Page 171 of Taeja

He smiled. “Alie. That’s a beautiful name. I’m Wayne.”

Taeja forced a smile before standing and walking toward the opposite sofa. Wayne whistled, making an unwelcome chill run through Taeja.

“Alie, why yu gone over deso? This big enough fi yu ino.”

“You were in my space.”

“Mi nuh reach so far yet.” He bit his lip, his eyes raking down her body before settling on her breasts.

Taeja shuffled about. She was about to stand and run outside, but she remained seated when the front door opened. Cassedi entered first, followed by Zain, who paused before entering. Taeja stood and rushed toward him.

Zain’s brows raised as he wrapped an arm around her. “You okay?”

“Yes,” Taeja said, relaxing. “Where’s D—” She paused when she saw Damon coming inside. Pulling away from Zain, she smiled at Damon, and he smiled back.

“Wayne, wa yado here already?” Cassedi asked, swinging the bag in her hand.

Wayne replied, “Mi come fi the thing, Aunty.”

Taeja froze, bile rushing up her throat.

“Are you okay?” Damon asked, taking her from Wayne and leading her to a sofa. “You look sick.”

“I’m fine,” Taeja said as firmly as she could.

“A likkle tea she goodly want,” Cassedi yelled. “Zain told me you have to drink fever grass, so we went down the road to pick some off Mass John tree. Mi see seh yu cousin did a keep yu company, though.”

“Cousin?” Wayne choked.

Cassedi peeked her head into the doorway. “Wayne, nuh tell mi seh— Yu know seh yu wuda look a dog if it have on drawz!” Cassedi hissed her teeth, grabbing a bunch of keys out of her pocket and throwing it onto Wayne’s lap. “See yu bus key deh. Leave me house!”

Holding his head low, Wayne briskly walked toward the door. Zain tucked his hands behind his back, his eyes following Wayne until Wayne disappeared.

Shaking her head, Cassedi walked toward Taeja. She held Taeja’s hands. “Did he say anything to you?”

“No…” Taeja replied.

“Are you sure?” Cassedi asked, and Taeja nodded. “I’ll apologize to him then. I invited him over, and I thought I’d be back before he came.”

“It’s fine,” Taeja assured. “Can I help you make breakfast?”

“You never offer to help me,” Zain said.

“Because I love it when you do things for me.” Taeja stuck her tongue out, and Zain chuckled, watching as she went into the kitchen. “What are we making?”

“Fried breadfruit with mackerel,” Cassedi said.

“That sounds so good.”

Cassedi smiled as they got to work. “I haven’t told our family that you’re here. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it…”

Taeja sighed. “Can we talk about it after breakfast?”

“Of course.”

They got done, then served the food to the men. Zain watched her as she ate.

“What?” Taeja asked.

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