Page 232 of The Sweetest Return

“I am emotionally efficient.”

“You are lazy with direct deposit.”

“But I have direct deposit. Growth.”

“Barely.”

He laughed. “What are we getting them?”

“That weekend cabin Mom mentioned near Deep Creek. Three nights. Fireplace. Lake view. And a private chef for one dinner so Daddy can pretend he doesn’t like people fussing over him.”

Jabari got quiet for a second.

“That’s actually nice.”

“I know.”

“They’ll love that.”

“I know that too.”

“See? This is why you buy it.”

“You’re paying sixty percent.”

“Why sixty?”

“Because you annoyed me during the planning stage.”

“I was not part of the planning stage.”

“Exactly.”

He groaned. “Fine. Send me the number.”

“I will.”

A pause moved through the car, softer than our usual foolishness.

“You sound good,” he said.

I glanced at the road.

“I am good.”

“With him?”

I should have been annoyed that he knew who him was.

I was not.

“With myself,” I said. “And yes. With him too.”

Jabari exhaled. “Good.”

“Do not get emotional while I’m driving.”

“I wasn’t.”