Page 182 of Taeja

Taeja shook her head. She didn’t want to leave Zain again.

“How about you, Damon?” Cassedi asked.

“Sure.” Damon stood while looking at Taeja. “Text me if you need me, okay?”

Taeja nodded and watched them leave. She went to the backyard. Zain was off the phone now, finishing the last of his drink.

Cautiously, she sat on the chair beside him. “Are you okay?”

Zain sighed heavily. “Yeah.”

“That nuh sound like yu okay, Zain.”

He didn’t answer, and she gulped, unsure what to do. She hated that something was bothering him. She’d never seen him this angry about anything. So, she did something she thought would help him.

“I love you…” Taeja whispered, so low she was afraid he wouldn’t hear her over her pounding heart.

But he did.

Because he froze. His eyes widened as he looked at her.

Then, Zain said, “I don’t love you.”

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“Oh,” was all shecould say.

Pieces of her heart broke off, weakening her, but Taeja tried not to let it show. She went almost all her life waiting for her father to love her. Who was she to expect love from a man?

Oh, just a person who explained her hurt before.

Even if he didn’t love her back, he could’ve said it in a better way.

Damn, her chest was starting to hurt now.

Zain’s lips were moving, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. She couldn’t see him clearly through her teary vision.

Zain didn’t love her.

She loved this man with a passion, and he didn’t feel the same.

He was still talking as she stood and started walking away. His hand grabbed her wrist, and she yanked it free. Her chest was so tight, it was a struggle to breathe.

Damon. She needed Damon.

She heard Zain yelling again, but she didn’t stop to figure out if he was talking to her. None of his words could hurt more than the ones he just said.

I don’t love you.

She angrily wiped the back of her hand across her eyes as she walked across the road, her heart pounding in her ear. And the music from the DJ. And the chatter of people.

She pushed her way through the crowd, tears blurring her vision. She didn’tknow where she was going anymore, she just knew she wanted as much distance as possible between herself and Zain.

She’d heard a lot of hurtful things in her lifetime…

You’re a whore like your mother.

You’re stupid.

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