Cupid's Crooked Bow | COMPLETE

Chapter | 17

The tension between Tonaya and her sister had only become worse since Mariah saw Tonaya step out of Chris's car three days ago. They kept quiet, using the silent treatment as their way of peace, but Mariah couldn't take it anymore.

Seeing Tonaya all dressed up, on her way out, made Mariah assume she was going to see Chris again.

"Tonaya, we need to talk about what happened on dad's birthday weekend." Mariah said.

"I'd rather not," Tonaya started looking for her car keys.

"Come on, Toni. We have to talk about it."

"Are you gonna apologise?" Tonaya put her hand on her hip.

"For what?" Mariah chuckled, "Tonaya, I told you before that I am not apologising for looking out for you."

"I am happy with Chris right now. Doesn't that matter to you, Mariah?"

"Key words: right now! Tonaya, we both know that it's only a matter of time until he screws up again. Get out while you can, focus on your career and wait for a better man to come along. It really ain't that hard!"

Tonaya chuckled and picked her keys up from beneath a pile of recipe books.

"It doesn't surprise me that you're so obsessed with this... behaviour," Tonaya couldn't find the right word but she was glad she could find one to get Mariah to understand what she was trying to say, "Mariah, you've never been in love. Your first love is work; you've never loved a man. I would move mountains from Chris, okay? Yeah, he's a mess 99% of the time but he's my mess. Mine! So... stop it. Stay out of my business, Mariah."

Mariah was lost for words.

Tonaya left the apartment and drove down to her realter's office to finalise the paperwork for her new apartment.

"I am so happy you decided to take it," Ashley smiled once Tonaya had finished signing some documents.

"I'm happy too," Tonaya smiled, "I hope everything is good, I don't want no problems once I move in."

"You have my card if you do run into any problems but, Tonaya, I swear on my career, everything is perfect for you. I called in favours... I went all out for you because you are my biggest client thus far." Ashley was feeling real proud of herself.

Tonaya smiled and thanked Ashley once again. She got her keys and left the office while texting Willow who was still in town to meet up for some shopping.

Tonaya was going to decorate her own place the way she wanted to. After her day with Chris, she stayed up looking up some decor ideas on Pinterest and Tumblr and boy was she armed with ideas: new tiles on some of the kitchen walls, changing up some of the lighting, she was going to get a piano, like Chris suggested, and her bedroom was going to be done up the best way she could think of.

Tonaya was in better spirits as she drove to meet Willow. She'd be shopping for some basics first: paints and brushes, some small tiles and cleaning items like a mop and broomstick.

She'd just stepped out of her car when Chris called.

"Hey, baby!" Tonaya beamed when she answered her phone.

"You busy right now? I wanna see you." Chris whined.

"I'm hanging out with Willow right now. We're shopping. We can swing by later? Is that okay?"

"Yeah. I'll order up some food and shit."

"You don't sound too happy," Tonaya giggled. She spotted Willow standing outside a hardware store and she waved.