Page 11 of Made to Love Ya

“Well…uhm…I mean, I…”

“It’s all good, sis. I’m not trying to put you out. I’ll figure something out,” Izael quickly stated, seeing my dilemma.

That shit made me feel bad when he said it like that, and the way my parents and brother were looking at me also made me feel bad.

“I really don’t mind. And like you said, Tahj, it will send a message to Ricky.” I agreed lightly, but my insides were twisted in knots.

TALIA & IZAEL

ONE WEEK LATER

TALIA

I moved around the kitchen.This was the only place in my home in the last week where I felt comfortable and at ease. Whenever I was anywhere else, including my bedroom, Izael occupied my thoughts.

But here in the kitchen, my domain, I ruled, and my creations occupied every corner of my brain. It had taken some time to get used to having someone else in the house with me after being here for so long on my own. It jarred me initially whenever I heard someone moving around outside of my bedroom at one or two in the morning.

Those were the nights Izael would come in late after being gone all day. Although we didn’t talk about it, I figured he was hooking up with one of his little girlfriends after work. As long as he didn’t bring them back to my house, I was cool with that, or at least that was what I told myself.

I added the diced veggies and sausage into the roux that I was making and tried not to ear hustle. But I swear Izael made it hard as hell.

Izael was sitting on the couch in the living room. He had been talking to me until ten minutes ago when his phone rang. I knew that it was his ex-girlfriend because I heard him say the name Cee-Cee twice. Cee-Cee was Chantel Collins.

I tossed in the beef bouillon, tomatoes, and hot sauce as I thought about Izael’s ex. I envied that bitch in more ways than one. She had the curvy Coke-bottle shape with the perfect hips, slim waist, big ass, and tits, but she was not too big and had curvy thighs. Every part of her was toned, and her skin was blemish free. Mine was, too, but still.

I shook my head as I added the seasonings. I hated that I hated her because she was a nice girl, but I didn’t want to like her. The thing I envied about her most was that she had held Izael’s heart, and she had occupied his bed and life for four years. I wasn’t sure why they had broken up, but I was glad that they had.

“Are you gonna go with me or what?” I stirred and listened as Izael’s voice drew closer. He was probably coming into the kitchen to get a snack or drink until dinner was ready. I busied myself at the stove until I heard him say, “Oh, now you can’t hear?”

I spun around. “Who’re you talking to?”

“You.”

“Oh, my bad. I didn’t know. What’s going on?” I asked, pretending like I had been in a world of my own.

Izael chuckled and shook his head.

“Keep acting like I haven’t known you since you were this high,” he stated, tapping his hand at his waist.

“Whatever,” I replied with a smirk as I sucked my teeth. “What were you asking me?”

“The same thing we were talking about before Cee-Cee called. Are you going to go house hunting with me tomorrow?"

I thought about my schedule, and I knew I had plans to visit a restaurant. I had postponed it on two occasions, and I didn’t want to push it off again. With the James Beard Awards nomination deadline drawing close, I didn’t have much time.

“Uhm, what time?”

“I’m meeting up with my realtor around noon.”

“I’m sorry. I wish that I could, but I already have another appointment scheduled,” I replied.

“A’ight.”

“Where are you going? To call Cee-Cee back and invite her to go with you?”

He turned around in the doorway and crossed his arms over his chest. “What’s it to you?”

I shrugged. “Just wondering why you are still hanging so tough with your ex, is all. I mean, why did the two of you break up?”

---