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12:06 DARE:Do you know how harmful fashion is for the environment?
12:07 YAYA:Touché
12:08 DARE:Are you coming back today?
12:09 YAYA:I wasn’t planning on it, but I can be convinced.
12:10 DARE:This is me convincing. Please come back, Yaya.
12:11 YAYA:Only because you said please.
12:12 DARE:I’m on a business trip right now, but I’ll do everything in my power to make it back tonight. If not, I’ll send José with my apologies. Have a good time with your sister.
* * *
6:30 YAYA:Richard Sullivan the Second!!!
6:40 DARE:Am I in trouble?
6:41 YAYA:Is this what you meant by sending an apology or are you just trying to give me a heart attack?
6:42 DARE:The first option. I never want to see you get hurt.
6:43 YAYA: *angry emojis*
6:44 DARE:That’s a very long line of angry emojis. Did you not like my apology?
6:45 YAYA:Why did José give me this piece of plastic?
6:46 DARE:What kind of plastic are we referring to here? If it was the kind used to prevent pregnancies, he’s fired.
6:47 YAYA:You know exactly what I’m talking about.
6:48 DARE:I wanted to give you myself, but it seems like this will be an extended business trip. I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again.
6:49 YAYA:Dare, I don’t need you to apologize for being busy. And even if you want to apologize, you can’t just GIVE me a credit card.
6:50 DARE:Why not?
6:51 YAYA:I don’t want your money. What kind of person do you think I am?
6:52 DARE:The most important person outside of my family.
6:53YAYA:I appreciate the gesture, but I’m not going to use it.
6:52 DARE: Yaya, I won’t be back for a while, and I can’t stand the thought of you having a need and me not being around to take care of it. This way, at least I can take care of you from afar.
6:53 YAYA:I already told you. I don’t need you to take care of me.
6:54 DARE:But I want to. One of us will have to give, sweetheart. This time, it won’t be me.
CHAPTER16
new roommate
YAYA
The fridge door opens and closes urgently and I look up from my phone. Morning light pours over mom’s gorgeous face. Trim eyebrows lift daintily and she gives my cell phone a surveying look.