following Mom out to the car.
 
 Mom starts the engine
 
 and pulls out toward home.
 
 She hums along
 
 to a Beyoncé track for a few moments
 
 and then abruptly turns it off and says:
 
 You’re being an asshole.
 
 Excuse me?! You can’t just say
 
 that to me.
 
 I can and I will.
 
 Because I too have asshole tendencies.
 
 I love youbut
 
 it takes one to know one.
 
 I’m speechless.
 
 The good news is, Mom continues,
 
 asshole behavior can be changed
 
 if you want.
 
 So, please, Junie, don’t let me and Mama
 
 be the reasonyou never go after love.
 
 Jamison is not the only one
 
 who needs to apologize to Lyric.
 
 I know you two think you’re being all business savvy
 
 dating for clicks on BeautyStarz
 
 and pretending you’re just friends
 
 but anyone with two eyes and a heart
 
 can see you have a deeper connection.
 
 How do you even know—
 
 you’ve barely seen us together?!
 
 I scoff.
 
 I’ve seen enough
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 