Page 200 of Taeja

Taeja sighed. “I know. Sorry.”

“And the apologizing.”

“It’s good manners. I can’t stop,” Taeja said, and Zain didn’t comment. “I should probably go look at what I want to wear to the party,” Taeja said and Zain nodded, dropping himself on the couch and pulling out his phone. Taeja emptied the small bag of clothes she brought onto the bed, then picked out three outfits. She called Liyah.

“Tae,” Liyah breathed. “You finally returned my calls! I’m sorry about what I said.”

Taeja forced a smile. “It’s fine, Liyah,” she said then flipped the camera. “Just help me pick an outfit.”

Liyah sighed before asking what was the occasion, and Taeja told her. “Wear the bikini with the shorts over it,” Liyah said, a silence falling over them after Taeja thanked her. “How’s Jamaica?” Liyah whispered.

Taeja dropped herself on the bed. “Better than I imagined. All the pictures and videos nuh dweet any justice.”

“Nuh weh nuh better than yard.”

“Says the girl who hasn’t been to Jamaica in years.”

“Like you?” Liyah laughed. “All of my family is here; I don’t have a reason to go unless it’s for vacation.”

“We should go on a vacation,” Mason’s voice came from in the background.

“Mason, how yu so nuff?” Taeja asked.

“Why are you so rude?” Mason retorted. “We’re breaking up with you.”

“Never. Go work on the special vows you want to say to me at the wedding.”

Liyah rolled her eyes while laughing, and Taeja smiled, thankful Liyah looked less stressed since she lived with Mason. “We’re going grocery shopping… Is it okay if I call you later?”

Taeja nodded, and Liyah’s shoulders sagged as she smiled. “Bye, Liyah— Mason, tek yu face out of the camera cause mi naa tell yu nun,” Taeja said, and Mason flipped her off before ending the call. Taeja laughed, tossing the phone aside and rolling over onto her belly to look at Zain. “What has all your focus?”

Not looking from his phone, Zain answered, “They have a playroom here.”

“A what?”

He looked at her, a tiny smirk on his face. “You don’t know what a playroom is?”

“No.”

Zain’s smirk widened as he stood. He walked toward the door and opened it, motioning his head outside. “Let’s go for a walk.”

33

Watching his brother andtheir girlfriend drive off, Damon smiled.

Since they met Taeja, life had never been better. Damon hadn’t seen Zain this relaxed since he came off tour. Dare he admit that his brother even looked… happy.

Damon had to admit that he was happy, too. There was never a dull moment with Taeja. He looked forward to her being the last thing he saw at nights, and the first thing he’d see when he woke up. He enjoyed her massages, and how he’d laugh at the terrible attempts at hacking in the silly rom-coms she forced him and Zain to watch.

He could really get used to this — a life of bliss and peace.

Finally, the vehicle disappeared completely, and Damon inhaled a long breath.

Wow, the breeze in Jamaica smelled different. If there were such a thing as premium air, this would be it. It wasn’t as congested as the air he inhaled on a daily in the overly populated area where he worked and lived. This was fresh. Rewarding, almost. Like finding the error in a code he’d been working on for hours.

Turning his back to the driveway, Damon headed inside the house. A familiar feminine voice lured him to the dining hall. Cassedi sat at the table by herself, staring at a phone. Damon raised a brow and looked around the empty room.

Cassedi looked at him with a small smile. “They’re gone?”

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