Cassedi hugging her to sleep every night and humming a lullaby in her ear…
Jerry sitting her down to awkwardly explain periods even though Miss Charm had already done that…
Taeja chuckled. The memories were all so bittersweet.
Zain came into the bathroom. “What are you laughing about?”
“Some old memories.”
“Hm…” He lifted the toilet seat and took his dick out.
Taeja blushed and looked away.
“Your mouth, pussy, and ass know my dick. Why are you looking away?”
Her eyes widened. “You know seh yu nav nun bout yu?” she said before grabbing an extra toothbrush beneath the sink and leaving it there for him. “I’ll be back.” She exited the room and went downstairs.
Jerry was drinking coffee and glancing at his wristwatch every so often. Seeing her, he jumped to his feet. “Good morning.”
“Morning. I didn’t know you were here—” she said, gulping while glancing upstairs.
“Is this not my house?” Jerry asked.
“Sorry for being here… And dragging you away from whatever you were doing last night.”
Jerry’s eyes lowered at her words. He sighed, then sat. “Come here, Taeja.” He watched as she gulped before sitting at the far end of the same sofa. “What happened last night?”
She played with her fingers atop her lap. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Do not tell me that,” Jerry hissed. “The only times you call me crying is when you wake up naked and alone after opening your legs to a man you don’t know.”
“That was only two times…”
“It does not matter!” he exclaimed, making her flinch. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. I did not mean to raise—” Jerry’s eyes snapped to the staircase as Zain took long, loud steps down it.
Zain glared at Jerry as he reached the bottom. “Who the fuck are you yelling at?”
Jerry clenched his jaw. “Taeja, I will not say anything about you having him in my house all night, but tell him to mind his business before I call the police for trespassing.”
Zain laughed. “You think I’m scared of the police?”
Taeja sighed. “Zain… We’re just talking. I’m fine, I promise,” she said, but Zain was unmoved. “I’ll call you if I need you,” she said, and he nodded before moving to somewhere else in the house.
“He has no respect for the law. Is that the type of man you want to be with?” Jerry asked.
“Nuh mek mi diss yu, Jerry. Yu better watch yu mouth when yu talk bout him because if he comes in here, I’m not stopping him,” Taeja threatened, narrowing her eyes.
Jerry glared back. Taeja didn’t dare to look away until he gave in.
He ran a hand down his face, looked down at his watch, then back at her. “You have been ignoring my calls…” Jerry said, a trace of hurt in his tone.
Taeja furrowed her brows. “Why yu surprise? You pushed me away.”
Jerry’s shoulders sagged. “I did not intend for all of this to happen, Taeja.”
“All of what?”
“Hurting you and your mother,” he stated solemnly. “You have to understand that my mother has always been the only one completely honest to and accepting of me since I was born. It is hard for me to disbelieve her.”