The Choice

42) Dionne

I went with him.

To a zoo.

"A zoo, Joe?" I ask and he casts me a glance then takes off his sunglasses shrugging, "well, I like to see my brothers from time to time."

I give him a questioning look as I walk beside him inside the zoo. He smiles, "the chimpanzees."

I try to suppress the laugh, but couldn't. He watches me with amusement, I clear my throat nodding at the pond that has white swans.

"I love swans. Let's go watch them before visiting you and your brothers."

He snorts, "after you, ma'am."

I cut another loaf of bread in tiny pieces throwing them into the water feeding the swans with a grin on my face. I look up to find him watching me, "why do you love swans?" he asks and I lean against the rail facing him.

"My mom likes them. She used to take me to watch them at the pond in front of our old house every day to eat because I refused to. Then it became our thing, till now when I go back to Morocco we visit this pond and I spill what happened throughout the time I wasn't there with her watching it. "

He smIles softly, and the cutest dimples appear on his face. I saw them before in his teasing smirks, but today it seems so real and sincere not the playful ones. He takes some bread pieces from my hand brushing it in the process and feeds them too.

" If-if you want to talk, I'm listening." I say and he takes a deep breath still facing the pond throwing bread to the swans. He then speaks voice thick with emotion,

"We have been separated from our brother; me and Ali, my older brother for a whole while. And Omer just- he still did not process or get used to us. He is very protective of Aurora too."

I nod, "give him his excuse, Mughrabi has always been alone. He did not let anyone in, I think he did not know how. Ro, cracked that exterior without even doing anything. She too was a huge wreck last year when she came, but he wanted her. Or he wanted to live I think. With her. That's why he is the way he is. "

He nods smiling to himself, " he deserves every beautiful thing in the world. Belle too. They deserve each other, I just-"

He cuts himself off and I take a step closer, " you just? " I ask and he sighs, " I just want to be part of their world. Of his. Of anyone's."

My heart clenched at that and I feel warmth seep into my chest at the sight of him talking like that about his brother. I'm still processing that Mughrabi has a brother, but he seems so sincere.

I place a hand on his arm, he looks at it and I say in a comforting voice "you are. Ro told me about you and your brother. How you mean to her and to Mughrabi too."

He nods smiling, it's strained but it can pass. He perks up looking above my head, "race me to the end of that field?"

I chuff out a laugh gesturing at my attire, "I'm literally in a dress and heels, Joe." He shrugs, "Problem solved. There's a store in front of the zoo, we go get you something comfy and come back."

I raise my brows and he offers me his arm, I have no choice but take it and stride outside for the clothes shop.

"I'll be your personal stylist today." He mumbles

"in your dreams." I laugh and he joins later.

"CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!" I yell running up the hill with him at my heels. We went to a very cute store, he got me a wide legged jeans with heart prints on it and a pink lomg sleeved crop top. He said it looks Dionne-vibey and I won't lie that I found the word so appealing and his taste more. I rolled my eyes at him denying what he said, but I hid that he picked up what I'd picked if I was alone and that ot was indeed Dionne-vibey.

I can hear his footsteps as he picks up with me in no time grabbing me by the waist. I laugh hysterically and he too joins breathless as he wins the fifth round of chasing each other.

I squirm staggering back a couple of steps before he shoots out a hand steadying me, I raise a finger, "we still have four other rounds, I can best you!"

"Run then, cocaina." He purrs.

I took off running before he can finish, but stop abruptly at what he said causing him to bump into my back causing us to both fall on the grass, I yelp and we roll a couple of times before he thrusts an arm stopping me from falling further.

" are you okay?!" he asks and I lift my head shaking with more laughter, "the fuck did happen!"

He releases a sigh of relief laughing too flicking my nose. "ow!" I hold my nose flicking his too, I look down to find me above him and him holding my waist. I roll back wide eyed and he laughs more at the look on my face.

"The hell did you call me?!" I cry out and he comes sitting corss legged next to me.

"Whats your favorite food?" he sidetracks my question woth another question.

"Easy. Chocolates ." I say playing with the tiny grass. He snorts, "I said food, Di."

I throw daggers at him with my eyes, "don't you dare insult chocolates!"

"you like them that much?"

I nod, "very much."

He stands offering me his hand to stand too, "let's go get you chocolates then, cocaina."

I don't get to stop and ask as he drags me away with him running again.

I unwrap the chocolate bar and give him a piece before eating mine, "so, you're the youngest of the Mughrabis?" he smiles nodding, "yes, Omer is the oldest then Ali then Me."

I smile, "tell me more."

He looks ahead thinking for a bit before musing, "Omer was our father. I think we always considered him to be that. Always the protector, the hero. So, it was always me and Ali. Leo somehow became a bit like Omer when we were separated, but that piece of him stayed. We still bickered and played around."

I nod listening intently," oooo, so is Leo hot?" I drawl and he rolls his eyes face hardening playfully, " he is and he's dating. "

I laugh," he can change his mind you know. "

He snorts," Elianna would eat you alive and not leave any crumbs. "

I pout and he muses next, "Leo and Omer are busy now. Sadly you're stuck with me."

I laugh standing up, "when you see the back of your neck!"

He too follows closing in, "really?" I giggle stepping backwards as he closes in and start running as he chases me.

"Come here, little monkeyy!" I croon and a little baby monkey jumps in my open arms.

"Dionne, look this one looks exactly like Leo." Joe points to a big monkey eating a banana looking around, "that's him when Elianna is not there." He muses and I laugh imagining his brother.

"Oh. MY. GOD. Omer and Aurora are there too!" he points to a couple of monkeys; one of them is looking into the other's hair picking up insects eating it. I throw my head back cackling before pointing to a flimsy thin monkey jumping from place to place, "look at yourself, Joey!"

He places an arm around my shoulders laughing, "but look he's in shape. Athletic just like me." He says puffing his chest and I push him playfully away, but he doesn't budge as he leads us away to watch other animals.