Page 70 of Prickly Romance

“With me?”

“And Sazuki.”

My lips drop flat.

He retreats, his eyes still on me. “If you, by chance, have an opportunity to speak to Sazuki, would you mention me. I—whoa.” He almost stumbles into a skater who’s wheeling past. He recovers quickly, though a flush spreads up his neck. “I’d love to do a collaboration if possible.”

“I’m not that close to Sazuki,” I say.

“That’s alright. Just mention it to him. That’ll be enough.”

“What was that about?” Yaya signs when the teacher bumbles away.

“Later,” I say. Leaning over, I take off the boombox.

Growing up, Yaya loved blasting her favorite songs. Because she could only ‘feel’ the music, having the volume turned up helped her experience the changing rhythms.

I wonder how much easier her life would have been if Sazuki and Adam’s technology had been available to her.

Should I ask Sazuki to save one of the prototypes for me?

Would he think I’m annoying for asking?

No more thinking about Sazuki. Off limits, remember?

My sister slings an arm around my neck. With one hand, she signs, “What’s running through your pretty head?”

“Thoughts of you,” I gesture.

She lifts her chin as if to say ‘makes sense’.

Yaya has confidence in spades. It helps that she is, genuinely, one of the most beautiful women in the world. She’s tall, curvy, athletic and fearless. I know she’s going to make it big one day.

“Does dad know you’re here?” I sign.

She gestures, “I thought we could visit him together.”

“He’s going to freak.”

She drags a finger down her eye to her cheek. “Mom will cry.”

I snort. “She totally will.”

“I’m here to get you first,” she signs. “They’ll be less dramatic.”

I laugh.

Yaya slings her arm around my waist and hugs me to her. She smells like cocoa butter and sunshine.

I tuck my head against hers. After all the crap that’s been going on, seeing Yaya is the absolutebestthing that could have happened to me.

Yaya bounces me with her hip and signs, “Let’s catch a taxi and go home. ”

* * *

We were wrong.

Dad is the one who cries.

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