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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I watch Zaire walk out the door with Dakarai, her red dress flowing behind her like something out of a dream. She looks beautiful-stunning, actually. My heart clenches, and I hate the fact that I can't stop staring at her, that it still feels like she's the one who owns my mind.
I try to ignore it. I have to for Aiyana. But as Zaire steps into the night, my chest tightens.
She's gone. With him. My mind spirals-Did they hug? Did he touch her? Were they even close? Or did they keep it civil, all polite smiles and distance? My hands ball into fists as the thoughts flood in, one after the other.
"Omari?" Aiyana's voice snaps me out of my haze. She tugs on my hand, her smile wide, oblivious to the turmoil inside me. "Come on. Let's watch a movie. I missed you so much."
I nod, forcing a smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. Aiyana's voice is soothing, and I want to be here for her-hell, I want to be here for myself. But my thoughts are all over Zaire.
We settle in the living room, but it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Aiyana's laughter fills the space, but it barely registers. All I can think about is whether Dakarai is already touching her, getting too comfortable with her. Her smile, her laugh-it's always been for me, right? But now he's with her, and it burns.
Aiyana looks at me, a playful glint in her eye. "Are you even listening? You're spaced out tonight."
I force myself to focus on her, giving her a small laugh. "Yeah, just thinking."
She doesn't seem to notice the tension in my voice. "Well, don't think too much. Let's enjoy the night."
My eyes flicker back to the door, where Zaire disappeared. I wonder if Dakarai will touch her hand when they sit in the car. Will he hold her like I used to? The thought makes my jaw tighten.
Aiyana notices my expression change, but she leans in, resting her head on my shoulder, completely unaware of the war waging inside me. "You okay, Omari?"
"Yeah, just... tired," I lie. I need to keep this under control. I need to stay in this moment for Aiyana's sake.
But my mind is a storm of jealousy, frustration, and old desires. I can't help it. Zaire-she's always been my weakness.
I sit up suddenly as if a thought just struck me. "Hey, how about we play a game?" I suggest trying to shift the atmosphere. "Strip poker?"
Aiyana's eyes light up, and I almost regret it the second the words leave my mouth. But then, she grins. "Ooh, I like where this is going."
She jumps up off the couch, practically sprinting to the kitchen. "Tequila!" she shouts over her shoulder. "And cards! I'll grab everything."
I sit back on the couch, trying to push down the fire burning inside me-strip poker. The thought should be enough to distract me, but it doesn't work. I think about Zaire again. I wonder what she's doing right now.
