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“Did you drive?”
Twisting sideways so she has a proper view of the parking lot, I point out Mosely. He’s just as tired as I am but insisted on driving me here to meet Yaya. Something I’m sure he regrets now that he’s witnessed our very public make-out session.
If Yaya’s embarrassed about Mosely seeing us kissing, she’s not showing it. She wiggles her fingers at Mosely and signs to me, “He’s still on the clock?”
“I couldn’t have wrapped things up this fast without him. The man needs to sleep for at least twelve hours.”
“What makes you think I won’t order you to do the same?” She takes a half-step toward me, her lips inching up in a smirk.
“I’m only going to bed if you’re coming with me.”
Her eyes light up and I notice that she doesn’t seem at all against that idea.
“All you want to do is sleep?” Yaya signs. Her coyness is enough to send adrenaline firing through my entire body.
However, I didn’t fly all the way back home on two hours of sleep and four cups of coffee to take her to bed and conk out for two days.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I tease her. “At least buy me dinner first.”
She laughs, but it’s cut short by a concerned look. “You haven’t eaten?”
My stomach chooses that time to grumble and I make the mistake of setting my hand there to hide it. Yaya is far too sharp, and she wastes no time shoving me into her car where José is waiting.
“Morning, sir,” José says. “Good to have you back.”
“Thank you for taking care of her while I was gone,” I tell him out loud.
My phone buzzes while José and Yaya start signing.
Mosely: Sir, have you been kidnapped?
Dare: Slight change of plans. You’ll have to carry out the next phase without me.
I feel Yaya’s stare and pocket my phone. “That was Mosely.”
“He’s going home now?” I check to see if her eyebrows lift. Her expression confirms that it’s a question.
It’s a little difficult to ascertain emphasis sometimes. I’m getting better at ASL, but there’s still so much to learn about the structure, grammar, and especially the body language. Facial expressions and body movements are as important in signing as intonations are in speaking conversations.
I give Yaya a tight-lipped smile and side-step the question. “Has Talia given you and your family any trouble?”
“She’s been an angel.”
Funny. “What did she do?”
“I’m no snitch.”
I chuckle. “And I’m not the police.”
“You know that snitches get stitches, don’t you?”
“What ‘stitches’ can a middle schooler give you?”
Yaya laughs, making her eyes sparkle even harder. She stops joking around to explain, “It’s been rocky, but she’s settling into our way of doing things. Plus, she’s been faithful in attending community service.”
“Really?”
I’m surprised to hear that. Talia didn’t mention it. Which means she’s probably enjoying herself and doesn’t want to admit it.
