Page 18 of Taeja

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“If you want her,you have to show her that,” Damon said. “I know you take your time to open up, but you have to remember that not everyone is like Dad.”

Zain pondered his brother’s words before sighing. “I hear you,” he said, remembering Taeja’s look of disappointment when he didn’t accompany her home earlier today.

Damon smiled.

Zain scoffed as his brother held the punching bag steady for him. “You… really the best little brother,” Zain said after a few punches.

“I know,” Damon said with his usual cheeky grin.

Zain sent a forceful punch to the bag, making Damon stagger back. Damon glared at him, and Zain smirked.

“Are you coming to Mom’s dinner?” Damon asked.

Zain paused mid-punch. He loved his mom, but being back at his childhood home always laid a weight on his soul that was too heavy for even him to carry.

“I know you don’t like it there, but Mom says she misses you,” Damon baited.

Zain groaned. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you can’t say no to her.”

Zain glared at Damon before giving in. “I’ll go.”

Damon’s grin widened. “Invite Taeja.”

Zain furrowed his brows. “Taeja? Isn’t it too early?”

“It isn’t.” Damon shrugged. “We want her, so what’s the wait? Inviteher.”

Zain’s brows creased more.

Sensing his brother’s uncertainty, Damon added, “You’re the one who wants to put out the effort…”

His jaw clenched at the thought of scaring her away. Since he got this scar, there were only two women who didn’t run away from him.

Taeja being one of them.

He didn’t admit this to anyone, but he liked that.

She wasn’t scared of him while he… he hated to admit that he was scared of her.

She was bold. Too bold. She wasn’t scared to demand what she wanted or beg for more. Taeja was the type to press his buttons for the fun of it. He had to admit that he loved that in their own way, they were playful with each other.

He hadn’t experienced that since he came off tour. She was showing him a light he thought he’d never find again.

It was scary that a woman he’d known for only a day and a half was making him feel this way.

“I’ll text her,” he said, preparing to punch the bag when Damon moved away.

“Good. Now I have to go.” Damon glanced at his watch. “It’s almost five. You know how Liza gets when I’m late.”

Zain snickered. “Yeah. Have fun.”

“Fun?” Damon scoffed. “She’d strangle me with her bare hands if I allowed it. I don’t know why I believe it when she tells me she loves me.”

“Maybe you should stop believing.”

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