“Oh, Tahj,” she whispered not realizing it.
Rahjah broke away from her. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Do you realize what you just said?”
“Your name.”
“No, you said Tahj. I was stupid to think that I could erase him from your mind. I give up. I will take you home and all we will ever be is friends. Tonight just proved that.”
“I’m sorry, Rahjah. I don’t know why I did that.”
“Because you truly love that fool. Let’s go.”
“Let’s try again.”
“Daesha, I have some pride you know. I won’t have you being with me and thinking about him. Just let me take you home.”
“Don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I just don’t understand what you see in him.”
“I can’t explain why I still love him.”
“Let me take you home.” Rahjah stated.
The door to the boathouse was open and Tahj had witnessed Rahjah caressing her breasts. Anger was etched all over his face when they exited the boathouse.
“Why the fuck were you letting him fondle you like that?” Tahj asked.
“What are you doing here spying on us?” Daesha inquired.
“I came here to bury the hatchet with Rahjah. Instead, I see he was trying to bury something else in you!”
“How dare you!” she slapped him.
“Tahj, this is getting a tad old. You really need to mind you own business. You have a sexy wife at home that you should be at home pleasuring as we speak. If you don’t do it someone else might.”
Tahj punched him as soon as the words were out of his mouth. They were fighting like two lions for territorial rights.
“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!” Daesha screamed.
They finally broke apart. Both were breathing heavily. “Tahj, you and I use to be close. You have messed with me for the last time. You have started a war with me that you are going to wish never began.”
“You will never match up to me. You will wish you never said those words. Eventually, I will have the last laugh.” Tahj retorted.
“We shall see cousin. Go home and don’t come back.” Rahjah stated.
“You two deserve each other. I thought you were something special Daesha but you have proven me wrong.” He stormed off to his vehicle and departed quickly.
“The two of you are like animals. Take me home.” She said to Rahjah.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
“Why can’t the two of you just get along? Why this stupid competition?”
“We have been like this for years and I don’t see it changing anytime soon.”
“I think it is a waste.” She stated as she walked to his vehicle.
“It is easy to judge when you did not grow up with us. This is normal for the two of us. Like I said, I don’t think it will ever change.”
During the ride, Rahjah finally broke the silence. “Daesha, I truly would like for us to remain friends. I don’t want the summer to end and we never speak again. I truly think that we can be friends despite this situation with Tahj.”
“Rahjah, I don’t know what to really think anymore. I am beginning to wonder if I belong here. When I go back to Miami, I don’t think I will be making any lengthy visits home for quite some time.”
“So you would rather distance yourself from the family?”
“I won’t subject myself to mental torture by watching the two of them with their daughter.”
“You are punishing everyone else as well. Do you really think that your mother is going to agree to that?”
“It isn’t about what my mother wants.”
“What if you meet someone else?”
“Then I will be ready to come back home more. I just want to enjoy the remainder of the summer and avoid Tahj and his family as much as possible.”
“You are giving in too easily.”
“I don’t want anymore drama. You might enjoy the little competitive edge with Tahj but I don’t. The only way to go on with my life is to avoid the drama.”
“I don’t see Tahj’s marriage lasting anyway.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Why would anyone remain in a loveless marriage?” inquired Rahjah.
“Many people do it. I refuse to get my hopes up about that.”
“Just always keep that thought in the back of your mind.”
Chapter 23Daesha sighed and looked out the passenger window. She decided that she would call Sierra as soon as she arrived home. When Rahjah pulled into the driveway, she gave him a quick hug and departed from the vehicle. When she was up in her room, she called Sierra’s cell. She answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Sierra, its Daesha. Can you talk?”
“Not right now. I’m busy.” Sierra stated with a soft moan that at first Daesha mistook for pain and quickly realized it was pleasure.
“Umm, call you back later.” Daesha stated hanging up quickly.
She decided to go take a shower. She was soaping her breasts when she realized her she forgot to get a razor to shave her passion box. When she stepped out of the shower, she remembered the ones she had just bought were on her dresser. When she opened the door, she was shocked to see Tahj in her bedroom sitting on the bed. She froze when she saw him. She immediately saw the look of hunger on his face. He stood up off the bed and walked to the bathroom. She reached for the towel and covered her naked body.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I guess your mother didn’t think you were showering when she said to come up to your room for us to talk. When I heard the water, I decided to sit out here to wait for you to finish. I figured you would come out dressed.” Her hair was piled high on her head with a scrunchy. He freed her hair and ran his fingers through it. “You are so beautiful.”
“So is your wife.” She stated trying to make him change the subject.
“Yours is a rare beauty that cannot be imitated.”
“Meaning.”
“Ambi is one hundred percent Indian American. You have different cultures within you that makes you unique. Your father was Caucasian yet he had Italian in him. Your mother is African American with some Trinidad in her. You have a combination of beautiful things in you.” He stated as he pulled her close by the nape of her neck. His sapphire eyes looked into her emerald eyes. “May I?” he asked with his mouth only inches from hers.
Daesha nodded and closed her eyes as his mouth descended on hers. The kiss was soft yet passionate. Tahj was the one to break the kiss.
“Go finish your shower so that we can talk.”
She nodded as she reached for the razors on her dresser. Tahj’s hands covered hers. “What do you need those for? Your legs don’t need shaving.”
Daesha gave him a look that said think about it. Tahj let go of her hand quickly. “I see you have continued something that I suggested.” He said in a strangled voice filled with passion.
Daesha nodded before heading back into the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. He was walking around the room when he realized that Daesha still had a picture of them on her key ring. He smiled to himself. He was caressing the key ring reminiscing about the day they took that picture in an instant photo booth. Suddenly he thought about his cell phone decided to check it because it was on silence, he removed it from his pocket and saw that Ambi had called several time. Right when he was about to call her back he was getting a call and it was Ambi.
“Hi, what’s up?”
“I am at the Beverly Hills Memorial with Neela because she was having trouble breathing. They said it was bronchitis. Where are you?”
“I’m on may way.” He stated hanging up quickly. When he departed from the room, he did not see anyone to tell them why he was leaving so he just departed from the house.
Daesha emerged from the bathroom feeling refreshed and dressing in a cotton pajama shorts set. She did not find Tahj anywhere. She shr
ugged her shoulders and lay down on her bed to read the first Within the Series novel by the southern writer, Donna Altman.
When Tahj arrived at the ER, Neela was being discharged.
“Where the hell were you?” Ambi asked in anger.
“Does it really matter?”
“Yes it matters. I was visiting my parents when she got sick. I called you several times because you were suppose to be at home. You weren’t answering at home or on your cell.”
“I’m here now.” He stated as he walked them to his car. “How did you get up here anyways?”
“By fucking ambulance you nitwit!” she said angrily through clenched teeth.
“That language isn’t called for.”
“Well it helps with how I am feeling. My parents left right before you got here. I shouldn’t have to wonder where my husband is. Where the fuck were you?”
He sighed as he pulled away from the hospital. “With Daesha.”
It took every ounce of restraint to keep from hurting him with Neela right in the backseat in her car seat. Neela whimpered but settled right back into sleep. “You mean while I was with our sick daughter in the ER you were fucking Daesha!?” she inquired in a low anger voice.
“No one was fucking. I went to just talk.”
“What is there left to say?”
“I wanted her to realize that I was never leaving you and Neela. I wanted her to go on with her life.”
Ambi looked at him with shock. “Really?”
“Really. I made my bed so now I have to lie in it and stop hurting you and Neela.”
“I hope you are serious.”
“I am.”
“We shall see.”
“Yes we shall.”
Chapter 24The next week Aahsod had been able to get Ambi a modeling interview with Elliot Karmikell, Jr. who was the Vice-President of his father’s company. After her interview was over, Ambi was escorted down for a test photo shoot. Once the test shoot was over, E.J. informed her that she was hired. She could not wait to inform her family. When she arrived home, Tahj was no where to be found. She searched all over the house. There was no sign of him or Neela. She became frantic. She called his cell phone and he answered on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
“I decided to have some alone time with my daughter. We are at the zoo at the moment. I did not think your interview would be over this soon.”
“You could have left a note or sent me a text message.”
“She is my daughter as well. You took a whole week to yourself and I have to answer for spending quality time with my daughter? Get real, Ambi.”
“I got the job.” She stated trying to change the subject.
“I am happy for you. Now you need to interview nannies so that there will be someone at home with Neela.”
“You can stay home with Neela.”
“Not when I am going to be attending law school in the fall. I want to have a nanny that is use to the routine so that we will not have to start fresh when I attend law school.”
“And where is this money supposed to come from?”
“You have a job so contribute.”
“That’s not fair.”
“I am utilizing my trust fund from my grandparents to pay the bills until I pass the bar and get a job. We are fortunate to have Amaia allowing us to use her home until I am capable of buying one which means no mortgage at this time.”
“Does that mean I can have a vehicle as well?”
“Ask you parents. Your parents are wealthy. Don’t pretend you did not come from money. I refuse to allow you to sit back in the lap of luxury while I bust my ass in law school to make a better future for all of us.”
“I don’t think my parents should have to buy me a vehicle.”
“Depends on what type of vehicle you are wanting.”
“The Porsche Cayenne Turbo.”
“Have you lost your mind? That SUV’s sticker price begins at $98,700. If you get that, you will be asking your parents.”
“I have just been hired as a model for Karmikell’s Fashions. I have an image to uphold.”
“Well either you buy it or your parents can. I will not forfeit my trust fund for that.”
“You drive a Mercedes G550 SUV which has a sticker price of $111, 900. I don’t see the problem.”
“It was a gift from my grandparents. Ask your parents.” He hung up after making that statement.
Ambi sighed before hanging up the phone. She would call her parents later. She knew getting the vehicle would not be a problem. She just wanted to see what Tahj would do when she asked him. The phone rang and she answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“May I speak to Tahj?” an unfamiliar voice asked.
“He isn’t in. May I take a message?”
The caller hung up immediately. Ambi looked at the phone with confusion before hanging up. She picked up the phone to dial her mother’s number when the doorbell chimed. She put the phone back on the receiver. When she answered the door, she found Rahjah standing in the doorway.
“What in the hell are you doing here?” she inquired as she snatched him inside and closed the door.
“Calm down. People will just think I came to see my cousin. My excuse will be that I came to apologize for our fight.”
“How did you know he wasn’t home?”
“That was me that just called. I disguised my voice to find out if you were alone. If he had been home, I had planned to apologize for our fight.”
“What fight?”
“I see he did not tell you.”
“I guess that means it was about Daesha.”
“Why are you staying with him?”
“Why were you with Daesha?”
“You have no control over my life while you are with him.”
“You have no control either. If you chose not to answer my question then I won’t answer yours.”
“Stop being stubborn and just divorce him.”
“You know it is not that simple.”
“Have you spoken to your family about it? I am sure they would help you.”
“Rahjah, it is not about the money. It is about status with my family. Tahj is never going to give me a divorce any time soon. He is going to want the perfect family life for Neela. If he had told me about Daesha from the beginning, then I would not have married him. What you and I shared briefly was wonderful but I have to try to work things out with my husband.”
“I will wait for you to contact me again. I don’t think you will be happy with Tahj. I don’t know how long I will wait for you but for the time being I am content with having an affair with you until I grow tired of it.”
“I haven’t agreed to have an affair with you.”
“Like I said, I will wait to hear from you and I am sure it will be soon. I don’t mind being a booty call.”
“You are awful. Go home.”
Rahjah did not move towards the door. Instead, he pulled her close and gave her a searing, bewildering kiss that made her toes curl. When he was sure she would bend to his command, he broke free.
“Have a nice day. Call me when you need me.” He stated with a smile as he departed from the house leaving her hungry for more.
She realized when he was gone; she did not have the opportunity to tell him about her new job.
Chapter 25Tahj decided to go talk with his father who was working from home today. Camille had taken Neela to put her down for a nap. Aahsod was hard at work in his office when Tahj entered.
“What’s wrong, son?”
“Ambi, got hired at Karmikell’s as a model.”
“E.J. called me to draw up her contract. What else is wrong?”
“I made such a stupid mistake that I have to live with. Ambi isn’t who I thought she was. Now she wants me to buy her a Porsche Cayenne Turbo.”
“Are you going to?”
“No.”
“You have the capability from your trust fund.”
�
�I know that dad, but I want to only use it for necessities until I finish law school. I have to think more solid about our future with Neela. I want to buy a house and not live in Amaia’s forever.”
“I like the way you are thinking. You should have used that logic when you found out about Neela. You could have taken care of your daughter without marrying Ambi.”
“I realize that now. I was just so engrossed in what happened with my mother that I want to be the perfect father.”
“I wish you had contacted me before all of this transpired.”
“So do I.”
“I have been meaning to ask you what your wife did during her week of self quality time.”
“I have no clue. I really do not want to know. Whatever she did I hope it is out of her system and I don’t ever have to find out about it.”
“Even if she was unfaithful?”
“Especially that. I really would prefer to just pretend it was a spa week for her. I don’t really need to know the details as long as we can raise our daughter in a loving environment.”
“Son, there isn’t any love.”
“Maybe it will eventually develop. I love Ambi but I am just not in love with her so maybe there is hope.”
“I will just have to pray for your situation.”
“How are the twins?” Tahj inquired to change the subject.
“Doing excellent. Amaia will be going back to work in about two more weeks.”
“How is Daesha?”
“I knew you wouldn’t leave without asking that.”
“Dad, cut me so slack. I can’t help it that I am still in love with her. It is going to take some time to get over her.”
“She is depressed. You are driving her crazy. This is not easy for her. You have got to stop playing the jealous boyfriend now that you are married.”
“I don’t want to cause her any distress.”
“Then leave her alone and allow her try to go on with her life.”
Tahj was about to respond when Daesha entered Aahsod’s office without knocking.
“Aahsod—“ she did not finish her statement when she locked eyes with Tahj.
“Yes?”
She had a hard time finding her voice. “Mom, wanted to know what you wanted for dinner.”
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