Page 96 of The Right Sign

“You don’t get to decide what I do and do not agree to,” I sign. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Obviously not if you thought selling your body was the right call.”

“I did not ‘sell my body’.”

“You think Richard Sullivan wanted a ‘fake’ girlfriend without the benefits? Don’t be naive, Yaya.”

“Oh? I’m ‘naive’ now. Just because I didn’t do things your way?”

“This is about doing things with common sense.” Deej’s eyes are wide. “He used you.”

“We used each other. It’s not like he put a gun to my head.”

“Why are you taking up for him? Did he threaten you with something else? Something we don’t know about?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“Tell us the truth, Yaya.”

“I am! Why won’t you believe me?”

“Because you lied to me! And we don’t lie to each other. Ever.”

“I didn’t lie. I just… didn’t share all the information. It’s different.”

The tension in the air thickens.

Dejonae’s chest heaves with every tortured breath.

My own chest feels like it will explode.

I hate fighting with my sister.

The same is true for Dejonae, I’m sure.

But we’re too stubborn to stop.

Dad shuffles into my line of sight. His smile is tinged in awkwardness as he signs, “Yaya, Dejonae, why don’t we all calm down?”

Dejonae speaks and I can only guess what she’s saying.

Don’t bother, dad. She’s obviously made up her mind.

Don’t interrupt, dad. I’m not done fighting yet.

My eyes snap past dad to attack my sister. Dejonae knows I hate it when we’re in the middle of an argument and she voices. It’s the equivalent of me looking away from her when she’s signing.

It’s rude.

But my sister doesn’t care that she’s breaking the rules. She’s pissed. Her eyes are spitting the kind of heat you’d find in hell. I have no doubt she’s already made a power move to intimidate Sullivan. More than likely, Sazuki is doing her dirty work since she’s here fighting with me.

Earlier, I sent Sullivan a text warning him not to make a decision without me. It’s bad enough that my sister wants to control me. I won’t have anyone else speaking for me. If the contract gets cancelled, it’ll be by my own hands, dammit!

“Dad, mom. Talk to her please,” Deej signs.

Mom gives dad a strained look.

Dad pulls his lips into his mouth and rests his hands on his stomach.