Page 131 of Taeja

“Can’t work?”

“Babe, my entire family gets married by the time we’re eighteen. Weddings are a big deal for us. It’s been like this for ages and I… I’ve been looking forward to a big wedding with you since we met.”

“A so long yaa plan fi tek mi friend offa the streets?” Taeja blurted.

Mason scoffed. “She was never on the streets.”

“I agree,” Liyah laughed, and Mason smiled at her.

Taeja smiled too, soaking in all the love they radiated. “Aww, see how easy one talk is?”

“I like make-up sex.”

“So fi that yu push the man buttons?”

“Sometimes.”

Mason sighed. “See what I’m talking about? I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

Liyah grinned. “It’s too late to back out now because you just said you want me forever.”

“I’ve been saying that since the first time I saw you, Aaliyah,” Mason said, making Liyah’s smile widen. “Let me see your nails,” he said, and Liyah showed him them. “Come get one of my cards. When you say yes tomorrow, I want you to look your best.”

“If naa waste time was a person,” Taeja mumbled.

“I’ve waited long enough, and she’s going to make me wait a few more years toactuallycall her my wife.”

Liyah smiled as she watched Mason exit the car. “Mi soon come.”

“Okay.” Taeja nodded, smiling as they walked toward the house hand-in-hand.

Then, Taeja waited in the car. By herself. For fifteen minutes until Liyah finally walked outside.

Liyah carefully settled in the driver’s seat. “Mi pussy a hot mi.”

Taeja burst out laughing. “Well done, Mason.”

“Him angle triangle mi, naa lie. Suppose yu see how the man wul mi up against the wall and grab mi throat, then tell mi fi stop ramp wid him?” Liyah fanned her face. “A God come down and hold mi tongue when mi nearly tell Mason fi breed mi.”

Taeja was laughing uncontrollably now. “Mi neva know seh Mason bad so!”

“My love for him aside, why do you think I can’t leave him? The good hood trap mi,” Liyah laughed while reversing out of the driveway. “He just showed me the ring for the first time, and it’s even prettier than he described. I’m going to be so scared to walk in public with it. What if I get robbed? It was his great-grandmother’s ring, and Mason really loved her. And now he’s giving it to me! I feel so special!”

“She died?”

Liyah nodded. “When he was in kindergarten. Some people stick with you forever, I guess.”

Taeja’s shoulders slackened. “I know what you mean…”

“Are you sure youwant to do this?” Damon whispered.

Taeja laughed. “Why are you whispering?”

“I’ve never broken into anyone’s house before.”

“No, you just hack into their devices.”

“I don’t have a good comeback for that.”

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