Page 33 of Rich and Rotten

Yaya held her hands up. “Relax. I’m just asking.”

“Do I even have to tell her? It’s one thing for us to know because we’re her parents. Does she really need to know?”

“Tatiana, she needs to know. As much as you don’t want to have this talk with her, this is also her life. You don’t have the right to keep that from her.”

“She’s too young to go through all of this,” I whined, stomping my feet.

Yaya’s phone rang, and she quickly silenced it. “I’m not in the mood to deal with her today.”

“What did she do now?”

“I’m tired of it always being the Sav show. Everyone’s wronged her, and she’s never at fault. Sick of hearing how I’m doing everything wrong.”

I noticed the worn expression cross my best friend’s face. The only time I saw this expression was when she talked about Sav. Yaya wasn’t happy with her before she was locked up, and now she was really miserable in their relationship. Honestly, I never understood why she wanted to be with her. Sav was unpleasant to be around––always suspicious, confrontational, and full of jealousy. I always wondered how Yalina put up with her.

Stress clouded her eyes. “Your birthday is this weekend. It’s bad enough you’re forcing us to go on this business trip during it. Don’t let her ruin this week and weekend for you. Block her until next week.”

She looked up at me. “Do you know the hysteria it would cause with her? She’ll claim it was an emergency because I didn’t answer.”

I came from around the counter, gently took her phone, and silenced the incoming call. I then checked her call log, blocked the prison’s number, and returned the phone back to her.

“Sav’s emergency isn’t your emergency. I think you tell yourself that you’re going to break up when she comes home, but we both know you’re going to stay. Sav will convince you that she’s going to change, and you’ll stay where everything feels familiar.”

“Not you clocking my tea. You need to mind your business and worry about that fine-ass man you need to remember how to climb.”

I playfully shoved her and plopped down in the chair next to her while we laughed.

“Girl, those sweatpants had me forgetting why I was so angry with him.”

Yaya chuckled. “You used to take that, huh? I can see why you were so mad when you had to marry Karim.”

I burst into laughter. “Bitch, too damn soon.”

Yaya laughed. “All I’m saying is that we both find ourselves in situations. Yours isn’t as bad. If I were you, I’d be fucking the shit out of the ghost from my past. Would’ve jumped on him like, ‘Bust me down, baby!’”

“Yalina Blackwell!” I howled at her.

Just then, Nazir swaggered back through the door.

“Like the space?” he asked.

“It’s perfect,” Yaya replied.

“Seems nice.” He stood in front of us with his hands in his pockets. “Where to next?”

“This was the last thing on our jam-packed schedule. It wasn’t too bad, huh?” she joked with him.

He smirked. “Nah. Actually inspiring to see two women holding it down. I’m proud of you, Tata.”

Yaya raised her eyebrows. “Tata? Hmm.”

“Yalina, please,” I rolled my eyes and waved her off.

She laughed. “Anyway, I have some last-minute shopping to do, so me and Smoke will be going to do that.”

Jonah was serious about keeping us all safe. Just like Nazira and I had our own guards, Yaya had the same. He knew she was independent and wouldn’t want to stay at his house long-term, so he made sure she had her own protection. Yaya was accustomed to doing everything herself, never relying on anyone to take care of her. She was the person who took care of everyone.

“Yeah, you go and do that.”