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“What’s your name?”
“Imani,” I said after chewing.
“Are you and João dating?”
João choked on his stew and shook his head, leaning against the counter. “No.”
“Then, why is she here?”
“A school project, Ana.”
“Yeah, but you don’t even do any of your schoolwork ever.”
This time, it was my turn to choke on the stew as a laugh bubbled up from my belly. This girl was hilarious, the complete opposite of João.
“So, you like her,” Ana continued, pursing her small lips at João like she knew all his secrets. “It’s the only logical explanation—unless she’s your tutor, but I don’t know who would ever want to tutor someone like you, you icky head.”
Deciding that Ana and I were now best friends, I sat at the table across from her and leaned closer. “I think he’s an icky head, too.”
Ana giggled and smiled up at João. “Your girlfriend even thinks you’re one.”
João mumbled something in Portuguese to himself, running his dish under warm water in the sink, but then looked over his shoulder at me and Ana and actually … gave us the smallest of smiles. I thought he thought I hadn’t caught it, but I had.
After we finished, I grabbed my and Ana’s bowls and cleaned them in the sink. João stood off to the side. He must have sent a message in the group chat we had because my phone buzzed in my skirt pocket. Yes, my skirt did have pockets.
Then, João turned to me. “Didn’t think I’d see anyone like you washing dishes.”
I cut my gaze to him. “That’s because you keep thinking that I’m someone I’m not.”
Not speaking further on it, he called something to his mom. Then, to me, he said, “We have to go.”
Ana jumped up and looked at him. “Wait! Mommy and I made brigadeiros. You should have one before you leave.” She opened the fridge and stood on her tippy-toes to reach a plate of twenty balls of what looked to be fudge or chocolate of some sort. “Take one.”
Instead of taking one, João took two for himself. I grabbed one and thanked her, saying good-bye as João led me out of the house.
Before I could eat mine, he ushered me to the car. “We’re late. The guys are waiting.”
