the toaster dinged. After pouring a glass of orange juice, Reyna sat at the counter and devoured her breakfast. As she licked jelly from the corner of her lips, thoughts of Tyson tainted its sweetness.
The previous dayâs events on the hill had rocked her world more than she cared to admit. In his anger Tyson had embarrassed her, but then with tenderness heâd comforted her without condemnation. His kiss had not only seared her lips, but had also warmed her soul. Reyna had been so discombobulated that before dinner back at Kevinâs house sheâd offered to say grace. If the gesture had pleased Tyson, he didnât show it and didnât mention it on the ride home. In fact, he didnât say much to her at all after the incident on the hill.
Tyson was a good person, but why Reyna felt compelled to expose her vulnerability to him was a mystery to her. It had always been that way with him. When her world began spiraling out of control, Tyson was right there, trying to break her fall, but she wouldnât take heed of his advice. He was the one who had bailed her out of jail and helped her nurse the wounds. Sheâd mastered the art of cursing him out, yet Tyson respected her. Whenever she needed help, Tyson was right there, such as when he offered his home to her. She had noticed his patience was starting to wear thin with her attitude about church, but she wasnât ready to change. One day sheâd face reality and acknowledge that Tyson desired much more than friendship from her, but today wasnât the day. Not as long as he worshiped the God she detested.
The clock above the stove chimed, indicating she had forty-five minutes to iron and get dressed. Today she wanted to arrive at the real estate office early. She was on a mission to fix Tyson up with Paige as a way to direct Tysonâs affections away from her. In compliance with the office dress-code policy, Reyna selected a black pencil skirt that stopped just above the knee and a tapered jacket with a white-collared shirt. After applying makeup and styling her hair, Reyna slipped her nylon-covered feet into four-inch pumps and headed for the office.
Before backing out of the driveway, Reyna turned on the satellite radio station and blasted the latest number one R & B hit. Traffic was unusually light for a Monday morning, and she made it work with ten minutes to spare. Just as she suspected, Paige was already seated in her office, with her eyes glued to the computer screen. As usual, Paigeâs model-like physique was covered in a dark-colored business suit.
After the previous warning, Reyna wasnât sure how to approach the subject of Tyson. âGood morning, Paige,â she cheerfully greeted from the doorway, then looked down at her watch. âHow long have you been here?â
âAbout two hours,â Paige answered, without turning her attention away from the computer.
Reyna inched into the office and looked around. Paige was one of the best; the multiple wall plaques proved it. Paige was beautiful, self-sufficient, and successful. A tinge of jealousy and regret sparked in Reyna as she wondered what her life would be like had she finished her masterâs degree and started her own practice. Would she be as successful as Paige? She quickly decided that she would be phenomenal. She directed her thoughts back to the task at hand.
âHow was your weekend?â
âChurch was wonderful,â Paige answered as her fingers glided across the keyboard.
Reyna rolled her eyes but stopped short of smirking. âWhat about the rest of the weekend? Surely you didnât spend the whole weekend at church, did you?â The more Reyna thought about it, the more it seemed possible for Paige to spend the whole weekend at a shut-in prayer session.
Paige continued typing. âNo. I also visited an art gallery.â
âReally?â Reyna saw the opening sheâd been waiting for and took the liberty of sitting
The previous dayâs events on the hill had rocked her world more than she cared to admit. In his anger Tyson had embarrassed her, but then with tenderness heâd comforted her without condemnation. His kiss had not only seared her lips, but had also warmed her soul. Reyna had been so discombobulated that before dinner back at Kevinâs house sheâd offered to say grace. If the gesture had pleased Tyson, he didnât show it and didnât mention it on the ride home. In fact, he didnât say much to her at all after the incident on the hill.
Tyson was a good person, but why Reyna felt compelled to expose her vulnerability to him was a mystery to her. It had always been that way with him. When her world began spiraling out of control, Tyson was right there, trying to break her fall, but she wouldnât take heed of his advice. He was the one who had bailed her out of jail and helped her nurse the wounds. Sheâd mastered the art of cursing him out, yet Tyson respected her. Whenever she needed help, Tyson was right there, such as when he offered his home to her. She had noticed his patience was starting to wear thin with her attitude about church, but she wasnât ready to change. One day sheâd face reality and acknowledge that Tyson desired much more than friendship from her, but today wasnât the day. Not as long as he worshiped the God she detested.
The clock above the stove chimed, indicating she had forty-five minutes to iron and get dressed. Today she wanted to arrive at the real estate office early. She was on a mission to fix Tyson up with Paige as a way to direct Tysonâs affections away from her. In compliance with the office dress-code policy, Reyna selected a black pencil skirt that stopped just above the knee and a tapered jacket with a white-collared shirt. After applying makeup and styling her hair, Reyna slipped her nylon-covered feet into four-inch pumps and headed for the office.
Before backing out of the driveway, Reyna turned on the satellite radio station and blasted the latest number one R & B hit. Traffic was unusually light for a Monday morning, and she made it work with ten minutes to spare. Just as she suspected, Paige was already seated in her office, with her eyes glued to the computer screen. As usual, Paigeâs model-like physique was covered in a dark-colored business suit.
After the previous warning, Reyna wasnât sure how to approach the subject of Tyson. âGood morning, Paige,â she cheerfully greeted from the doorway, then looked down at her watch. âHow long have you been here?â
âAbout two hours,â Paige answered, without turning her attention away from the computer.
Reyna inched into the office and looked around. Paige was one of the best; the multiple wall plaques proved it. Paige was beautiful, self-sufficient, and successful. A tinge of jealousy and regret sparked in Reyna as she wondered what her life would be like had she finished her masterâs degree and started her own practice. Would she be as successful as Paige? She quickly decided that she would be phenomenal. She directed her thoughts back to the task at hand.
âHow was your weekend?â
âChurch was wonderful,â Paige answered as her fingers glided across the keyboard.
Reyna rolled her eyes but stopped short of smirking. âWhat about the rest of the weekend? Surely you didnât spend the whole weekend at church, did you?â The more Reyna thought about it, the more it seemed possible for Paige to spend the whole weekend at a shut-in prayer session.
Paige continued typing. âNo. I also visited an art gallery.â
âReally?â Reyna saw the opening sheâd been waiting for and took the liberty of sitting
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