Page 41 of Loyalty, Lust, Love
“What’s up, Tati?” Rodney asked with a smirk before Fateema could reply.
“Fuck you, Rodney,” Tati replied, rolling her eyes.
“Why you mad? We had a good thing going until you dumped me,” Rodney barked defensively.
“In what world is lying and cheating on someone a good thing?” she spat, folding her arms across her chest.
“At least I tried to hide it and didn’t flaunt it in your face,” Rodney said.
Fateema frowned at his nonchalant admission of guilt, and it didn’t sit well with her.
“Hold up,” Lynx interjected. “We didn’t come over here for this. If y’all still need to hash things out, do it some other time.”
“I’m sorry, Lynx. You’re right,” Tatiana agreed.
“Bunny, are you taking pictures with us or not?” Lynx asked.
“Bunny? You have a pet name for her?” Rodney questioned.
“I’ll be back,” Fateema told Rodney, dismissing his question.
Lynx, Fateema, and Tatiana walked away from Rodney and his friends before Rodney could say anything else to get underanyone’s skin. When they made it to the line with the rest of their group, Fateema felt the need to address the elephant.
“Tati, I hope?—”
“Stop. Whatever you’re about to say isn’t necessary. We aren’t friends, and you don’t owe me any loyalty.”
“I know, but?—”
“Seriously, Fateema. It’s fine, and so am I. You need to be careful with Rodney, though.”
“Umm, okay,” Fateema replied, shocked by Tatiana’s forwardness.
Fateema quickly forgot about the exchange and enjoyed being in the company of her friends while they waited to take pictures. When it was finally their turn, they had a ball. After about ten different group poses, some silly and some serious, the photographer told them he had to move on.
“Wait. Tati, c’mere,” Lynx called out.
She’d stood by watching Lynx and his friends have fun taking pictures. Her so-called friends stopped talking to her when she broke up with Rodney and didn’t even acknowledge her when she stopped by their table with Lynx.
“Can I get a couple of poses with my date?” Lynx asked the photographer.
He obliged, and as they posed for a few pictures, Fateema watched. To her surprise, she felt a pang of jealousy when she realized Lynx didn’t ask her to take pictures alone with him.
“Wow, don’t they look good together?” Meaghan asked.
Fateema agreed with Meaghan’s observation but didn’t want to admit it. “If you say so.”
Before her friend could respond, Fateema walked away and returned to the table with Rodney and his friends. The waitstaff had just begun serving the salads, so her timing was perfect.
“Took you long enough. I thought you ditched me for your friends,” Rodney said.
I should,she thought.
“The line was long. You should’ve come with us, and we could’ve taken our picture.”
“Maybe later. I’m hungry.”
Fateema frowned but didn’t respond. She was already regretting accepting his invitation to prom and ditching her friends, but instead of admitting it to them, she’d see it through.
