Chapter 26

                                    

                                          
Naya's gaze flickered to me. 
It's like she had a sixth sense when it came to me, like she knew that I was about to leave with Talia. 
She found herself being not only possessive of me, but protective over me.
Even when I wouldn't notice, she'd always be watching over me. 
It would manifest in tiny ways, like her covering the edge of the table with her hand so I wouldn't hit my head while picking up my dropped fork off of the floor. 
Her gaze wasn't one of emotional display, but I could definitely feel her jealousy. 
Sometimes I wondered if I was overestimating my connection with her, but I could swear that underneath everything, there was insecurity. 
I was a challenge to Naya's strong desires swirled in with her obsessive need for control. 
Her look held something unsteady. Something not even Talia could notice despite the fact that she could see Naya as clearly as me. 
Something only a lover could feel and understand on behalf of their person. 
I could tell that underneath it all, there was something almost desperate.
It felt like a silent begging for me to stay, to choose her, even in the midst of all our shit. 
I know all too well what it feels like to just want to be chosen. To want to be the first choice, just for once. 
Nobody has ever granted me that courtesy. So why would I have to do that for someone else? 
Naya understood what it was like to be the first choice. 
If I had it my way, I would be going out with her instead of Talia by a milestone. 
Despite it all, Naya was the one who I wanted.
As much as I wanted to upset her and get back at her, in essence all that I wanted was her. 
Nobody was going to choose me.
Not Naya. Not Talia. Not even Priya. 
I was with Priya for so long, and I'm not even sure if she ever genuinely loved me.
Did she ever love me? 
I had to choose myself. 
Having to show up for yourself every single time is painful, but it didn't seem like anybody else was going to do that for me. So I had to do it for myself. 
Going out with Talia would be fun, I decided. 
I always complained about barely having a social life, so going out would be nice. 
Talia returned to the table while I finished off my duties before going to change my clothes and fix myself up. 
I looked through my bedroom window after getting dressed, my stare naturally gravitating towards Naya. 
She felt me watching and looked at me, smiling slightly at the mere fact that we made eye contact before continuing her conversation with her husband. 
I wanted to turn my heart off. 
The smallest crumbs of acknowledgment from Naya's end felt like the world to me. 
It wasn't enough, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't crawl back to her. 
After a while of making myself look unbelievably scrumptious (Deon's slang rubbed off on me) I went downstairs. 
Luther and his brother, Teagan, were in the kitchen with Jorja. 
Talia stood patiently at the entrance of the house, smiling at me as she saw me walking down the stairs. 
"Ready to go?" Talia asked and for some reason, I felt dizzy. 
"Yeah. Let's go." 
I heard footsteps. 
They were slow, but purposeful from behind me. 
I didn't even have to turn around to know that it was with her, I could feel her presence radiating heat off of her. 
One or two steps away from me, Naya stood as she looked down at Talia. 
I could feel her practically towering over me, but I still didn't dare to turn around and face her. 
"Max." Naya's voice was low but it stung my ears. 
Her tone was almost sharp, like she was stopping herself from reprimanding me even with Talia present. 
Talia didn't stop herself from smirking, amused by the entire ordeal. 
Naya spoke coldly, "Where are you going?" 
I had to look at her. 
I turned my head, but I still didn't answer her. 
I let the silence draw on despite the fact that I could practically feel the pace at which her heart and mind was racing within my own body. 
Her features were carved into a look of indifference, but I could see her beauty being tainted with heartbreak.
Her cheeks were flushed, and I found myself selfishly wondering if she had ever cried over me. 
"Out." I replied, finally. 
My tone was nonchalant. Inwardly, I was hoping that she would pick up on my defiance.
"I could use a break, and Talia has a few ideas on how to help me relax." 
Her face twisted into something scathing for a split second, "I see." 
I didn't believe that she "saw" anything at all, or maybe she simply saw too much. Because her voice got softer, like she was pleading to me. 
"Just be careful. Don't let yourself get carried away." 
I frowned at her, but it was difficult not to glare given my frustration.
She was keeping me at an arm's length but simultaneously, she managed to sneak in some concern. 
Like she cared about me, and had an unspoken right to be worried about what I was doing and who I was doing those things with. 
"I'll be fine, Naya." my words came out harshly, like I was spitting venom by saying her name. "I don't need you to watch over me." 
Naya's face hardened. 
If things were different, she would grab me by my neck, pin me up against the wall in a matter of seconds, and ask me who the fuck I thought I was talking to. 
Her mind was not with her husband.
Neither was her heart. 
"Okay. Enjoy yourself."
"Oh, We will." Talia chimed in, "Believe me." 
Talia's words rang with finality.
There was no room for disagreement and to Naya, it was almost mocking. 
Naya could not prevent me from leaving, not even on the grounds that I was her employee and she needed work done.
The entire house was well kept and spotless. Above all, I was good at my job. 
So, she left.
A hollow ache settled in the space that she occupied. Stupidly, I was expecting her to ask me to stay. 
Talia's hand slipped around my arm as she walked up the stairs to collect me.
It's like she could sense that my feet were rooted in place. 
"She hates that you're coming with me, you know." Talia said.
I swallowed hard as I watched 
the spot where Naya had disappeared.
"Yeah. I know." 
For a moment, I let myself believe that maybe Naya's jealousy was enough to bridge the gap between us. 
But as Talia pulled me toward the
door and Naya let me go without a second thought, I realized that I was fooling nobody but myself.
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Date Published: 11 November 2024
All I want to do is write smut between my two favourite girls and yet I am subjected to this. 
With everlasting love, 
angelsclique 
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