20-year-old Assyria Adina Stone yearned for peace but favored excitement. She was in a lane of her own. Discovering herself. Physically, she was on earth, but mentally, she was living through her own fantasy. She was a young woman and wanted to expl...
Hearing the phone vibrating against the nightstand, Ava lazily rolled over and felt around for Lucky. Trying to shield her eyes from the sun, she squinted, grabbing his phone once it stopped ringing. It was May the 16th.
"Don't answer dat," he said when it rang again.
Sitting up, she glanced towards the balcony, "What if it's your sister?"
"It ain't," he replied, leaning against the wall.
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Laying on her side, she rubbed at her eye, "Where's Ace?"
"Eating," he watched the movements of the waves before glancing at her, "Your mom called."
"Is she ok?"
"Mm-hmm," he walked over and climbed on the bed, "Your pops ok."
Her eyes lit up, "They found her?"
"Nah," he laid beside her, "Not yet."
"Oh..." she pursed her lips, "Ok."
"Yeah," he rolled on top of her and closed his eyes.
"What's wrong?" She asked, massaging his scalp.
"It's my mom's birthday today,"
Her breathing stiffened, "What do you want me to do?"
Shaking his head, he wrapped his arms around her and moved up, "I'm good."
"Talk to me, Luck," she caressed his face.
"I'm good," he moved off of her.
Laying behind her, he pulled her backside into him and nuzzled his face against her neck.
Grazing her fingers over his arm, she placed her hand over his and closed her eyes. "I love you."
Tightening his hold on her, he spoke against her neck before entwining their fingers.
Drifting off, Ava's eyes fluttered open when she felt the wetness on her neck. "Luck?"
Tightening his hold on her, he inhaled, "I'm good."
"You aren't," she turned in his arms and cupped his face.
"I'm ok," he said more to himself.
"No you aren't," she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, "You don't have to be, it's ok to cry."
Trying to push her away, he gave up and pulled her closer as he cried against her neck.
"I love you," she spoke softly, wiping her face as he cried harder.
Fisting her nightgown, his shoulders shook as he released a heart-wrenching wail.
"I love you," were the only words Ava knew to say. She wasn't sure what else she was supposed to do or say. He was distraught. The first time she saw him like this, he told her to leave. She didn't want that to happen again and hated that he felt as if he had to deal with his pain, his grief, alone. Because he didn't.
