At age 12, Maliah's twin brother Malik drowned. Eight years later, she's still coping with the trauma of her loss. Though she visits their favorite beach for fond memories, she is yet to enter the water.
When a familiar stranger offers to help comba...
"Why do you want to know?" I placed the phone on loudspeaker and sauntered my way to the kitchen to make my tea.
"Because I want to see you."
There were loud noises on Rion's side. More like breeze and cars whooshing by on a highway. "Why?"
"Because we need to talk. And I miss you."
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I rolled my eyes. Missed me? Please. "Don't you miss Simone?"
"Oh, come on Maliah... Why you acting like that? You'll make me think you're actually jealous."
Because I am... I filled the mug with some tap water and tucked the tea bag in the cup.
"What's all that noise?" He asked.
"I'm making tea..."
"Can I have some?"
"No."
"So where are you?"
"Didn't I tell you I was by Anya? Why you still asking?"
"Because I want to see you."
"Do you know the time? And if I tell you, how are you getting here? You can't drive like that."
"They never said I couldn't drive. But I'll just take a taxi."
Sigh... I wanted to see him but then I didn't. If Rion came to see me, then that only meant we had to talk about the relationship situation. I wasn't ready for that. Well, at least not yet.
"Helloooo... Are you there?"
"Yes."
"Do you really want me to beg?"
"I have to go finish make my tea. I will float you the address when I'm finished."
"Really?"
"Good bye." I hung up and peered at the phone on the table. What the heck was I doing? I waited until the kettle whistled to steep the tea and then messaged Rion the address.
Six minutes into my sipping marathon, a message came through from Rion saying that he was outside. "Shoot!" I almost flipped off the couch spilling the sweet tea. I laid the cup on the table and rushed into my room to wear something a bit more appropriate. I was clad in a sports bra and a yoga shorts.
I opened the front door hitting something, "You--" What the heck... Rion was already up the steps and standing directly in front the door.
"Hi."
"Don't hi me. You're a creep for being in front the door like that."
"You were taking long... You look nice. and smell nice."
I smiled. I had thrown on a red tube top with a white Capri pants. I sprayed perfume, of course, because I hadn't bathe since earlier the morning. We both took a seat on the couch and I resumed sipping my tea.
