Page 45 of Differences

“You look beautiful. Shit beyond beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look handsome as well. Rae looks ravishing. Please tell her I said she stole the show tonight. Beautiful speech, by the way.”

I tried to move around him to the sink, but Weston stepped in front of me. I looked at him, confused. He stared at me. There was no expression on his face, and the more he stared at me, the more nervous I became under him.

“What are you doing?”

“I miss you.”

I tried to move again, but he blocked me again. “Nah, I’ve missed you.” He placed his hand on my cheek. He used his thumb and softly rubbed in the same spot.

“What I said up there, I meant all that shit, Taja, since that day in the club. I want to apologize for everything I said to you. I apologize for dragging you along through all this shit. I also want to say I’m sorry for going cold the way I did.”

“It’s okay. You were going through something, so I understand,” I softly voiced.

“But it’s not. I regret everything about that day. I knew I needed to fix myself before I dragged you into a crazy world. You’re too perfect for that.”

“Weston...”

He dropped his hand from my face and reached for my hands. He placed a kiss on both before speaking.

“I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m learning how to grieve. What I know is I can’t do another minute without you. I needed you then, and I need you now. Taja Walker, you are it for me. Since the day you came into my life, you’ve had me head over heels for you. I want you to be all mine.”

“Weston...”

“Please say yes. If I have to buy you McDonald’s every day, I will, just to get a yes. If I have to get on my knees and beg, I will. I just know ain’t no way you’re walking out of this bathroom without me.”

“Weston!” I smiled. “I’ve missed you more than you know.”

I jumped in his arms and kissed him with all the built-up energy I had since I last saw him. The kiss lasted for another thirty seconds before we pulled away from each other. We rested our foreheads against each other. He pecked my lips before speaking.

“I’m going to make all this up to you. Spending that time away from you lets me know that no matter what I’m going through or how good or bad my day is, I need you there. You blind me with your light, baby. I love you.”

I smiled. “Love you, too, Tank Head.”

He chuckled. “Haha, funny. Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be around all these people anymore.”

“Where we gonna go?”

“To Rae’s. I’ve been staying there at least twice a week. Keezy is there now.”

My eyebrow raised. He huffed. “Yep, whatever you’re thinking, the answer is yes.”

I laughed. “Good for Rae!”

Weston scowled at me.

“I meant bad for Rae!”

“Whatever. If he makes her happy, I can’t do anything about that. He’s been supporting us, and that lets me know she’s in good hands.”

Surprised by Weston’s response, he let me know he was working on himself, and once the work was completed, he was going to be a different person.

“Well, we can head over there. I’m ready to get out of this dress.”

“I’m ready to take you out of this dress,” Weston flirted, kissing my shoulder.

“I have to let Allison know.”