Page 45 of Taeja

She shook her head. “No, but everything boils down to the same thing, right? Coding. I’m good at it, I promise. Ask my professors if I ever got less than a B in any of my classes.”

Damon silently debated before giving in. He laid his laptop on her lap, and she opened the script.

While Taeja went over it, she chatted with Damon. “Does listening to classical music help you focus?”

“Yes,” he said, hanging onto every minor action she made.

Taeja chuckled. “Damon, mi nago mess up.”

“I didn’t say you would.”

“True, but the way you’re breathing down my neck says otherwise.”

Damon scoffed. “I’m not worried about you messing up. It’s backed up.”

“Then gimi likkle breathing space nuh, sir,” she said, and Damon sighed before scooting over. Taeja stared at the less of an inch he placed between them, before she shook her head and returned her focus to the laptop screen. “I never asked how you understand Patois?”

“We live in Florida. I think half of the population is from the Caribbean.”

Taeja smiled. “You’re right, and… I see where you went wrong.”

Damon sat more upright. “Where?”

“Right here.” Taeja pointed at the screen. “This function has an extra space.”

Damon groaned and facepalmed. “You’re right.”

She smiled. “I know I am.”

He playfully glared at her. “Your ego, Taeja,” he said while taking the laptop away. “Thank you.” He leaned in to kiss her.

Taeja’s eyes fluttered closed, and her heart swelled. She loved being appreciated for her efforts. She was sure when he pulled away, her eyes reflected the deep adoration she felt for him.

Looking away from him, she watched as he made the necessary changes, then replayed the game demo. Everything was perfect now.

Taeja smiled. “That will be fifty dollars.”

Damon scoffed as he saved his progress, then put his laptop aside. “How about I feed you instead?”

Taeja’s belly grumbled. She clutched the material of her silky blouse. “I am hungry.”

“I figured.” He stood, offering a hand to her. After he helped her to her feet, they walked toward the kitchen. “Do you eat chicken tacos?”

“Mi will eat anything.”

Damon chuckled and pulled the stool out at the island for her. Taeja smiled as she sat, then watched him move around the kitchen. She was in complete awe of him — how his muscles flexed when he reached into the overhead cupboard for a plate; how luscious his waves looked when the sunlight hit it from the right angle. Damon looked like he could walk onto the set of a perfume commercial and own the show.

He plated and heated the food quickly, then placed it before her. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“I want tea. Zain have fever grass?”

Damon chuckled while shaking his head. “He only has coffee and tea.”

“I’ll take the tea,” she said, and he nodded before moving away to prepare it. Taeja moaned as she took the first bite from the chicken taco. “This is good.”

Damon nodded before leading a cheery conversation for the next several minutes until the food and steaming hot cup of tea disappeared. By then, the vibrant blue sky was a stormy gray.

Taeja frowned while washing the dishes. “The weather’s bipolar.”

---