Page 16 of The Price of My Sins
“Oop!” Tiny sat up straight, eyes wide. “Fish? Like, fried or swimming?”
“Swimming,” I said, holding back a chuckle.
She gasped as if I just confessed to a murder. “Girl, that’s the old folks’ sign! Somebody’s pregnant!”
I shrugged, but the warmth rising in my chest was hard to ignore. “Could be. I don’t know… could just be the stress talking.”
Tiny gave me a sly look. “Or your spirit knows something you don’t. Don’t sleep on dreams, Zora. That woman might be carrying your grandbaby and don’t even know it yet.”
My smile faltered just a little, not out of fear but curiosity. The thought of Bo starting a family and building something soft in a world that had been hard for him caused feelings I hadn’t felt in years. It stirred something deep inside me, something close to hope.
“Maybe…” I whispered.
Tiny stretched, letting out a yawn. “Well… if she fumbles that fine man, tell him I’m available. I cook, I clean, and I only scam on the weekends.”
Laughing,I shook my head and folded the picture carefully before tucking it back into the worn pages of my journal. “You’re a mess.”
“And you love me,” she said, sliding down onto her bunk.
She was right. In this cold, heavy place, a little laughter, even with a scammer for a cellmate, kept the darkness from swallowing me whole.
Thinking about my son and my fish dreams, I found myself hoping Bo really was building something new that might finally set both of us free.
I just hoped that when I finally told him the secret I’d been holding, he wouldn’t hate me.
Two weeks later
Ipulled onto the block of Maxi’s Nails and parked my car across the street. I was meeting Lexi and Denim for a girls’ day, something I have been needing lately. Life had been lifing, and honestly, a little pampering and gossip sounded like the perfect therapy.
I grabbed my purse, did a quick lip gloss check in the rearview mirror, and then stepped out of the car. The sun was doing its thing, and my blue dress and jean jacket popped like I knew it would.
Crossing the street, I could already smell the mix of acetone, lavender oil, and burning hot tea tree wax that always lingered around Maxi’s. I pushed the door open and was immediately hit with the warmth of the salon’s bright lights. The smooth R&B played low in the background, along with the familiar chorus of buzzing nail drills.
I made my way to the back. Lexi was already posted in a pedicure chair, sipping on something pink with a straw, and Denim was flipping through polish samples like it was a life-or-death decision. I swear, that girl was so dramatic at times.
“’Bout time!” Lexi called out, grinning. “We thought you ghosted us.”
I smirked and dropped into the chair next to her. “Girl, please. I had to make an entrance.”
Denim didn't even look up. "You’re so extra. But you do look good, as always, boo."
“Thanks, boo,” I said, flipping my imaginary long hair with zero shame. “Now, what's the tea? Y'all kept rushing me like y’all had some news about our orange president.”
Lexi sipped her drink with the kind of smirk that only meant one thing: mess. "You remember Deja, right? Works at the front desk at Deuce’s club?”
I nodded slowly. "Mmhmm. Little miss… I'm not in your business, but I'm listening to everything?'"
“Exactly!” Denim chimed in. “Well, apparently, she saw Bo last weekend... with some random girl.”
“Okay. And? Bo is not my man. He is free to see anyone he wants.” I looked at her with my face frowned up. On the inside, though, a bitch’s heart was crushing by the millisecond. Lexi and Denim knew that I’d broken things off with Bo. But they didn’t know the real truth behind my actions.
Lexi leaned in like we were in a damn spy movie. “He was all hugged up on her outside the club—not even tryna hide the shit. Deja said she saw ole girl putting a suitcase in the trunk… like they were going on a trip. Do we need to go beat his ass? I might be pregnant, but I can kick his big ass in the kneecaps!” She chuckled with a serious face.
“Nah, it’s cool…” I said, keeping it short.
Denim gave me a side-eye. “You sure?”
I laughed, but it didn’t land the way I wanted it to. It felt hollow like it got lost somewhere between my chest and my throat. “I’m sure,” I said, though the words tasted like doubt. “What Bo and I had… it was good. Real good… and I’m not evengonna pretend I don’t miss him, because I do… every damn day.” I paused, eyes fixed on my half-painted nails.
