...
After Samara told Zen about everything that transpired between her and Rico, they both decided that it was best for them to just head home. They would try their girls night out another time. When Samara got back to her apartment she felt exhausted. She didn't want to see anyone, she didn't want to talk to anyone, she just wanted to be left alone. Unfortunately for her, when she had gotten settled back in her room, she received a text from Rico saying that he wanted to see her. She was wiping the last vestiges of makeup off her face when he knocked on the door.
"I got your text. What do you want?" she said the moment she swung the door open. Rico walked in and shut the door behind him.
"Why didn't you respond?" he asked.
"Why do you want to see me?"
"Don't start doing that tit for tat shit. Just answer the question!"
"I'm not doing tit for tat. I'm asking you that question, because you didn't specify why you wanted to see me. That's why I didn't text you back. For all I know Simone could've just been playing on your phone. And then what? I respond and she comes banging down my door? I don't feel like catching a charge tonight. I'm tired. So again. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"I want to fix what I messed up."
"So what, you came all this way to apologize? You could've called."
"Not exactly," Rico said as he gently tugged on the oversized t-shirt Samara was wearing. He pulled her close to him. "I figured I could give you what you want. Think of it as your official parting gift."
"Is this some sort of joke? I tell you how I feel about you and you solicit me for sex."
"What? Mara no. I—"
"You thought you could use my feelings for you against me? What? Simone isn't gonna fuck you tonight because she's pissed that she saw you with me? 'Yeah, go to Mara. She's desperate for your love. She'd do anything just to have you close to her.' Samara's eyes began to well.
"Mara, that's not what's going on," Rico said moving in on her. He cupped her face and wiped away her tears with his thumb. "Baby, I just want to make you feel good. Let me give you this."
"If I wanted sex I would just go to Jules," she sniffed.
"I know, but this is me," he said as his hands snaked around her waist. I know how much you miss me. You even said it yourself."
"Well the fact is, I don't want you if I can't have all of you. You have to want this too, Rico. It can't be a one way street." Samara moved Rico's hands from around her waist. "You know what? You moved on and I think it's about time I did the same. You just had an opportunity to do right by me and you wasted it. Go home Rico. We're done. Consider me over you." Samara walked over to the door and held it open for him. Rico wanted to apologize or embrace her one final time, anything to emphasize that he was sorry, but he couldn't. He could see in her eyes that she was genuinely hurt by his actions. As he headed out the door someone took notice of him and of Samara standing silently off to the side waiting for him to leave. Even knowing how this might look, Samara didn't give that person a second thought. When Rico was just one inch outside of her door, she slammed it shut and when she was certain that he was at least six feet away she laid in her bed and tried not to cry.
..
Later that night, when she was finally drifting off to sleep, a pair of familiar arms wrapped themselves around her body and pulled her in close to their chest. One whiff of the faint smell of body oil and she knew exactly who it was.
"Zay," she questioned drowsily. "What are you doing here?"
"Zen sent me to check on you," he whispered behind her. "She was worried about you. Now go to sleep," he instructed. Zay buried his chin into her neck. "I'll be here when you wake up."
"Okay," Samara muttered softly, and with that she pulled his arms in tighter around her body and let the heaviness of her eyes and the warmth of Zay's comfort lull her into a deep sleep.
...
