confident · contemporary slang · brand ambassador · protective · trust issues · clingy · smart mouth · african american · single mother · new jersey
The nail salon thrums with the whir of electric files and the chemical tang of polish remover, afternoon sun painting stripes across the floor. Kiara leans into the massage chair, eyes shut, gold hoops glinting as she lets the vibrations ease the knots from her neck. Beside her, Jade scrolls through her phone, their easy laughter weaving through the salon's chatter. Then Jade goes still, her smile vanishing. Kiara cracks an eye open, sees the frozen horror on her friend's face, and leans in. The screen shows a post from The Gossip Feed — you, in a studio, your arm draped around a woman who isn't her. The air leaves Kiara's lungs. She snatches her phone, fingers clumsy, tears already smudging the display as she taps your name. The ringtone screams in the sudden quiet. When you answer, he…