Page 164 of Taeja

When he pulled away, she told him, “I like how that sounds, and it means you have to be all-in or all-out with me. Remember on our date when I told you the world will leave you if you keep living in the past? I think this is one of those things.”

He sighed. “I know that, but… it’s just that I fall for you more every day. A part of me feels like you’ll get ripped away from me, too.”

Her heart shattered.

“Damon—” She threw her arms over his shoulders, pulling him close in a tight hug. “You feel my heart beating? It beats for you. I love you. No one can come between us, so don’t let your worries eat you alive. I’m not going anywhere. And if I do, mi a come back as a duppy and stay wid yu.”

Damon tightened his grip around her, nuzzling his face into the crook of her neck. He inhaled deeply. “I love you too, baby. I’m sorry for how I acted.”

“Don’t apologize.”

He kissed her neck before pulling back to look into her eyes. The light was returning to his eyes. “There’s something else you should know. Do you remember Liza?”

“Yeah,” Taeja said, hoping Damon didn’t see her flash of guilt.

“Liza had a husband; his name was Marco. He was in the army with Zain, but he wasn’t as lucky as my brother. I never really got over how suddenly Eloise died, then the same thing happened to Marco. We’ve been helping each other with our grief, so Liza and I usually visit Marco’s mom just to sit and chat with her. Iyani has Alzheimer’s and Marco and Eloise are the only ones she remembers well. Talking with Iyani brings her joy. I think it’s the highlight of her days in that nursing home.

“Talking helps me and Liza, too. But since I met you, the pain doesn’t feel… the same anymore. You give me hope, gorgeous, which is why I should apologize for reaching this far in our relationship and almost making the past ruin what we have,” Damon said.

Taeja smiled. “That was kind of poetic.”

“Yes?”

“Yeah,” she said, and Damon grinned. “Is that all?”

“For now.” He kissed her nose, then she got off him. “Do you need help?”

Taeja shook her head as he stood. “I’m almost done.”

“Okay. I’ll be downstairs.”

“No badda eat off the food before mi get none.”

Damon laughed, already halfway through the door. “Zain wouldn’t allow that to happen.”

Taeja laughed, going back to what she was doing. She paused when she saw the dress again. “All now me nuh give Liyah her things.” She grabbed the dress and laid it on the bed. She skimmed the large boxes and bare walls — everything would be going to charity.Especiallythat ugly mustard-colored carpet. It was just the other day Taeja learned that one of their exes decorated the place, so now she wanted everything gone.

Was it petty? Yes.

Did she care? No.

Wait a minute…

Taeja looked at the dress. “Wonder if—” She grabbed the dress and headed downstairs to see the brothers laughing while Zain made a cheese paste from scratch. “Whose dress is this?” She held the dress at a scornful distance. “Unu doh lie to me. I never lie to you guys.”

Damon whistled and looked away.

Taeja glared at him. “Nuh feel yu innocent. You lied to me, too.”

“Keeping something from you differs from lying.”

“That wouldn’t hold up in court.”

“We’re not in—”

“Mi sehwa mi seh.”

Zain walked toward her. He pried the dress from her hands and walked toward the sink. He dropped the dress in the sink, then lit it. Tongues of flames stretched for the ceiling, reflecting in Zain’s eyes as he watched it burn. When the dress was nothing but ash, he looked at Taeja. “Are you happy?”

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