Differences

Chapter 12

12

Taja

A fter twenty minutes of Weston crying on his mother’s lap, he stood up from his mother’s bed and walked out of the room. He tried to look at Rae, but she turned her head, ignoring his presence. His shoulders dropped even more. He walked away like a scolded child. I rubbed his mother’s hand and followed behind him, but not ’til I stopped in front of the gentleman, who I now knew as Keezy.

“Sorry we didn’t get a formal introduction. I’m Taja.”

He softly smiled. “Nice to put a face to the person who got my boy’s head gone. I’m Keezy, Wes’ best friend.”

I did not know what Keezy was talking about. Nothing I had done could have caused me to have Weston’s head gone, so instead of addressing it, I extended my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Keezy.”

Rae stood there, eyes swollen at this point. She was sad and angry. Instead of having to grieve the loss of her mother, she was having to deal with her brother and his asshole ways. I opened my arms and pulled her in for a hug.

“Rae, I’m so sorry. If there is anything I can do for y’all, please let me know. I’m here for you both. Don’t crucify him just yet. Weston is hurting, and he doesn’t know how to control his emotions. He is a work in progress, but that’s not an excuse for his behavior.”

She scoffed. “Ugh, the sad thing is, I know, which is why I can’t hate him or be mad at him for long. I know he needs help. My brother has so many walls built up that he is in a room alone. He’s all I got left now.” She sniffed. “Just...can you take care of him for me? This is going to be a long road for us. I even hate to ask with everything you’ve got going on.”

No matter what I had going on with Jay and his scandalous ways, I knew Weston needed me, and there was no way I wouldn’t be there for him.

I shook my head. “Don’t even worry about all that. I’ll stay by Weston’s side. If I need to, I can be here for you too. It’s no biggie. You were there for me.”

This time, Rae shook her head. “No, I—”

“I’m here,” Keezy said, interrupting her. “Take care of my boy.”

My eyes bounced back and forth between them. I knew Keezy and Weston were best friends, yet I also noticed that since I was here, Keezy had remained by Rae’s side, never taking his arm from around her.

“Okay. Well, you have my number. Call me if you need anything or with any updates.”

I hugged Rae and smiled at Keezy before running off to catch up with Weston.

* * *

An hour had passed since we made it back to Weston’s condo. He sat outside on the balcony, staring off into space. I stayed close by just to make sure he wasn’t thinking about doing anything stupid. My heart ached for him. Weston was expecting so much in such little time. It was as if he was living his best life. The fast cars, the women, the money, and the fancy clothes. Then suddenly, the first woman to love him was dying, and no amount of money in the world could save her.

Money was Weston’s lifejacket in many of his life situations, yet this time, it wasn’t working. I slowly opened the balcony door, and the cold air instantly greeted me. Weston didn’t acknowledge me. I walked over closer to where he was sitting and pulled the extra chair closer.

We sat in silence for a few minutes. He was lost in his thoughts.

“Are you hungry? I can go out and get something. I can even cook.”

Weston shook his head.

“Um...would you like to come in? You’ve been out here for a while.”

“Has she passed away yet?”

I cringed at his question. It was as if he was waiting for me to give him the most devastating news.

“I haven’t heard from Rae.”

We sat there again in silence. The only thing that could be heard was the business pedestrians down below. A few seconds later, Weston spoke up, this time his voice cracking.

“My mother is going to die hating me. Then to make matters worse, Rae is going to hate me even more, especially all that shit I said to her. I’m a fuckup.” Tears began falling.

I quickly moved over, wrapping my arms around his neck, holding him tight, and allowing him to sob.

“Weston, a mother’s love is unconditional. She could never hate you. If she did, she wouldn’t have set it up to where it was a burden on her kids. She cared that much about you and Rae to set everything up. As far as Rae, you owe her a huge apology. All of that was uncalled for. She is hurting just as much as you. If she slaps your ass the next time she sees you, your ass deserves it. You can’t treat people and talk to people that you care about like that.”

He pulled away from me and stared at me. I was prepared for him to cuss me out and kick me out next. I wasn’t going down without a fight. Rae told me to watch him, so that’s what I was going to do.

“What?” I asked.

Weston placed his hand on my cheek and stared into my eyes. “Why are you so perfect?”

Before I could answer, Weston placed his lips on mine, slowly kissing me with all his soul. The passion-filled kiss was much better than our kiss from the other day. This time, it felt as if he was speaking to me and trying to tell me something. He trailed down my neck with his plush lips, placing kisses along my throbbing vein. This time, I could tell he was about to take things to another level.

“Wes...Weston, should we be doing this? Emotions are high. A lot of things have been happening. We’re bonding, and I would hate for this one night of fucking to jeopardize the friendship we are building,” I hinted, pulling away from him.

I wiped at my lips as he stood from his chair. Even though I missed his touch and wanted this to be much more than what it was. I would rather have him as a friend than nothing at all. I cursed myself for having morals. He moved in closer toward me, hovering over my body. I didn’t know what to expect but was surprised when he placed his hand around my waist.

“Ta, I’m not sure about a lot of shit right now. One thing I’m sure about is that you being here is making me feel better. Since that night at the club, I haven’t felt like that in anyone else’s presence but yours. It’s something about you. No matter how hard I try to fight that feeling, it’s more than just flirting here and sexual tension. I’m falling for you, Taja. I fell for you that night in the club.”

“Weston, I don’t know what to say.”

Stunned was an understatement. Never would’ve thought that Weston would’ve been feeling me the way he was. That night was one of the best nights of my life too. The way the conversation flowed and the feeling I got around him, I never experienced that with Jay. At first, I chalked it up to it being the liquor and weed. But whenever I was in his presence, that same feeling came rushing back to me.

“Make love to me, Taja.”

Weston pulled me closer, putting his lips back on mine, this time inserting his tongue while gripping my hips. This time, I didn’t pull back. He scooped me off my feet, never breaking the kiss. He carried me into the house carefully, still never removing the kiss. Not one time did he speed up the process. He took his time. We finally made it to his bedroom, and he tossed me on the bed. Drool came out of my mouth while I watched him remove his shirt over his head. He smiled, watching me be in awe of his body. He climbed on the bed, helping me remove my clothes. He placed kisses on each part of my body that was exposed. Once I was fully naked, he bit at his lips.

“You’re breathtaking, Taja. You know that?”

“Thank you.”

“Nah, thank you, baby.”

The pet name sent my head in a swirl, and before I could gather myself, Weston had latched on to my kitty, licking and sucking as if it was his last meal. My back arched against the bedsheets the more he lapped my folds. I moaned his name ’til I felt myself cumming, and instead of a moan, I screamed his name.

“Weston!”

He placed soft kisses on my inner thigh as I came down from my sex high.

“That was music to my ears. I can’t wait to hear more of it.”

The next thing I knew, Weston had my legs wrapped around him as he slowly stroked in and out of me. I clawed at his back and bit on his shoulder as he worked me like I had never been worked before. The more he stroked, the more he complimented me. He was feeding into my praise kink and didn’t even know it.

“You’re so beautiful, baby.”

“Weston,” I moaned.

“You belong to me now. There is no way I’m letting you walk out of my life again.”

“Weston...”

“Tell me, you’re not going anywhere.”

“I’m here to stay, Wes. I promise.”

“Good girl.”

He stroked harder and deeper, causing my eyes to roll to the back of my head. I knew I was on the brink of cumming, and Weston wasn’t letting up.

“Cum for me,” he said in my ear, placing a kiss on it.

“I’m cumming, Wes! I’m cumming.”

“Me too, baby!”

Seconds later, I could feel Weston shooting his seeds inside of me and me tightening around his manhood.

We both laid there for a minute before Wes got up and got us both a warm towel. He cleaned me off and then himself. He had done a number on me. He lifted me up from the bed, peeling back the covers, and climbed in behind me, pulling me closer to him.

“Don’t sneak out on me tonight.”

I smiled, thinking about how I snuck out of his apartment the last time. However, this time, he didn’t have to worry about that.

“I promise I won’t.”

* * *

The sun was making its presence known. I had already made up my mind that I would work from home instead of going into the office. Weston needed me, and I feared him getting the call that his mother had passed away and he was by himself. Every time I adjusted in my sleep, Weston tightened his grip on me. He meant what he said. He wanted to wake up and I be there. However, my bladder was on the verge of erupting. I slowly removed his arm from around my waist, taking my time to climb out of bed to empty my bladder and return without him noticing that I was gone. I tiptoed to the bathroom and relieved myself. It was one of the best feelings. After using the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands. My neck was covered in hickeys from Weston. No matter how hard I tried not to smile at the marks, I couldn’t help it. Last night brought back those feelings I felt from the first time, yet this time was different. I wasn’t trying to escape, and this wasn’t just a one-night stand.

Again, I tiptoed across the room, climbing back into bed with Weston. I reached for his arm and placed it around my body, snuggling back into him. He placed a soft kiss on my shoulder.

“Did I wake you?” I asked.

“Yeah, I didn’t feel you anymore. I thought you left again.” He kissed my shoulder again. “But when I heard the toilet flush and the water, I was good.”

“I keep my promises,” I said, turning around to face him.

Weston pecked my lips. “I see that. Shit, I know that. I just know I come with a lot right now. Anybody would run away from that.”

“I’m not just anybody.”

He smiled. “You’re right.” He climbed on top of me. “You’re not just anybody. You have something special, Taja.”

He kissed me, sending sparks throughout my body. The next thing I knew, he was delivering powerful strokes to my body.

* * *

“I’m going to get fired because of you, Weston,” I fussed as we pulled into my apartment complex.

He laughed. “No, you’re not! Stop thinking that. I wouldn’t allow them to fire you.”

I sucked my teeth. Weston would not let me out of his hold. He wanted to explore every inch of my body multiple times. After pleading for him to give my coochie a break, he finally agreed to drive me to my apartment so that I could get my work stuff and more clothes.

“You swear you got that much pull at TRU,” I teased. However, I knew Weston had all the pull in the world at the company.

He parked the car and leaned over, placing a sweet kiss on my lips. “Because I do.”

I playfully rolled my eyes. “Give me five minutes. It shouldn’t take me long.”

“You don’t need me to go up with you?”

I shook my head. “Nah, I see my car parked over there, so I’m sure Jay is gone.”

“Go ahead, I’ll be out here waiting.”

I rushed up the stairs to grab my items. As soon as I approached the door, I could hear music blaring from the other side. Jay was still there after I told him to leave two days ago. Inserting my key, I saw my apartment exactly as I’d left it. There were no moving boxes, no trash bags, no nothing. Jay was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. When he heard me shut the door, he looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Ta, baby.” He jumped up from the chair.

“Why are you here? I thought I told you to be gone. Do I need to call the police?”

“Ta.” He tried to step close to me, but I moved out of the way.

The hurt in his eyes didn’t faze me. Jay did me in the worst way possible. Cheating on me in our bed while I did nothing but give him all of me hurt like hell. There was no coming back from his actions.

“Jay, there is nothing to discuss. Get your shit and get the fuck out!” I stormed past him, heading to my room to grab my items.

“You’re not even giving me a chance to talk?”

“I don’t care to hear what you have to say! The deed is done. Shit, we are done, Jay.”

He stood silently. I moved around my room as if he weren’t standing there. I grabbed everything that I needed, throwing it into a bag. There was nothing Jay could do to make me change my mind about where I stood.

“Where are you going?” he suddenly asked.

My eyebrow raised as I looked at him. There was no way he was questioning where I was going. We were done, and he didn’t have the right to know.

“That is none of your business.” I went back to packing my bag.

“Who is he?”

I stopped throwing my items in the bag and glanced at him. I laughed to stop from cursing him out. The nerve of him to even ask that. However, if he wanted to know, I had no issue with telling him.

“Not that it is any of your fucking business, but there is no one...yet.” I smiled, thinking about Weston waiting on me outside.

“You always had a nigga on the side? I knew it! Look at all of them fucking hickeys on your neck!”

I scoffed, then laughed. “Whatever, Jay. Get the fuck out. I don’t want to see your ass no more.”

He moved closer to me. I could see the rage on his face. Jay didn’t scare me, so I was ready to fight if he tried anything stupid.

“All those long nights, you said you were working, but you were fucking another nigga,” he accused.

I rolled my eyes. “Jay, get the fuck out of my face. I should’ve, but no, I was too committed to your sorry ass. Is that what you wanna hear?” I shouted.

“Bitc—” Jay stepped forward but stopped when he heard a voice behind him.

“That’s what I want you to do, motherfucker.” Weston stood at the entrance of my bedroom door. His jaw was tight, and his brows were pinched together.

“What the fuck is this nigga doing here?” Jay asked, pointing at Weston.

“Because I’m her new nigga. The nigga that ain’t got to DoorDash to make ends meet. The nigga that knows when he got something good in front of him, he ain’t doing shit to jeopardize it. That nigga.”

I tried my best to hide my smile, but hearing Weston talk his talk sent butterflies to my stomach and tingles to my sweet spot. Weston was claiming me, and he wasn’t even waiting for my approval.

“Nigga, I’ll—” Jay moved closer to Weston but stopped when Weston flashed his gun.

My eyes bulged out of my head at seeing the black pistol sitting in Weston’s pants. Never would’ve thought Weston knew how to handle a gun, let alone own one. Jay put his hand up in surrender. He stepped back and turned to look at me. His eyes were wet. I wasn’t sure if that was for Weston flashing his gun or if he knew this was it.

“Just like that? Huh, Ta?”

“Just the fuck like that.”

I zipped my bag and made my way over to Weston. He placed a kiss on my forehead and took the bag from my hand.

“You good?”

I nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.” I turned around and looked at Jay one more time. He was defeated, but he was no longer my problem. “Get your shit and get the fuck out. This is my last warning.”

We headed out of the apartment, down the steps, and back to the car. I got in and let out a deep breath. As soon as Weston got in the car, I hugged him.

“Thank you. You really didn’t have to do all that.”

“When you didn’t come back in five minutes, I knew something was off. Don’t thank me. You never have to thank me. I owe you more than you know.” He placed the car in reverse and backed out of my apartment.

I knew Weston was referring to me being here because of everything that was happening to his mother. Everything was a ticking time bomb for him. We rode back to his house in silence, not knowing what else could become of the day.

* * *

“All right, I will have all of this wrapped up by the end of the week and post. Also, I will share the highlights twice a day since the gala is less than a month away. We want as many donors as possible, and we want this to be a good night. A fun night for everybody.” I smiled, talking to the leadership team via web camera.

They all agreed, and the CEO ended the meeting. I closed my computer and sighed in relief. When we made it back to Weston’s condo, I locked myself away in Weston’s office and played catch up on my work. Weston stated he was headed to the gym to let out his frustrations. I wasn’t sure if he returned or not because he never stopped by the office to let me know if he was back. I stepped out of the room. I could hear the TV as I walked down the hall. Three pizza boxes sat on the kitchen counter, along with a couple of two-liter sodas. I walked around toward the living room and saw Weston laid out on the couch, sleeping. He looked so peaceful. The most peaceful I had seen him all day. Instead of waking him, I made my way back into the kitchen to fix myself a slice or two of pizza.

I sat at the kitchen table, scarfing down the slices of pizza. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I realized how quickly I devoured the two slices. My stomach growled, so I made my way to the kitchen. I prepared myself another slice before my phone rang. As soon as I saw Rae’s name pop up on the phone, my heart fell to my toes. I glanced over and saw that Weston was still sleeping. I tiptoed outside to the balcony and quickly answered the phone.

“Hi, Rae,” I greeted, feeling my eyes water instantly.

“Taja, it’s Keezy. Um...” Keezy paused on the other end of the phone.

I knew what was coming as I held my breath, waiting on the blow.

“She passed away a couple of minutes ago. Can you let Wes know?”

The tears were rolling down my face. “Yeah, I can do that. How is Rae?”

He sighed. “She’s in there now. She’s not handling this well, but I’m here.”

“Okay. ’Well, I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Aye, Taja?”

“Yeah?”

“Take care of my boy. He’s really gonna need it.”

“I got you.”

We hung up the phone, and I sighed. I cried tears for Rae and Weston. Granted, I didn’t know their mother, but losing a parent had to be devastating. I cried a few more tears before wiping my face. I had to figure out how I was going to tell Weston that his mother was gone. After a few more deep breaths, I turned on my heels and made my way back on the inside. While walking toward the living room, Weston startled me as he sat straight up, looking at the TV.

“Wes,” I softly called.

“She’s gone, isn’t she?”

“Wes, I’m so sorry.”

He turned and looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot red, and his face was full of tears. My heart shattered into a million pieces seeing him that way. I ran over toward him and wrapped him in my arms.

“My mother is gone,” he sobbed. “Why her? Why my mama out of all people?”

I said nothing. The only thing I could do was pull him close and tight. The ticking time bomb had gone off.

“What am I going to do?” he asked.

“Don’t worry about all that right now, Weston. Stop trying to find a solution, grieve. Just grieve.”

“How do I do that?”

“By going to go say goodbye to your mother.”

He shook his head. “I can’t do that, Taja.”

“Yes, you can.” I placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Will you go with me?”

I smiled through my tears. “When I promised I wasn’t leaving your side, I meant that.” I kissed his lips. “I’ve got you, Wes.”