Never Meant to (Book one of series)

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Zhi

Coco's mom helped her put her hair in a ponytail, since she couldn't really curl her right-hand fingers. Zhi then helped her button her shirt in the front. He asked her out on a date. Her mom was first against it, but Coco told her she wasn't a child. So, her mom gave in.

"So, you and Ace." She brought his name up out the blue.

"What about us?"

"You ended up being more than just friends." She smiled.

"Oh...yeah." He put his fork down. "About that.... I wanted to say the way it started; Coco I was wrong."

"It's okay," she placed her hand on top of his. "It's not like anyone believed I would survive."

"Yeah, but don't think I didn't care, it really messed me up, because I was serious about us."

She smiled; her dimples were always a weakness for him. "I can't hold any of that against you."

"Have you been in contact with anyone from high school?" He watched as her smile faded.

"No, I think my mom said Neicey visited me once but never again, none of the cheerleaders, no one." She poked at a piece of broccoli.

"I'm on that list too huh?"

"I'm sure my mom had a lot to do with you not coming around."

"I tried to see you every time I visited my home, but your mom just stopped answering my calls."

"You don't have to explain, plus it was so many um...."

"Years?"

"Yes, years ago. We are adults now."

"The day you woke up, I saw you." He confessed.

"Oh, how terrible I must have looked." She took a bite of her food.

"Seeing you that way, it fucked with me for a long time because I knew how great of a person you were, and all the things wanted to accomplish. I wanted us to be together and I'm not tryna, charm my way back in. I really wanted to be with you but because I had started getting involved with Ace, I was going to end things."

She laughed like she was thinking about something.

"What?" He wonders.

"When I left your house that day, I was sort of upset because how you were treating him. I ended up losing you to the very person I tried defending." She pushed her plate to the side and dropped her napkin on top of it. "The message I was about to send when I got hit by the other driver, was to Ace."

"What, why were you messaging him?"

She put her elbows on the table and covered her face. "Because I know how much you missed him, you were just being stubborn. I wanted to help you both solve whatever it was.... just tried being a good girlfriend."

Zhi felt so terrible. He was literally speechless. He just stares at her. "Coco, I hate myself right now, you should have declined coming with me today."

"No, no I wanted to. I don't regret being here, it's the most fun I've had in years." She grabbed a new napkin and wiped her eyes. "It's not like you made that other driver run that red light and smash right into me." She was now looking at him again. "I'm glad you and him found your way back to one another."