Samara
Paige came from Morgan’s kitchen with cute blue and orange drinks. “Sleepover ready!” she squealed. “I made the cutest Zoo-Cove drinks.”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “Zoo-Cove?”
“Yes. It represents those who are a part of the Zoo and those who are a part of the Cove.”
“Girl, what?” Phoebe laughed.
Alyse plopped next to me. “I like the idea. It’s like bridging the gap between the two. You’re on the blue side, Morgan, and Samara is on the orange, while Paige, Phoebe, and I are a bit of both.”
To hear them talk about the Cove and Zoo made me think about Dio.
I wanted to tell them that he and I were no longer together but didn’t know how.
I knew they were all excited about what was to come now that the older Zoo men were allowing the younger ones to lead.
While they continued arguing over blue and orange, I sent Dio a text saying I wanted to see him.
I needed to make sure that even though a pause was placed on our relationship, our friendship still remained intact.
Phoebe reached over and grabbed a drink. “I don’t care what side I’m on. As long as Xavier and I are good, so am I. I swear his mouth makes you want to scream, but so does his—”
“Phoebe!” Alyse screamed as she blushed.
Morgan smacked her lips. “Girl, please. You act like you and Peanut not finding somewhere to fuck every other day.”
We all laughed until Paige handed me a drink. “Are you and Dio good? You know, with everything that happened with your mother.”
I took a sip, only to see they all had now focused on me. “We’re cool,” I lied.
“Mmkay, girl. That doesn’t sound reassuring, but okay,” Phoebe said.
Just as I was about to respond, my phone lit up with a text from Dio, letting me know he was outside Morgan’s house. How the hell? Then I thought about all the other girls being here. I set my drink down and stood up.
“I’ll be right back, y’all,” I told them.
Morgan shook her head. “That nigga outside, ain’t he?”
I didn’t respond as I walked out the door. When I got out to the front, his G-wagon sat there with all his tinted windows rolled up. I hurried to the door and got in.
“Let’s go for a drive,” he said and took off.
“Um, I was having a sleepover with the girls,” I told him.
He took a quick glance at me and placed his focus back on the road. “It won’t take long, Mars. Besides, you said you wanted to see me.”
Dio drove until we reached the hill overlooking the city. He placed the car in park and rested his head on the headrest.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m fucked up about us breaking up. I’ve done a lot to be this person I am, thinking I’m being a better man for you, but—”
I reached out to him. “Dio—”
His head slowly rolled my way. “Let me finish, Shorty. I know there is always a bigger picture in the end. My growing into this person wasn’t supposed to be for you, but for myself.
I realize that now. How long it will take me to get over you?
I don’t know, but what I do know is you're still my fucking friend, and I don’t want to lose that.
I don’t want some sort of toxic type relationship either. ”
In front of me was no longer that boy I met in New York. The person who sat before me was a man, a man who deserved the world, a man who had the Calloway effect. I stroked his chin.
“Dio, I do love you, and I want to continue to be friends, and if time allows, maybe we can try again, but I need to be free. I’ve been moving around on the strength of everyone else but myself, and if I do not find myself, I will forever be searching.
You and I both know that’s not good for either one of us. ”
He nodded. “I know, Samara.”
“You are a true king. Not a prince, not Demonysus, not Dionysus, but a king.”
He ran his hand down his face, “You told your friends?”
I had now sat back and was taking in the city lights. “No. I didn’t want to do it until we both decided.”
“Me either.”
Our heads turned in unison as we gazed at each other. I love you, he mouthed.
I love you too, I mouthed back.