Page 68

Ms. Janette looked over at her. “You Selene, ain’t you?”

Selene blinked. “Yes, ma’am. You remember me?”

“Girl, please. As much as you girls look like y’all muva. Was Derrick in the room?”

We all burst out laughing, cackling loud as hell and making people stare. Ms. Janette rolled her eyes at the lady who passed by us, then focused on me.

Her lips curved into a grin. “Juvie told me you his agent now. Told me y’all makin’ a lot of money too.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Mmhmm. How’s that workin’ for y’all?”

“Ms. Janette. Why are you asking me that?”

She sucked her teeth, then looked me over again. “All I did was ask a question. Calm down. Both of y’all get so defensive.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Selene stood behind me, giggling like this shit was funny. Ms. Janette looked between Selene and me, then pushed her shades back up her nose.

“Mmhmm. Well, whatever y’all got goin’ on, fix it.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“See, that right there. Y’all always act like I’m slow.”

Selene’s messy ass was still behind me, laughing. Ms. Janette ignored her, laser-focused on me.

“Juvie came by my house after that little event y’all had. Sat on my couch, quiet as hell.”

My stomach dipped. “Okay… and?”

“And nothin’,” she sassed. “That’s the problem. That boy will talk to me from the time he walks through my door until he gets to his car. If Juvie sittin’ in my house quiet, some shit wrong. I asked him what was wrong, and he gon’ tell me, ‘Nothin’, Granny. Just got a lot on my mind.’”

She mocked his voice so perfectly that I almost laughed. At the same time, my cheeks warmed, and I didn’t realize I was digging my nails into my hand until my knuckle cracked.

“Then he was sitting there, huffing and puffing, and still wouldn’t tell me what was wrong with his ass.”

“Ms. Janette, that could’ve been anything.”

“Could’ve.” She shrugged. “Then I asked him if it had anything to do with you.”

Selene grabbed my arm. “What did he say?”

I snatched my arm away. “Selene!”

Ms. Janette’s grin got wider. “He ain’t say shit.”

“That don’t mean nothing,” I said, folding my arms across my chest.

“Okay, Juicy. Whatever you say, baby.”

Selene was damn near vibrating beside me. Ms. Janette grabbed her cart again and pulled her glasses off fully.

“All I know is, my grandson ain’t been acting like himself since that event. And now I run into you, lookin’ nervous, face red as hell. All because I asked how working together was goin’. You kids tell on yourself.”

My hand went to my cheek before I could stop myself. Ms. Janette leaned in, kissed my cheek, then hugged Selene.

“Tell Marley to call me. And tell Shaina I said hey, too.”