the love heist | t.r

six |

    "Happy Birthday, Emily!" The entourage said as the coupled pair - Anika and Emily walked in. So much had occurred in two months, but Maya tried not to think about all the things that were recurring on her mind on Emily's day. She did reflect on the good things, like how Emily had moved into the household after family issues broke out in her home. She was still under her contract as chef, seeing as she wanted money to be able to get on her feet. Maya made the executive decision to allow her to move in and of course, Sage was on par with whatever she wanted to do. Their relationship had been more communicative and open and when they were having emotional issues, they would go to the shed that was deemed the healing space amongst the household. Although they had been out of  it more, Nicholas and Jasmyn had been in and out more than usual.

    "You need to stop coming home covered in that smell and at such late hours, Jasmyn," Nicholas had said with a raised voice. Maya had been up another late night, on the toilet while her stomach proceeded to perform drumline routines. She couldn't help but listen to them arguing across the hall and eventually the door slammed with Jasmyn's last words ringing through the air. "Do you want me to be successful or not? Or not, Nicholas?" Maya held her head as she listened to the arguing continue from the room and then down the hall. She had understood that Jasmyn decided to pursue her music career, which she was honestly talented and she could. That caused Nicholas to recognize a lack in their relationship, Jasmyn no longer being around the house for entertainment and out at the studio working,
    "Nicholas you have to understand that she's not doing it on purpose," Maya said later that night, stepping into Nicholas' office. He had his face down with a cigar that was burning away to nothing in the ashtray. Maya needed to speak to her best friend, as well. Nicholas had paid loads and loads of money to have one of the rooms renovated in the house to become her own personal studio, but due to shipping things had been delayed. The sound proof wall and live band materials had been set up. . The actual studio area was being renovated which in result, caused her to seek out to one of the most popular producers of Houston. "I understand what her passion has become, I just don't understand why I have to be sacrificed in the process."
    "She didn't forget anything, Nick." Maya said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. For the first time in a long time, Nicholas had initiated the want to pray. Maya had taken up prayer too. She would need some more than she thought that she would.

    "Maya, are you going to take a seat or are you going to stand here in the bathroom like a loser?" Jasmyn said, drying her hands off in the restroom. It had been the two of them in the family restroom because she wasn't fond of using public restrooms. Maya smiled weakly in return as she finished drying her hands off. "What's on your mind, act like you seen a ghost or something?" Jasmyn said, all in her phone as she waited for her best friend. No matter how much she talked to her best friend about her ways, things never seemed to change.
    "Just thinking about you and Nicholas," Maya said, causing Jasmyn to sight and leave the restroom. She followed suit, grabbing her arm as her face frowned at her initial reaction. "How is that Sage and I get everything together and you start crumbling? Stop running and talk to me." Maya said, the both of them moving out of the way for Anika who had been coming through. She had gotten cooler, for the time being, once she started dating Emily. Regardless, she still spent long hours with Sage that she wasn't fond of. They had just returned from a trip to Dallas together.
    "We're doing fine, Maya. There was only a recent argument about how he wanted to try having children again. I'm just getting into my career and I don't think children are important right now," Jasmyn said with a weary expression at her face. Maya nodded at this, but Emily had come around the corner and it would have to be something that they talked about later. "Are you ladies going to attend my birthday party or not?" Anika came from the bathroom and this was noted due to her heels sounding against the floor. Emily embraced Anika, hugging her arms around her waist before placing a kiss at her lips.

    "I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart, honestly," Emily said, standing at the head of the table with the glass of wine in her hands. Maya raised her glass at the celebration, a smile at her features as she had done so. "If it hadn't been for the kind heart of Maya, I don't think I would've met such amazing people," Emily said, causing Maya to raise her glass on her own this time, the eyes on her for a moment.

"Someone's knocking babe, do you mind getting that?" Sage said, craning his neck as they sat in the living room area of the second floor. "I'm going to keep watching since you've already binged this," He said with a smirk at his lips as he smacked her ass. Maya was a bit groggy and it had been a long day for her. She was job searching because sitting in this house was unbearable.

She walked downstairs, using the rail to guide her as best as she could through the dark house. It had been raining, which was soon turning to storming. The bright lightning moved throughout the mansion, thunder causing the floor to rumble before she pulled the door open. There stood Emily, a face full of tears and mud smothered all over her cheeks. Maya's face scrunched up initially, what the hell was wrong? She brought Emily in by the arm, realizing that she was drenched. Had she walked? "I had no one else to go," Emily said, dropping her belongings to the floor as well as herself.

"You always have somewhere else to go." Maya said, looking up to Sage who made himself known at the top of the stairs. This was more than a surprise for him. He had overhead Anika venting to him on some of their trips, but he never thought her situation would be this serious. Regardless, he went to retrieve blankets to make sure that she was warm.

    "Baby, the restaurant that you picked for her was so good," Sage said once they returned to the house and into their master bedroom. Maya kicked her heels off, bringing to Sage that her feet had been swollen. "Whoa, look at those stompers," Sage said as a joke. He went to caress them, but she jerked her leg back in embarrassment.
    "I don't need you to rub my feet, baby. Can we just cuddle and sleep? That's all I want." Maya said, stripping to her undergarments before getting completely naked. It took Sage by surprise, but everything had been emotional for everyone. Emily received a phone call for her parents and Amirah had called Maya as well. Their conversation was short and very rushed, but deep down she was grateful that she had called. She couldn't think of the last time that her friend had called her in the past two months, however, she never held it against her. Sage had explained that her work load had been increased and she wanted more time with her son, but never did she once hold it against her.
    Maya curled against the bed, holding herself while Sage came behind her to comfort her. "I know everything's rough for you baby, but you might want to hop in the shower. The onions from that french salad.." He said in a soft voice, causing her to turn over and laugh at him. Maya kissed his forehead, his arms scooping her up to take her into the bathroom.

This is how love was supposed to feel.

— — — 🎀 — — —

*excuse any mistakes!

this chapter was a fill so i can include a two month skip and get into the mess. 🤣

how long do y'all want this book to be?

do y'all think something is wrong with Amirah?

Anika x Emily 👀 faceclaims for them coming soon!

Maya feet swole. My poor baby working? 👀

Jasmyn and this music career, baby. HUMBLE thyself.

- sdh 💕