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I don’t let her little dig get to me.
Niko tugs my hand. “Can you stay with us?” she signs.
“Oh right.” An oily smile spreads across Ashanti’s face. “Did you ask her about dinner, Sazuki?” Her smugness thickens. “I told him to invite you over during breakfast this morning.”
They’re havingbreakfasttogether?
My nostrils flare as an image of Sazuki, his legs entangled with Ashanti’s under the table, sipping coffee and feeding each other pancakes, flits through my mind.
If they were having breakfast, then what were they doingbeforebreakfast.
More images assault me.
Sazuki’s eyes burning. Ashanti digging her fingers into his hair. The tangle of their legs and then their lips…
I struggle not to let my disgust show.
Sazuki’s fingers dig into my shoulder as if he wishes to anchor me to his body. It’s not enough.
I thought I could do this.
I really did.
But I don’t want to be a petty person. This small conversation is just a taste of what interacting with Ashanti will be like. And I don’t like myself when I feel small or when I try to make others feel small.
I look up at Sazuki.
He understands without me saying a word. “I will take Dejonae home. I kept her out all day.”
Niko pushes out her bottom lip. She signs, “Please.”
Why is she so cute?
I have one—and onlyone—weakness.
And I think it’s this little girl.
With a sigh, I give in to her. “Okay.”
Sazuki looks alarmed. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Adam and Nova descend the stairs and see our little dramatic reunion.
“Hey, Niko.” Adam greets the little girl warmly.
She gives him a shy wave.
Nova’s eyebrows furrow when she notices Ashanti. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Niko’s mother.” The wind tugs a lock of Ashanti’s brown hair. It dances elegantly.
“Niko’s… mother?” Nova’s eyes stray to me.
Heat burns my cheeks. Given the way Sazuki and I were making out on the plane, it makes sense that she’d have questions about why his ex-wife is suddenly showing up in front of us like we’re one big happy family.
Ashanti gives both Adam and Nova bright smiles. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
