Page 31 of Differences

He nodded. “Like I said before, Taja, you’ve been there for me. There was no way in hell that I would sit here and not show up for you. Sometimes, you just need a friend, so here I am.”

I smirked. “So, you’re saying we’re friends? Last I checked, the Weston I know gives me hell at the office,” I teased.

He rubbed his hand down the back of his head. “I apologize for that. I’m in leadership. Shit, I handle the money. I can’t walk around like a simp ass person. If I do that, people will run all over me, and I can’t allow that shit.”

“I guess, but I would never do you or anybody like that,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“It’s ’cause you’re different. Shit, I knew that since the day I laid eyes on you in the club.” He sipped from the wineglass.

I studied the side of Weston’s face, surprised by his confession. “Really?”

He nodded. “Real shit. You only confirmed it when we hung up out that night.”

I slapped his arm. “Let’s not even bring it up. We’ve all had a one-night stand before.”

He sipped more from his wine. “Nah, I ain’t even talking about that. Don’t get me wrong, it was top-tier. I’m talking about the conversation that night. Shit, you’re even making me stop by McDonald’s. You weren’t impressed with the money. You were impressed with me. It had been a while since I felt that someone saw me for me and not how heavy my pockets were.”

“Money doesn’t impress me. You can be rich one day and broke tomorrow. Money ain’t everything.”

“I know that now...” His voice was sad.

I moved closer to him and wrapped my arm around his. I laid my head on his shoulder.

“Your mom is going to be okay. I have faith that she will.”

He laid his head on mine. “And I have faith that you will be too.”

Weston placed a kiss on my forehead. “If I haven’t said thank you. Thank you, Taja.”

“You’re welcome, Wes.” I snuggled closer to him, closing my eyes to allow sleep to take over so I could forget about this day and start a new one.

11

Weston

It was Monday evening, and Taja and I had been cooped up in my place since everything took place on Sunday. Instead of going to the office to work, I worked from home, and Taja took the day off. She spent most of the day watching movies in my bedroom. In between meetings, I would go in and check on her. I had wrapped up my last meeting and was preparing myself to go check on her again when my phone rang. I looked and saw it was Keezy.

“What’s up, man?” I greeted while shutting down my computer.

“Nothing much, man. I’m finna head back to the city. I was going to ask if you were at the hospital. I was gonna stop by to check on you and your family.”

“Actually, I’m home working. I—”

Keezy cut me off. “Aye, man, I’mma keep it real with you because you’re my best friend, shit more like my brother. You only get one mama. Let all that other shit go. The fact that Rae had to let me know what was going on is crazy. Nigga, I thought we were boys.”

Keezy was pissed, and I understood why. I should’ve called him and let him know what was happening. My head was all over the place, and I had forgotten.

“Keezy, chill. I had planned to go over there this evening. I just wanted to make sure my...” I paused.

I wasn’t sure what to call Taja. She wasn’t my girlfriend, but she was more than a co-worker, and she wasn’t someone I was sleeping with. So, I referred to her the only way I knew how.

“My friend was good. Once I do, I will be heading back there.”

“Friend? Nigga, huh? Your ass don’t make friends.” Keezy laughed. “Who is this little piece you done met?”

I shook my head as if he could see me. “Nah, she’s more than that.”

The phone went quiet. I had to look to make sure he was still there.

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