“Oh, oh, oh!” Liza exhaled with something uncomfortably close to relief. Of course she didn’t mean Dorsey. “He’s from Philly. His name is WIC, and he. Is. Fine.”

Liza met her sister’s eyes. There was a touch of disbelief there. Janae’s squinty-eyed scrutiny made Liza shift her eyes away.

“Yeah, right. A guy that Liza likes!” LeDeya popped back into the room, waiting for gossip. “Give this one a week. He’s gonna pronounce ‘coup d’état’ the wrong way, and she’ll be done with him.” Janae and Chicho laughed behind their hands.

“Deya, I have a particular taste.”

“Look at your outfit and say that again,” LeDeya said. Liza wore slim jeans and a hoodie with a paint-splatter design. Liza wanted a man to meet her at her mind—a man who could be wise and learn new things. She wanted to be a student with someone for the rest of her life. Everyone she met was so in love with their own thinking. It wasn’t too much to ask for a thoughtful, measured, kind man who could also lay pipe.

Deya tapped her shoulder. “Now tell me his complete name so we can google the hell out of him.” LeDeya pulled out her phone. Her cracked screen, fluffy dangling charm, and ornate jeweled case were almost painful to look at for too long.

“Deya, this is none of your business—”

“I’m better at this than you, and I know you’ve already tried. You search the overall social media scene, but I be researching their DMs and subtweets. I’m on another level.”

Liza looked up sheepishly, letting her curiosity cushion the blow to her pride. “William Isaiah Curry.”

All four women stood over a small screen with their opposite ears touching.

“Okay, so you know he’s from Philly. You know he’s with the Black Israelite movement. Ew, does he scream at people on the side of the road?” LeDeya scrolled. “Gross. Not much info about it, though.”

“Keep scrolling,” Janae said. It surprised Liza to see her sister so interested.

“You too?” Liza rolled her eyes.

“Oh, look. He atted DFitz about a year ago.” Janae, Chicho, and Liza all looked confused. “Mr. Congeniality himself, Dorsey Fitzgerald,” LeDeya clarified.

Liza’s eyes widened. She would never think that those two could ever be atting each other. “What does it say?”

“ ‘This is the new CEO of Pemberley Development? #unfit #trainingwheels.’ ” It was a grainy photo of Dorsey, surrounded by women, smoking what looked like a blunt. His eyes were low. Liza smirked. Mr. Cool and Collected was a womanizing troll. She was actually relieved to see these photos. Her stomach could stop dropping when she thought of his hand gripping her thigh.

“See if Dorsey responded,” Liza said almost frantically.

“Nope, no response.”

“Can’t defend himself,” Liza said.

“Nah, I think it’s like Jedi deep.” LeDeya stretched her arms out.