “Be warned, my parents will be here soon, and they will try and give the kids sweets.”
