Page 207 of Taeja

Taeja chuckled and elbowed him. “Whatever,” she said, looking at his hands that rested on her thigh. She laid her hand atop one, admiring the difference in the size.

Zain turned his hand palm up, and she laced her hand in his. Zain locked his hand around her fingers, and Taeja smiled.

A little over anhour later, it was dark out and Taeja was making her way downstairs with Zain by her side. He was in a shirt that was tight against his muscles and shorts. Simple, but he was still yummy.

Taeja wished he would’ve gone shirtless like Wayne had opted to do, but she didn’t complain. She figured he didn’t want anyone gawking at his scars all night. The most he did was tie his hair up, showing the slash across his eye that alwaysmade him appear more rugged.

Sakara was in a one-piece swimsuit. She had glitter on her skin too, and her hair was changed to a curly wig — the front in two small ponytails and the rest trailing down to her mid-back. Paired with a full face of glamour makeup, she was runway-ready.

Jaheim was beside Sakara, holding her hand. Gold links were around his neck and wrists, a button-up clung to his slim build, along with jeans and Clarks. Taeja wondered if he’d bother with stepping on the sand at all.

Arriving downstairs, the ladies stopped to take a few pictures.

“Let me fix your lashes,” Sakara said, fixing the lashes on Taeja’s face.

“Mi nuh really wear dem sum ya. Hope mi nuh look like duppy show,” Taeja said.

Sakara laughed. “I did your makeup. Yu dolly dung.”

Taeja smiled, glancing at Zain. “Did Damon text?”

Zain glanced at his phone, then looked at her and shook his head. Taeja sighed. She wished Damon would’ve come to the party with them, but she guessed he preferred having fun with her mother.

“Anyway…” Sakara moved her hand from Taeja’s eyes. “You good now. We can go.”

Taeja nodded and walked into Zain’s hold. They made their way to the nude beach after leaving their phones in the makeshift lockers the organizers built.

“You’re going to have fun!” Sakara squealed.

“I hope so,” Taeja chuckled.

Wayne glared at everyone around them. “Cya tek so much foreigner ina one place.”

Sakara rolled her eyes. “For a person who works in tourism, you’re too miserable.”

“I like their money, not them.” Wayne quickly glanced at Zain and Taeja. “Except you two, of course,” he rushed out.

Taeja ignored Wayne to admire her surroundings. The stage was adorned with lights and a smoke machine, setting the vibe for the female artiste performing on stage. Music blasted from the speakers, barely drowning out the crowd’s loudsingalong. A man dived off the top of a speaker, landing in the crotch of a woman lying bare on the sand in a spread-eagle position.

“Mi ratid!” Taeja exclaimed.

Jaheim chuckled. “First time at a Jamaican party?”

“At one likethis?” Taeja nodded.

Jaheim chuckled, then looked at Sakara. “What do you want, mami?”

Taeja looked at Zain. “You okay?” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he nodded. “Sure? Because mi nuh waa yu feel uncomfortable.”

Zain chuckled. “I’m fine. Do you want anything?”

“Water.”

“Okay.” Zain kissed her forehead before disappearing into the crowd with Jaheim and Wayne.

Sakara grabbed Taeja’s arm. “Let’s go closer to the stage. It look like the special guest ago come out soon.”

Taeja allowed Sakara to lead her to the front of the crowd. Her brow raised as the organizers brought a motorbike on stage. After they left, Taeja almost fainted as the special guest appeared and started singing.

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