Too Close for Comfort Read Online Free Page A

“I’m surprised she hasn’t called.”
    â€œA’ight, I’ll call you when I leave Jason’s,” Monya told her.
    Yaya made it to the airport in record time. She parked in the short-term lot and damn near ran to the arrival gate. She scanned the brightly lit sign, searching for Taryn’s flight.
    This is all Jason’s fault. If he hadn’t had some trash driving my car, I would’ve been here on time to pick Taryn up.
    She located the gate number and sprinted as fast as her high-heeled sandals would let her. She searched the crowd of people but didn’t see her. She paused and thought for a moment. Luggage — she’s probably gone to get it already .
    Just as she took off in that direction, she heard someone calling her name, “Yaya!”
    â€œHey, girl, I ain’t even see you.” She walked over and gave Taryn a hug.
    â€œOkay, what the hell happened to you?” Taryn frowned, looking Yaya up and down. “What is up with the wife-beater? And what the hell is wrong with your face?”
    Yaya rolled her eyes. “It’s not a wife-beater; it’s a tank top, you jerk. And there’s nothing wrong with my face.”
    â€œYes, it is. It’s totally void of any make-up.”
    â€œI didn’t have time for that this morning,” Yaya told her as they got on the moving sidewalk.
    At five foot nine, Taryn was slightly taller than Yaya, but much larger. Yaya easily fit into a size eight; Taryn, on the other hand, easily fit into an eighteen. Yet, even though she was what most people considered a big girl, she was the flyest person Yaya had ever known. It was Taryn who taught her about fashion and style, when they befriended each other in the seventh grade. Each day after school, while their friends would rush home to watch Rap City on BET, Yaya and Taryn would hop off the bus and rush to Yaya’s house to study Elle and Vogue magazines and try the latest hair and makeup techniques on each other.
    Even today, Taryn looked as if she had stepped out of the pages of Essence magazine, rather than a red-eye flight from Las Vegas. Dressed in a hunter-green pantsuit with matching snakeskin stiletto pumps, and her Chanel shades covering most of her face, Taryn’s short hair was curled perfectly, and the diamond hoops she wore added the perfect touch.
    â€œWow! Jason must’ve really worn you out last night, Ms. Thang. I guess your coming back yesterday was a good idea.” Taryn laughed.
    Yaya acted as if she didn’t hear the comment. “Which luggage track is it?”
    â€œI think they said four.” Taryn lifted her Chanel shades on top of her head. “I don’t have that much stuff anyway.”
    â€œLiar! You mean to tell me you went to Bermuda on a shoot and you don’t have that many bags?”
    â€œOnly three.” She laughed.
    â€œSo, how was the shoot?”
    â€œIt was good. Tony was kinda upset when I told him I would be cutting back because I was opening my own business, but I assured him we would still be available for the big projects.”
    Tony Gordon was a well-known photographer who both Yaya and Taryn worked with quite frequently. He was a lot of fun and allowed them to be creative with their work. Hearing his name almost made Yaya think twice about the decision both girls were making. They were in high demand, known as the top make-up artists in the business. Video shoots, commercials, photo shoots, movies—they had done it all and left a lasting impression of perfection on everyone they had worked with.
    â€œI’m going to miss jet-setting with Tony.” Yaya laughed.
    â€œBelieve me, we’ll still jet-set with Tony, just not as much. You sound like you’re about to flake out on me.”
    â€œI’m not flaking out. It’s just a big step.” Yaya reached for the large Louis Vuitton suitcase and made sure it had Taryn’s name on it. Seeing her name,