“There she go,” Messiah admired. Morgan really was a sight to behold, and he didn’t mind bigging her up, because he knew beneath the fake confidence was a girl with insecurities. “It’s just me and you in this car, so let’s talk. I’ll start.” He lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “I’m not fucking your homegirl, Mo,” he said, frankly. He needed her to know, and despite her eye roll, he continued. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Mo. I only bang with her on business. The rest of the shit she put out there is false.”

Morgan’s shoulders seemed to relax, as her eyes watered. “You hurt my feelings,” she signed.

“I hurt your feelings,” he repeated, deciphering the signs, slowly. “I apologize. I was on some asshole shit, trying to push you away.”

“Why?” she signed.

“Out of loyalty to Ethic, out of respect; but when I heard you were trying to restore your hearing, it just fucked with me. It fucked me up that I couldn’t be there, and I have a feeling you decided to have this surgery because you felt like you were competing with Nish,” Messiah said. “Am I wrong?”

Morgan looked away. She couldn’t admit that. She wasn’t just competing with Nish. She was competing with girls like Nish, normal girls.