Page 147 of Tainted

She watched me crawl from the foot of her bed, making myself comfortable beside her.

“As much as you love me, even I couldn’t make you look that sad.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself,” I joked.

Soon enough, her sharp lips would make some generalized comment prying, but she let, me off the hook for now. Nestling closer, I welcomed the solace laying in her bed provided and slept much better than last night.

I woke up feeling slightly better until Banana Girl had jokes.

“I don’t remember you snoring so loud. Good grief, the cows don’t have anything on you.”

“I was tired!” I chuckled, sitting up. It was dark outside, so I had to have slept for a while, but the baby and I needed it.

“You’re too young to be that tired,” Nana chastised.

Three taps came from the hallway, and I knew from the cadence that it was Kenyon. Banana Girl’s voice invited him inside, where he did a much better job pretending things were okay.

“What do you want to eat?”

“I’m not hungry,” I replied.

Banana Girl’s head flipped back and forth like she was in the live taping of General Hospital.

"You have ten minutes to pick something, or I’ll do it,” Kenyon shut the door back, and I rolled my eyes before Banana Girl turned the television off.

“Third time he’s been up here checking on you.” Usually, it would’ve elicited a smile, blushing, or maybe even a combination, but nothing was behind it today. “I’ve never seen such an attitude for a man just trying to care for you.”

“We fought, that’s all.”

“Y’all having a lot of those lately.”

“Seems like it,” I mumbled.

“It comes with the territory,” Banana Girl wrapped her arm around me, “That’s the part they leave out of all the fairytales they show little girls growing up. Nobody is going to love you exactly how you want all the time. So you work at ittogetherbecause as frustrating as it is, life without them would frustrate you more.”

My neck dropped, whimpering, causing her to chuckle as she stroked my back.

“Being grown up isn’t always so fun, is it?” she asked.

“No, it’s not.”

“What’s not?” Brandy asked, busting through the door.

“Where have you been all day?” Banana Girl asked.

“I went and got my nails done with Jewel. We called you,” Brandy said, plopping on the bed.

I scooped my phone up, and there were a bunch of missed calls on the screen.

“I slept the day away. I didn’t get much last night.”

“I hope you used some protection while y’all were up all night.”

“Really, Banana Girl?” I groaned.

“Have you dreamed about fish again?” Brandy egged her on because, for once, the joke wasn’t on her.

“Nope.”

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