Page 51 of Taeja

Taeja knew Liyah was trying to make light of the situation, but she didn’tlaugh. Aaliyah worked two jobs to finance her Biology degree, and Taeja witnessed first-hand how rough it was on her friend. She was always willing to help Aaliyah, but Liyah denied most of her advances. Taeja was saddened by it because all her expenses — from her bi-weekly manicures to her out-of-country vacations and frequent shopping sprees — were always paid in full by her father, no matter what terms they were on.

“You’ve got this, Liyah. We’re almost finished with college, then the money’s going to be rolling in,” Taeja assured, and Liyah smiled at her.

“I love you, Tae.”

“I love you, too—” She paused when her phone vibrated in the pocket of Liyah’s jeans she borrowed. “Hold on.” She rested aside her drink and reached for her phone. Freeing it from her pocket, Taeja’s eyes widened at the caller ID.

10

With shaking fingers, sheanswered the call. “Hello?”

“Taeja,” came the voice on the other line.

“Yes?”

“I want to see you.”

“Why?”

There was a pause before the caller replied, “We need to talk.”

“About wh—”

“Just come see me… Please?”

Taeja sighed. “Okay.” The call ended, and she moved the phone from her ear.

Aaliyah raised a brow. “Who was that?”

Taeja gritted her teeth. “No one,” she replied. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” Liyah answered, gathering her bags. “Is one of your boyfriends coming for us, or should I call Mason?”

“Call Mason.”

Liyah nodded, making the call while they strolled to the front of the mall. Taeja took the time to admire her surroundings. There was the store her first nanny brought her to shop when her dad wanted to redo her closet after her mom left. There was the ice cream parlor with the best banana split ice cream she ever tasted.

This mall had a lot of memories. Both good and bad.

Arriving at the front, Taeja smiled as she realized the rain had stopped falling and the sun shone again.

Sitting on a nearby bench with Taeja, Liyah ended the call with a roll of her eyes. “Mason pisses me off so bad.”

“Is he coming for us?” Taeja asked.

Liyah nodded. “Of course. You know I just need to call, and he’ll be there.”

Taeja swooned. “Aww, young love.”

“Love? Mason always says he loves me and is always there for me, yet he still found time to cheat?” Liyah hissed her teeth. “Before me believe man, me walk round naked.”

“So yu seh until Mason pick wi up.”

Liyah rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to fold. I hate him,” she insisted, and Taeja hummed disbelievingly. “Girl, I’m being for real. I can’t even look at the sex the same since it happened.”

“Mhm.”

“Alright, don’t believe me.”

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