Zaire has waited three long years to reunite with her best friend, Aiyana. Their joy is unmistakable, but her excitement quickly shifts when she meets Aiyana's boyfriend-Omari, the man Zaire once loved deeply.
Unbeknownst to Aiyana, Zaire and Omari...
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Three days later, Dakarai asks me on another date. Aiyana is losing her mind with excitement, but I'm really not feeling it. I need Omari out of my mind.
I haven't seen Omari since the incident, but I don't want to ask Aiyana where he is.
"I'm sorry, girl! I'm just so bored. The gallery is closed, and I miss Omari."
"Where is he, anyway?" I try to say it casually, like I don't care.
"He had to go to another state to sort out issues with his track."
Oh my God. I am such a lousy friend. "Zaire, how has your photography career been going? Did you get signed to the company we were talking about?"
I smile at her, forcing the joy. "Yes, I got the job nine months ago."
"I'm so sorry, Zaire! I should have asked you. I feel like shit."
"It's okay, Aiyanna." But I can see it on her face; she's berating herself.
I try to change the topic. "How do you think our date is going to go?"
"Omg, girl, you've known him for such a long time, but you haven't seen him in forever. Are there any feelings still there?"
"He was my first everything, but it's been so long..."
Omari walks in the front door as if on cue, calling Aiyana's name. She squeals and runs to him, throwing her arms around him and planting a kiss on his lips. I turn my head, trying to hide my sadness.
"Hello, Zaire," Omari says, his voice laced with an easy charm that makes my heart ache.
"Hello, Omari," I reply, not meeting his gaze.
"So, what are you girls talking about?" he asks, glancing between us.
She beams, "Zaire just got asked on a date. Dakarai was the love of her life when we were still in school. I don't think she's loved anyone that hard since then."
I feel their eyes on me, and I can't help but squirm.
"I have," I murmur.
"Omg, why the hell didn't you tell me, Zaire? I'm your best friend!"
I look down, trying to hide the tears welling in my eyes. "He broke my heart. I was so depressed I couldn't talk to anyone about it."
Aiyana walks towards me, kneeling to wrap her arms around me in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, my love. He's an asshole. You deserve the world, and maybe Dakarai can give that to you."
I peek up and see Omari staring at me, his face twisted in anguish. I can't maintain eye contact, so I look back down.
"We'll see," I whisper, my heart racing at the uncertainty of what's to come.
I can feel Omari's gaze lingering on me, a weight that feels both familiar and suffocating. The room buzzes with tension, and I can't shake the feeling that everything has shifted, yet nothing has changed.
