Lost One

66

❝TAE❞

               𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗, the heat circulated around the Mercedes-Benz sprinter, warming the bodies from the cold Boston weather. Aside from the science fiction horror series playing at a low volume on the Apple TV and De mackin' on the phone, the ride to their AirBNB—founded by Arie—was peacefully mute. The Booker Brothas were accompanied on their whole-weekend business trip by Ken, Kory, Hendrick, and Avant.

               Tae was seated up front beside the power sliding door with Ken leaning back on him as he napped. The sprinter pulling over makes Tae look out the tinted window and realize they were at their AirBNB destination. He shakes Ken awake, letting him know they arrived. Ken yawned and stretched. They stand simultaneously, while the slider door opened to Arie waiting on the concrete sidewalk ahead of the brick, Colonial Revival style townhouse that overlook Boston Common.

               "Good morning!" Arie speaks cheerfully, peaking her head in to get a look at everyone just to see everyone yawning and De on his phone wit his earbuds in. "Y'all don't look alive."

               "What you expect? It's cold denamufucka." Toby stated as everyone reach in the overhead racks to retrieve their luggage for the weekend.

               "I forgot you Californians handle a drop of chill." Arie remarks, taking a step back to give room for everyone to hop out.

               "Lemme call you back. My manager tryna play wit the coast." De tells the beauty on the other end of FaceTime before hanging up.

               "Don't do too much on the coast," Tae warns the manager playfully, "Folks spend they last to come to sunny California. Don't even play."

               "Anyways," Arie dismissed the brothers with a light laugh, "Lemme take y'all in. The place newly remodeled, more than enough room for everyone to have space. I believe y'all will like it."

               The entrance was stately and elegant. Arie held the door open for everybody, then shut it behind the last person entering, Kory.

               "Y'all want me to show y'all around, or y'all good?"

               "You can show us where that food aroma coming from." Ken spoke, "We all hungry."

               "I'm wit nephew," De said.

               Arie let out a soft laugh. "That will be thanks to Chef Wyze."

               The Booker clan sits their luggage at the entry before following Arie's lead to the chef's kitchen. The faucet was on as they approached, a slender figured chef at the sink in the island counter washing her hands. An entire breakfast spread was plated beautifully on clear dishes.

               The chef caught the eye of De'Aundre immediately. He took his younger brother Tae by the shoulder to say-without-saying his attraction. Her skin was flawless—soft honey with a touch of gold. She rocked the choppy bowl cut well, dyed platinum blonde, looking as if she stepped out the 90s. Head-to-toe she wore black, her short sleeve Chef Coat merch with her brand, 𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗪𝗬𝗭𝗘, and Chef Wyze under embroidery patch over her left breast.