Page 153 of Tainted

We paused at the front to search the restaurant when Rajah put her mimosa down and sprang to her feet.

“Nice of y’all to finally join me! I got tired of waiting and started without y’all.” Rajah leaned in and hugged me.

“Girl, please. You were going to start either way,” I corrected her before introducing Jewel and Brandy.

My stomach was rumbling, so I picked up the menu while they discussed some girl Teagan’s tumultuous relationship with Daris. He worked security at Utopia, and she was currently on Facebook, airing out their dirty laundry.

“Iono friend, I went to school with Teagan. Cool girl, but she stayed in some shit,” Brandy confessed.

“Daris is not a saint. He used to run with the Black Vipers before Kross hired him to do security,” Jewel shared.

“And he’s been quiet as a church mouse since. The way Teagan is always dropping their son off at the club, she ain’t one to talk,” Rajah said.

I didn’t have much stake in the conversation. Daris reminded me a lot of Kross. Quiet and stoic, they only spoke when they had something to say.

Jewel flagged down the waiter and ordered mimosas for the table. I smiled awkwardly, avoiding eye contact, already plotting my excuse.

“Zara, you good? You’ve been quiet,” Rajah asked, eyeing me with a knowing look.

“Yeah, I’m good, just tired,” I smiled, trying to play it off.

“I don’t know why. All you’ve been doing is sleeping,” Brandy pointed out.

“You haven’t been doing much else either,” I retorted.

Rajah’s eyes lingered a little longer as if she could sense something was up. I hated how off I felt, but with so much uncertainty, I wasn’t ready to speak about it yet. Not my issues with Kenyon or the baby.

Brandy waved her hand, already mid-story about some ridiculous guy who tried to hit on her at the bar last night. “Girl, I swear! He had the nerve to tell me I looked ‘mature’ and thought that was a compliment. Like, do I look like somebody’s auntie to you?”

The waiter returned, setting the drinks down before everyone, and I braced myself. “I’ll just have water,” I blurted out before anyone could ask.

Jewel raised an eyebrow. “Water at brunch?”

“I don’t need a cocktail to have a good time with my girls.”

Jewel squinted at me suspiciously, but there wasn’t much time to press it, “Houston, we have a fuckin’ problem!” she yelled, forgetting we were in public.

“What?” I asked.

Instead of explaining, she slid her phone to Brandy, and all the color drained from her face as she stared at the screen.

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense. What the hell is going on?” Rajah asked.

My voice asking if she was okay broke Brandy’s trance. But she didn’t answer. Instead, she jumped up and fled to the bathroom.

“Now we know why that no good nigga didn’t want her to visit.” Jewel slid her phone across the table.

My heart ached for Brandy, reading Daniela’s Facebook post that sounded way too intimate considering Brandy was supposed to be his girl.

Hey everyone, I know it’s been a minute since I’ve posted, but I wanted to update you on my love, Otto. He’s still fighting every day, pushing through the struggles like the strong man he is. I can’t lie, it’s been tough, but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s hold him down.

He’s got a long road ahead of him, but I’m standing right there by his side, making sure he knows he’s never alone in this fight. I promised him we’d get through this together, and I mean that with every part of me. Some days are harder than others, but seeing his strength keeps me going.

Thank you to everyone who’s reached out, checked on us, and sent prayers and love. We’re going to come out on top, just wait and see.????

#StayStrongOtto #FightingTogether #LoveAndLoyalty

“Who’s going to tell her the last thing she needs to be doing is crying in the goddamn bathroom?” Rajah asked after leaning over my shoulder to read the post.

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