Playing Hard To Get
In the middle of it all Tamia and Malik hugged and when they let go, Malik looked at Tamia in a way she’d seen only once before. But this time, on her, it was different. New. Less in childish adoration and more in mature admiration. In his eyes she saw herself. She saw love.
“I can’t believe you cut your hair,” she said, running her hand over his nude scalp. “I loved it so much. It was so beautiful.”
“I’m letting go. I’m moving on. It’s time,” he said in a way that both he and Tamia knew what he was talking about. “I’ve harmed you. I’ve hurt you and I can’t continue to carry that past around with me. I had to cut it off. Because—”
“What? Because of what?” Tamia asked.
“Because I love you.”
Malik pulled Tamia into his arms and wrapped his hands around the back of her bald head.
The crowd went wild as they kissed for a long time.
?
“Now, was the kiss a part of your original plan?” Tasha asked as she, Troy, and Tamia walked away from the courthouse. “Because it looked pretty planned to me.”
“Stop hating,” Tamia said, waving goodbye to Malik. He had agreed to meet her at the Freedom Project later. For now, she was off to celebrate her new beginning with her old friends.
“I’m not hating, I’m just saying,” Tasha said.
“Saying? Saying what?” Troy asked. “Because you haven’t said anything!”
They all laughed and linked arms, walking down the busy New York street to wherever their stilettos would take them.
?
A READING GROUP GUIDE
PLAYING HARD TO GET
?
GRACE OCTAVIA
?
?
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
?
The following questions are intended to enhance
your group’s reading of
Playing Hard to Get.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Topic: Sisterhood
The sisterhood of the 3Ts endures in yet another novel. The three women look to one another for support, guidance, and the cold, hard truth. While they often steer each other in the wrong direction, most often the sisterhood serves as a launch pad to brilliance. From the Queen Bee plan and the tea party to Code 3T and the rules of sisterhood, their traditions and tips serve as reminders of the power of the sisterhood.
Questions
—When is the sisterhood strongest among the women?