Page 15 of Intentional Foul
Anissa pointed to my hand. Instead of a potato, I was peeling a banana.
“Sorry, my mind is someplace else,” I said, dropping the peeler.
She touched my hand before she spoke. “Jhae, you know we can talk about it,” Anissa offered, but Malcolm re-entered the kitchen.
“I’m okay. After the potato salad, I’m going to leave. I need some rest,” I said.
“Yea, running will do that to you,” Marquise added, before he blew bubbling noises into his sister’s puffy cheeks.
Malcolm positioned himself at the tip of the island again. My breath hitched, but I calmed myself after I glanced over at Anissa. With her standing in the kitchen with us, he wouldn’t get out of line.
“Where have you been, Jhae? You been ducking me,” Malcolm said.
I transported the potatoes to the sink to rinse them without answering his question.
“Cold,” Marquise instigated.
“Jhae,” he said, and I ignored him, washing the potatoes repeatedly.
Malcolm, please chill out before Anissa starts asking questions.It’s as if he was challenging me.
“Jhae,” Malcolm said.
“Anissa, we should double date at the new restaurant a few blocks away from my condo. Is Caleb allergic to shellfish?” I asked, lifting the pot of potatoes out of the sink.
“You’re not available,” Malcolm said.
Both Anissa and I turned our bodies in his direction. Malcolm’s full attention landed on me.
“Malcolm, what is going on with you?” Anissa asked, and I folded my arms and smirked.
“This is going to get good, ain’t it, Khaira,” Marquise said from the table.
“Jhae isn’t going out on a date with nobody,” Malcolm doubled down and my hands trembled as I swallowed hard.
“And why can’t she go on a date?” Anissa asked.
Malcolm’s eyes danced from his mother’s back to me. I begged him to shut the fuck up from the inside.
“He is looking out for me like any nephew would. Being you are my sister, and I would never do anything to jeopardize our bond,” I said.
Finding a distraction, I selected a grape from the bowl of fruit resting on the counter.
“I am not your nephew. Mom is an only child,” Malcolm countered.
“Malcolm!” Anissa said.
Khaira’s giggles turned into tears, drawing attention from everyone in the room. Marquise bounced his sister to comfort her, but she continued to cry.
“Come on,” Anissa said to her crying daughter. She reached for her but Khaira rejected her, hugging her brother and crying harder.
“Marquise, follow me into her room to get her changed and a bottle. Jhae, can you keep an eye on the food?” Anissa asked.
We weren’t alone for two minutes before Malcolm boxed me in with his hands.
“Have you lost your mind?” I whisper yelled.
“Stop avoiding me, Jhae. Are you trying to kill me? I haven’t seen your beautiful face in two months. Why are you not wearing the matching earrings to your necklace I sent you?” he asked.
