Chapter Twenty-Four
Zamora
When my alarm sounded, I wanted to throw it across the room, but there was work to be done. So, no sleeping in for me. After going to the bathroom to relieve my bladder, I headed to the kitchen to start the coffeemaker. I asked Alexa to play smooth jazz as I started my day. Then, grabbing my cell phone and throw blanket, I headed outside with my coffee to take in the gorgeous view of downtown Chicago. I saw I had received a few texts after unlocking my phone––one from Evan, Zaria, and the new guy Jayden. I read Evan’s text first.
Evan: I know you’re upset, but looking at your things was not healthy for me. So, I put your belongings in storage. I’ll give you the key and location when you’re ready to get them.
It was good to know he hadn’t resorted to being a total asshole during our divorce, but he was still an asshole, nonetheless.
Zaria: What’s up, sis? Did you fuck Marcus yet? Hell, or any dick? Girl, go and get you some for old time’s sake.
I shook my head and chuckled before closing out her text and moving on to the next.
Jayden: Good morning, beautiful. I was wondering if you would have dinner with me tonight. Would love to have your company. Let me know if you’re free. I’ll even let you pick the place.
After giving it some thought, I figured what the hell and texted him back.
Me: Good morning. Dinner sounds good. There’s a great restaurant downtown inside the Royalty Inn & Suites. If eight o’clock is good, I can meet you there.
I then texted him the address to make sure he wouldn’t have trouble finding it. I suggested the hotel’s restaurant for dinner since I knew the food would not disappoint. Plus, I would feel comfortable and safe in my own environment. That was important to me, especially since it was our first date.
Once I finished my coffee, I dressed and headed out. The staff greeted me as I made my way through the lobby to go outside and wait for the valet to pull up with my car. Hotel living wasn’t bad at all. Actually, it was amazing. I felt at home and considered making the hotel my permanent residence. Maybe Marcus would be open to me leasing the penthouse…at least until I was ready to move on from there. I made a mental note to talk with him about it later.
When I arrived at my shop, none of my staff was there, but it was okay because I was a bit early. I put my purse and jacket in my office and got to work. Two hours later, I heard banging on the door while grooving to my playlist. I told Alexa to pause to make sure it was banging I heard, and when the pounding sounded off again, I ran out front to see who was at the door. At first, I frowned in anger about being interrupted from my work, but my facial muscles relaxed when I saw my sister standing on the other side of the glass.
“Zar, what the hell? Girl, you scared the crap out of me,” I said when I opened the door.
She stepped in and pulled me into a tight hug.
“Sorry. I heard the loud music playing and wanted to make sure you heard me. I tried calling your phone and your business phone several times.”
“Oh shit, my cell phone is in my office, and I guess the music was too loud to hear the shop phone,” I said, moving toward the back. “Come on. I’m in the kitchen working on charcuterie boards for my event today.”
“Ooooh, sis, it smells good back here. Can yo’ big sis get a little sample?”
“I got you. Have a seat,” I said.
I fixed her a plate filled with wings, macaroni salad, crackers, meatballs, deviled eggs, cold cuts, and cheese. She took a seat on a nearby stool and dug in.
“So, tell me the latest. What’s going on with you and Marcus?”
I gave her a knowing look with a headshake. Zaria had no filter, and she didn’t hesitate to ask if there was something she wanted to know.
I felt giddy at the thought of me and Marcus, but I responded honestly.
“Nothing. We see each other a lot in passing because he’s at the hotel a lot, but we’re just working on being friends.”
Zaria dropped a chicken bone and licked her fingers.
“You’re kidding me, right? He didn’t drop that zero once he knew you were unhinged from the Grinch who stole Zamora’s good years?” she joked.
“Ha, ha, ha, and no. Why would he leave his fiancée to get back with me, Zaria? That would be horrible, and I’d never want him to do Eliana that way,” I replied, giving her a half-truth.
If he came through that door at that moment and asked me to take him back, I wouldn’t care how things ended with them.
“Yeah, that’s what your mouth says, but I know you better. Marcus was your everything, Zee, and I know you miss him. Don’t you think running into him at the airport because of a delayed flight you both were scheduled to be on is fate?” she said, shoving a meatball into her mouth.
I paused to process what she said before answering.
“No, I don’t. I think it was a setup by the Father to help me with my living situation because He knew I’d need this. If it were fate, Marcus wouldn’t have a fiancée,” I told her as I walked over to grab the roll of plastic wrap from off the counter. “Now, enough about me. Please tell me about you and your new married/dating life,” I asked. After she told me that Josh agreed to let her try dating other people, I almost hit the floor. I wasn’t sure if it was an atheist thing with them or was it just people nowadays just did whatever the hell they wanted.
“Well, I will say that it’s not as exciting or exhilarating as I thought it would be. I mean, it was fun the first couple of dates, but then these men want to kiss and fondle you. I fold like a damn chair when they try to be affectionate. I like the time out, attention, and fun of it, but I don’t want to share kisses and sit like that with other men. I mean, at first, that’s what I thought I wanted, but it turns out I don’t.”
“Well, are you going to continue seeing other guys or shut it down?”
“I’m going to just hang out with guys and keep them in the friend zone. I mean girl, because the last guy I went out with was trying too damn hard to get more than a handshake goodnight. He kept telling me about his head game, and if I let him lick my pussy just once, I’d keep running back for more while licking his black ass lips. I almost threw up in my mouth, girl,” she said, and we both burst into laughter. “Girl, you should have seen this clown. I peeped the tarter build-up on his bottom row,” she added, and I laughed harder.
“How did you end up on a date with him, Zar?” I asked as I moved to the shelf to grab my insolated transportation bags. I had to start loading up so I could head to my gig.
She paused to shove some more food into her mouth, and as soon as she was done chewing, she continued. “So, I was out in the city on 80th and Cottage at Lil’s, and I was sitting at the table with a couple of sorority sisters, and you know I be low key. I’m not trying to show my wild side. Just chilling, sipping on wine, and vibing. I keep seeing this guy look my way, but I’m keeping my eye contact discreet.
“Now, sis, from afar, brotha looking nice. Yes, dark lips, but I know most dudes smoke, so hey, it is what it is. He dressed nice, the body looks nice and right, you know, but I’m staying as low-key as possible. So, cuz walked in, and she was doing security that night, so I got up to hug her, and she moved on to get to work. He still eyeing me, and you know what’s crazy? I’d seen him a couple of times before, but he had never caught my eye.
“So, long story short, his friends come in, and then next thing I know, they went to the back. So when I was leaving, cuz was outside and offered to walk me to my ride. We get there and she was like, “Cuzzo, I stay out of people’s business, but dude asked me to give this to you,” and slid me a card. I took the card, glanced at it, and I was like, oh he had a detailing shop. She was like, “yep, but I think he wanna wax more than your Mercedes,” and laughed.
“I was like, “whatever, cuz.” I hugged her and left. I called him, of course. Conversation was good and the date was nice. His eagerness to lick my cat was a turn off, and the more he kept saying it, the blacker his damn lips got,” she said, sending me into another fit of laughter. It suddenly dawned on me that my employee still hadn’t shown up. Only Tasha was due to come in since the event was small, but she should’ve been at the shop by now. I excused myself to go and grab my phone. When I saw my alerts, there was––a call almost three hours ago. I blew out a breath and put a hand on my forehead.
“Fuck!” I yelled.
It wasn’t a large event, but doing it solo would be difficult.
“Hey, you okay in there?” my sister called out.
I walked back into the kitchen. “No. Tasha called out, and I have an event in under two hours that I can’t handle alone.”
“Boom, baby! Your sis got you. I mean, how hard could it be.”
“It’s not hard, but I’m building my clientele, Zar, which means no room for error. I need to keep the great reviews coming for referrals, sis.”
“Look, just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. I may not know how to do your job, but I follow instructions well, sis. I won’t let you down. Trust me sis, I won’t let you down.”
“Are you serious, Zar, I mean, this is so important to me.”
“Sis, I got you,” she assured me.
“Thank you soooo much,” I squealed. “Let me get you a top and apron,” I said and headed to my office. I opened the tiny storage closet and grabbed a new apron and polo shirt. She changed, helped me load the catering van, and we were off.
As promised, Zaria was a great help and polite as ever. Another successful event catered for by yours truly for the books. Afterwards, she came back to the shop to help me clean up the mess I made in the kitchen during preparation.
“Thanks for letting me help, sis,” Zaria said as she grabbed her purse to leave. “It was more fun than I thought it would be. I can see why you held strong to your passion. I know losing Marcus was heartbreaking, but you did something meaningful for yourself. I respect that, lil sis.”
“No, thank you. I don’t think I could have pulled it off without you. And to circle back to what you asked me a few moments ago before my rude bladder interrupted us. I am finally over the breakup and over him. It’s been so long that I’m over it.”
“Say what now! You over Marcus? The lies you tell, chile,” she said, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder.
“No, not completely over him, but I’m over it all. I don’t want to stay stuck in the past or on him. Plus, I forgot to mention I have a date tonight.”
“Shut up! Give me all the tea,” she said as I locked the shop behind us.
When I told her there wasn’t much to tell just yet, she made me promise to fill her in on the details later. Then we hugged and went our separate ways. Once in my car, I checked my phone to see that Jayden had sent a text confirming our date, and I replied that I would meet him in the lobby. Then I prayed things would get better for my future––that I would love again and be blessed with the right person who would love me the way I deserved to be loved.