Samara Press Play
SAMARA
PRESS PLAY
The last curl was placed in my head, falling down my shoulders perfectly. Sage ran a wide-toothed comb through my curls to loosen them before fluffing my hair out.
“Perfect,” she said.
Sage was one of the best stylists I had met, and I was happy she was becoming part of the family since she and Preach had started dating. When she removed the cape from around me, I got up, gave her a hug, and headed to the girls who were eagerly waiting for me.
“Girl, come on. We’re late,” Morgan said.
I rushed to the door, ready to swing it open, when Paige came forward. “I got it, princess.” She winked.
A wide smile eased on my face. Dio said he wanted to throw a dinner party for me because I was leaving soon.
It was hard for me to break it down to Chevy and Zaria.
Although I knew they wanted to say hell no, they gave me their blessing, but not before Chevy gave me a long speech on how he would kill somebody if something happened to me.
I almost questioned this because the last time Dio said we were going on a date, it ended in bloodshed.
However, when Harvey, Sage, and Yana said they were pampering me for the dinner, I knew they weren’t lying.
Zaria had gotten me a beautiful orange dress made.
It was a satin mermaid style that crossed around the chest, was open around my belly, was tight around my hips and waist, and had a high side split.
My undergarments were simple. An orange lace strapless bra with lace thong-style panties.
It was cool having everyone come to Covana. However, I wasn’t sure where we were having dinner because the town was so small. Paige drove as I kept looking in the mirror and checking my makeup.
“Wait!” I shouted.
Alyse, Paige, Morgan, and even Phoebe stared at me. “What?” they shouted.
“I’m scared. I- I don’t want to leave Dio. I—”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “Samara, respectfully, shut up. Sit back and ride. We’re going to have a fun party to celebrate you and move on.”
Alyse shouted. “This is to new beginnings!”
Paige hit a sharp turn into the parking lot of a yacht dock. Everyone got out and went toward the beautiful black yacht except Paige. She helped me by carrying the bottom part of my dress.
“This feels like a wedding, and Dio and I haven’t talked about that yet,” I said as we walked up the dock.
“Today is about you, not a wedding. Let’s enjoy,” she said.
Once we were near the yacht, she released the bottom of my dress and got on, leaving me there. Moments later, Chevy came out and halted when he saw me. His lips slowly curled up as he nodded.
You look beautiful. This dress is kind of—”
I laughed before I became serious. “Dad,” I paused.
I hadn’t really addressed Chevy or Zaria as mom or dad, but in this moment, I felt like it was needed.
I watched as his face changed. It softened a bit, so I continued.
“Dad, I want to thank you for everything. Since the day I stepped into Toussaint and met you, you’ve been my biggest advocate.
You’ve done things for me that I prayed for so many times and never thought I would see.
Age means nothing to me because in my eyes, you are my father.
I love you, Chevy. When I take this summer trip, I am coming back.
I would never leave you, Zaria, or my brothers. I am a Calloway.”
He nodded with tight lips as he tried not to get emotional.
He flicked his nose. “You are a special girl, one I’m happy to have my last name.
We needed each other, and God’s timing was perfect.
It’s your time to shine. Your time to be welcomed to the jungle and declare your seat.
Samara, you are perfection.” He winked. “You look beautiful. Come on,” he said, holding his hand out.
Before taking his hand, I needed to know something. “Shantel,” I paused. “My mother, what are—”
Something flicked in his eyes. “You let me worry about that. Remember what I told you. It will be handled.”
I trusted him and decided to let the chips fall where they fall. I took his hand as he helped me onto the yacht. When I turned to go inside the large cabin, the tears were instant.
“Hail to the princess!” they shouted.
More tears. The entire space was dark, intimate, filled with orange flowers and candles.
Dio stood at the front in a black suit, looking good as hell.
He slowly rocked back and forth as his head nodded.
Chevy walked me to him, and the closer I got, the more I cried.
The violin played, carrying the sweet tune of love.
When I spotted the big sign that stood behind Dio, butterflies had an escapade in my belly.
Dio took my hand and gazed at me. He bit his bottom lip as he tried to hold back his tears.
“Damn, gang. You got me crying,” he said as he caught a falling tear.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek while trying to keep my shit together. That was when he got on one knee and gazed up at me.
“Shit, what can I say? Here we are. I knew I would never find a love like this in this lifetime. I know we’re both young, but you are my choice.
It doesn’t matter about the arguments, the time lost. At the end of it, I choose you.
From New York to Toussaint, you’re still here.
Mars, you are my fucking star, my heart, my world, my gang.
You know what I will do for you, no matter where you are.
I love you more than you’ll ever know.” He paused.
My tears landed on his hand and face as he continued. “You are my peace, my savior, and my best fucking friend. Samara Calloway, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
There was no question about any of it. “Yes, yes, Dionysus!”
He slid a beautiful diamond on my finger, and when he stood, I kissed him. I kissed him like the very first time under the fireworks on New Year’s Day. We had gotten so lost in the kiss that I felt us being pulled apart.
“A’ight, damn! A nigga don’t want to see all that shit.”
Dio pushed at his chest and waved him off. “Man, Chev, you can’t say shit now. Get over it.”
Zaria tugged on Chevy’s arm and pulled him away. I knew he did all that talking, but deep down, he loved Dio. Chevy knew that with all he told me about Dio, he wouldn’t want me to be with anyone else.
The girls came over to me, squealing in excitement as they glanced at my engagement ring. We laughed and giggled while the guys stood near Dio, congratulating him. This moment was one I would never forget, one that needed to be in full color on a canvas.
For the next hour, we laughed, danced, ate, and celebrated not only this moment of love but also my leaving. I knew I was coming back, but the moment itself felt bittersweet. From the newfound friendships and family to me growing, learning, and becoming a better woman each day.
As things began to wind down, Dio wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear, “You ready to go?”
I glanced around at everybody. “But people are still partying.”
“Don’t worry. We’re going to party, alright,” he mumbled.
He pulled at my hand until we left the cabin. Once we were on the dock, he picked me up and carried me to his Benz. Dio kissed and pecked the back of my hand as he drove.
Each time he took peeks at me while he drove made me nervous. “You don’t even know.” He shook his head.
I smiled. “Do I get an Orange Light Special now?”
Dio laughed. “Something like that, but my way.”
That was when he pulled into a nice-ass neighborhood. He drove until we were at the far end of the block. The house that sat in front of us was fucking beautiful.
“Who lives here?”
He turned the car off and looked at me. “We do. Come on, baby,” he said as he got out.
“Dio, a house? What the hell?”
He helped me out of the car and grabbed my hand.
“If I’m grown enough to ask you to marry me, then I need to be able to put you in a house.
Besides, I don’t need Chev telling me what I can and cannot do.
We still have three years of school left, so I figured we’d get a house in Covana that would give us three years of equity, and then we can move. ”
I laughed because most saw the menacing side of him, but I got all the good parts, and I loved every bit of it.