Page 114 of The Best Shot

“Objectively.”

“Yasmine.”

“It’s not a lie, CeeCee.”

“You’re not putting that on my baby.”

“I’m not putting it on your baby. I’m putting it on my nephew.” I dropped the onesies into the cart.

She shook her head, watching me like I was a little ridiculous, but she didn’t mind it.

A soft gray elephant sat on the bottom shelf, big enough that its ears flopped over its feet. I crouched and dragged it into my arms.

“No,” CeeCee said.

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

“That thing is bigger than the baby.”

“For now. He’ll catch up.”

“I’m moving out.”

“Seems dramatic. He’s not that bad.” I squinted at the elephant.

“Yaz.”

“It’s baby clothes and one reasonably sized toy. We can recover.”

“Yasmine.”

Her tone had me looking up.

“I’m serious,” she said. “I’m moving out.”

I blinked at her and didn’t know what to do with my hands. Hold it tighter. Put it back. Drop it in the cart and pretend my throat hadn’t just closed.

“Say something.”

“Okay,” I said

“That’s it?”

“I’m thinking.” I stood, smoothed one silky ear, and set the elephant back on the shelf. “When?”

“End of the month. Maybe sooner.” She let out a breath. “Denise’s lease is up on the fifteenth. We’re looking at a two-bedroom in Crestview. It’s small, but it has a yard.”

“Denise?”

“From the support group. I’ve told you about her.”

Denise from the support group. The one CeeCee had sat with in the parking lot for an hour after she broke down crying.

“Right,” I said. “Denise.”

She watched my face. “Well?”

“I’m trying to figure out what to say.”