Page 110 of Taeja

Dijonae scowled at Owen before walking away. Zain followed closely, barely hearing Owen’s heavy sigh over the loud hum from a hairdryer. Zain sat on the styling chair, watching Dijonae as she gathered her necessary tools from the cabinets.

“I told you to stop bringing him here,” Dijonae whispered low enough so only Zain could hear.

Zain shrugged as she put the cape around his shoulders. “I don’t control him.”

“Ha. Funny.” Dijonae rolled her eyes while running her fingers through hislocs. “How yu hair look so fuzzy this month? You didn’t buy the silk bonnet?”

“I bought a duvet.”

“Hm… that can work, but just buy the bonnet and wear it for the first few weeks so it can keep longer,” Dijonae advised, and he nodded. “Back to your friend. I don’t want him here, Zain.”

“His barber is here.”

Dijonae scoffed. “Grant switched shops a week ago, and he knows. All you men do is lie.”

He glared at her in the mirror. “Why are you stereotyping me with him?”

She tugged one of his locs. “Stop move yu head.”

“I’m older than you, and all you do is abuse me whenever I come here.”

Dijonae grinned. “Because no one else knows how to do your hair like me. You should thank me you got to this length in two years.”

Instead of answering, Zain looked at Owen’s and Taeja’s reflection approaching them.

“Can I sit right here?” Taeja gestured to an empty chair.

“Yu see anybody name pon it?” Dijonae asked, and Taeja muttered an apology before sitting.

Owen nodded at Zain’s reflection in the mirror, and Zain returned a subtle nod. Owen cleared his throat before looking at Dijonae. “Later, Dee.”

“Mhm.”

Owen sighed. “You cya give mi a better bye than that? Anything can happen when I’m on the road, you know.”

She froze before recovering. “That’s the least of my concerns.”

Owen smiled. “You care.”

“I don’t,” Dijonae said, pretending to be extremely focused on Zain’s locs. “Leave my shop.”

Smirking, Owen looked at Taeja. “See you around, Tae. Was nice meeting you. Take care of my brother.”

“Was nice meeting you, too.” Taeja smiled, watching as Owen walked away. Once he was out of earshot, her eyes snapped at Dijonae. “Dee—”

Dijonae chuckled. “Yu nuh learn fi control yu mouth yet?” she asked, andTaeja shook her head. “I’m not telling you what happened between me and him.”

Taeja huffed. “You never talk to me about your relationships.”

“Because it’s weird. I basically raised you,” Dijonae said before looking at Zain with a laugh. “How do you manage her?”

Zain glanced at Taeja, a small smile playing on his lips. “I try my best.”

Taeja playfully rolled her eyes and pulled out her phone. “I’m not a handful.”

“Whatever you say.”

Taeja laughed. “I knew you were going to say that.”

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