Page 216 of Tell Me I'm Enough

He stops mid-sentence, and I can’t stop the intrigued smile that creeps onto my face.

“Watching what?”

“Nothing,” he says too quickly.

“What were you up watching?” I ask him again, insisting.

“None of your business.”

“Oh, come on. Ineedto know now.”

He lets out a long sigh, and my smile gets bigger. “I was up watching…”

“Uh huh…”

“America’s Next Top Model,” he murmurs.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t really hear you. Can you repeat that?”

“No,” he says flatly.

I let out the laugh I was holding in, and it feels good, feels like exactly what I needed.

“My favorite episode is the one where Cassandra from cycle five walks out,” I say.

Now I hear Bash trying not to laugh on the other end of the call. “Since when doyouwatch America’s Next Top Model?”

I pause, hating the memories that pop up.

“Um, I—“ I shake my head. “Simone always had me watching it with her.”

Bash sucks his teeth. “So that’s why Lydia loves it so much, huh?”

I smile at the thought of them two. “I love seeing you in love, man.”

“Shut up. I know you can’t be talking. I see how much Simone has you wrapped around her finger.”

“Had,” I say without thinking.

He lets that sit for a moment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I’ll fix things with her once I get my shit together.”

“Well, I’m rooting for ya.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Anytime,” he replies. “And I know you’re just gonna gag when I say this, but…I’m proud of you.”

I make a gagging sound and then force a small laugh.

Trying not to get emotional, I find a reason to get off the call after that. “I um…I gotta run, okay?”

“Of course. Call whenever, Mase.”

“I will.”

The call ends, and the room goes quiet again.