Shea gazed at the condensation rolling down her glass, her fingertips damp from tracing it absentmindedly. She had not realized how far she had drifted until her name pulled her back.
“Earth to Shea,” Jason chuckled. “You been gone a minute. Yeah, you’re withholding, and I’m listening.”
She smiled softly, cheeks flushed, eyes carrying something she had not possessed in years. Emotion won long before her mouth could catch up. She loved Jason. She hated how easily he always knew.
“If I tell you,” she said carefully, “you have to come clean about why you’re drinking this early in the day.”
Jason rolled his eyes and lifted his glass. “You’re lucky I want the tea,” he said. “But fine. You first.”
Shea chuckled softly, pushed her hair behind her ear, and tilted her head slightly to the right. “Well,” she began.
Jason cut in immediately. “Ohhhh, this is going to be good,” he said, leaning in with interest.
“Shut up, Jay,” she laughed, lightly slapping his shoulder. “It was a guy looking to add to his modeling portfolio.”
Jason’s eyes lit up with an excitement he definitely did not expect to possess today.
“He said I was recommended to him by someone,” Shea continued, “but he couldn’t disclose who.”
Jason’s mind started racing. “Okay. Weird. But also kind of cute. Go on.”
Shea leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I can’t lie, Jay. He is fine as hell.”
Jason squinted. “Wait. What did you just say? I couldn’t hear you. Speak up.”
looked at him, head cocked slightly. “Really, Jay?”
“I’m just making sure I heard you,” he said, feigning innocence. “Why are you whispering?”
“The guy was handsome,” she admitted. “Too handsome. Almost ungodly handsome.”
Jason’s jaw dropped. “Sis,” he said slowly, “you have not radiated like this since he who shall not be named.”
“I’m not radiating anything, Jason. You’re overreading,” she replied, her smile wide and unapologetic, Grinch-like in its exposure. “And let’s keep this hush, please. He’s a client, for God’s sake.”
“He’s a client for now,” Jason smirked.
Kayla sat at her kitchen table, mind racing, leg bouncing so rapidly the dishes rattled with every tremor. The room felt too loud, too quiet, too small all at once.
Saint watched her from across the floor, head tilted as if he could sense the unrest pulsing through her body. He whimpered softly before padding over, pressing himself against her legs.
Kayla barely noticed him at her feet, too consumed by the storm churning inside her to recognize the comfort he was offering.
The exchange from the meeting replayed in her head on a relentless loop. Kayla still could not believe the way she had been humiliated in front of everyone. She would never allow them to see a tear fall, but here, in the quiet of her home, she was safe.
Tears ruined her beat face as she grabbed her phone. “I’ve got to do damage control,” she muttered.
Through blurred vision, she scrolled through her contacts. She had not kept in touch with many people since moving back home. Would any of them even answer her call now?
Then she saw the name.
Her mind flashed back to the last thing Saisha had said to her.
If you ever need anything, I’ve got you.
A faint smile touched Kayla’s lips. She tapped the name, then began typing.
Kayla: Hey Sai. I hope this finds you well. If you have time to chat today, give me a call.
When she hit send, her chest felt a little lighter. Temporary relief. But the anger lingered.
Mr. Connelly would regret embarrassing her.
Kayla leaned down and scooped Saint into her arms. “I’m sorry for ignoring you, baby,” she cooed.
Saint licked her face enthusiastically, tail wagging without restraint, grounding her in a moment she had nearly missed.
She headed to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. She needed to pull herself together. Sulking had never been her style for long.
“Get your head back in it, Kay,” she told her reflection, gripping the edge of the sink.
After one last glance in the mirror, she grabbed her keys and bolted. “I’ve got to get out of this house.”
Xaviér heard his phone ringing over the rush of the shower water. “Hey Siri, answer the call,” he called out.
There was a brief pause. Then, “This is Xae,” he said into the receiver.
“Hey man, it’s Lux. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Xaviér stepped out and shut off the water. “Nah,” he replied, grabbing a towel. “Just wrapping up in the shower. What’s up?”
He tried to keep his voice steady. Cool. Casual.
“Listen, the agency and I have been reviewing your portfolio,” Lux began. “These last photos were perfection. Do you think you can get some outdoor shots as well?”
Xaviér was beaming on the inside.
“Yeah, man. That should be possible,” he replied.
“Great. Get those to us by next week and we should be able to lock some things in stone for you. I’m looking forward to receiving them.”
“Cool, man. We’ll talk soon,” Xaviér said before ending the call.
The moment it disconnected, he jumped so high his head collided with the light fixture above him.
“Ow. Damn,” he muttered, laughing through the sting.
He grabbed his phone and checked his email. There they were. Contracts from Shea.
Xaviér skimmed through them carefully. He appreciated the month to month clause for the first three months. No pressure. No obligation if things became uncomfortable or if she decided the additional shoots were not her lane.
He signed quickly and sent the documents back, then followed up with an email.
Hey Shea,
I’m excited to get this ball rolling. I also need some outdoor shots at your earliest availability this week, if possible. Please let me know by email, text, or call. Thanks for everything.
Xaviér
555-3241
He hit send, then danced his way out of the bathroom in search of an ice pack for his head.
Shea glanced at her phone and caught the email alert. She silenced the notification and turned her attention back to Jason.
“Okay, mister wants to know all my business,” she said gently. “Why are we at the pub before noon?”
Jason exhaled, the weight of the day rushing back in. “Today’s the anniversary.” His voice faltered, a tear slipping free before he could stop it. “My dad, he just… he can be such a jerk, Shea.”
Shea stayed quiet, letting him find his footing.
“He never notices when my mood shifts,” Jason continued, lifting his glass. “He only notices when I’m not doing what he wants me to do.”
“Jay,” Shea said softly, reaching for his hand. “You need to tell him how much this bothers you.”
“For what?” he whispered. “He doesn’t care.”
Her chest tightened. “I’m so sorry, Jason. What do you need in this moment?”
The chime above the pub door rang out, sharp and ill-timed.
“Ohhh, so y’all meeting up without me,” Kayla called loudly from across the room.
Jason threw his hands up in annoyance. “And here this one comes.”
“Why y’all here?” Kayla asked. “Clearly Jay’s had a few. I know Miss ‘I’m Too Good to Drink’ had boogie water. But I didn’t get an invite, so what’s the tea?”
“Hi, Kayla. We’re okay. How are you?” Shea said, sarcasm dripping.
“Miss me with that, Shea. Why y’all always leaving me out of the loop?”
Jason chimed in, already reaching for his keys. “Girl, nobody has time for your shenanigans.”
Before he could move, Shea snatched the keys from his hand.
“First off, Jay, you’re not driving,” she said. “Secondly,” she turned to Kayla, attitude laced with concern, “why aren’t you at work while you’re demanding answers from us?”
Kayla didn’t have a comeback. She’d been found.
Well… almost.
She’d thought about the why are you here response, but it never made it past her throat.
Jason watched her closely. Kayla’s body language screamed defeat—avoidance dressed up as nonchalance.
“Cat got your tongue, Kay?” Jason asked.
“Early day,” she mumbled.
She walked to the bar, ordered a Henny on the rocks, and returned to the table without meeting either of their eyes.
“Kay.” Shea reached for her hand. “What’s up? You never have an early day.”
Kayla downed the drink in one swallow. Jason leaned back, concern creasing his forehead.
“Nah,” he said. “Something’s up for real. What happened?”
Kayla sighed, her leg bouncing again. Up. Down. Up. Down. “Nothing. I’m good. Can we drop it?”
“No, we can’t,” Shea said calmly. “You can try to run us wrong, but we see you. We notice you. And this—” she gestured lightly, “—this is scared Kayla. Not I’m tough, don’t worry about me Kayla.”
Kayla blinked fast, catching the tear before it could fall.
“I said drop it,” she whispered. “Please. Not here.”
The chimes on the door rang again.
Kayla stiffened instantly.
Jason clocked the shift before she even moved. The air around her went tight, charged.
“This bihh,” Kayla growled under her breath.
She pushed back from the table, but Jason caught her arm before she could get past him.
“Kay,” he warned quietly.
Taylor froze just inside the doorway.
She stood there, uncertain, debating whether to brace herself for the drama she’d clearly walked into… or turn around and save herself while she still could.
Kae Jaye The Writer 