Me:
This too much Dee. He’s my ex’s brother. I was crazy to think we can do this relationship thing back home.
Dee:
Fuck what people think. They’ve done worse.
Me:
I’m trying not to mess up our friendship on top of it.
Dee:
You’re being dramatic.
I wasn’t being dramatic. I was trying to preserve my friendship and whatever else was left of my sanity. If best friend Hasheem had been on the other side of that door, I would’ve opened it, but that wasn’t him. That was the version of Hasheem who had the power to ruin me. The one who was too messy tolove. I couldn’t go outside. Not because I didn’t care, but because I was terrified of admitting I was scared to own the fact that I was in love with the one person that I shouldn’t be.
Dee:
Harlowe, that ain’t been your best friend since before you let his dick play in your cervix.
Me:
BYE.
I dropped the phone face down on the cushion as I plopped down on the couch. I reached for my laptop instead. If I couldn’t shut my brain up, maybe I could at least answer some emails and pretend to be a functioning adult. The moment I opened my emails, my heart sank. Right at the top was an email from Duality. I hadn’t heard from them since I’d gotten back home.
From: Duality Brand
Subject: Zanzibar Couples Retreat – Final Notes & Deliverables
I contemplated closing my laptop and pretending I had never seen it, but curiosity got the best of me. Instead, I clicked.
Hello Harlowe,
Thank you again for being part of the Zanzibar Couples Retreat. We truly appreciate the time, care, and openness you brought to the weekend. The content you completed captured the spirit of the brand beautifully.
We want to take the time to acknowledge the moment of tension prior to departure. Emotions were understandably high. Even though there may have been some discrepancies with your qualifications, you completed your commitments fully. As agreed, we will move forward with the contract as outlined. Your professionalism throughout the retreat didnot go unnoticed. We’d also like to extend a sincere apology regarding the interaction involving your plus one and a staff member. That moment did not reflect our values or standards and steps have been taken internally to rectify the problem.
Your final payout will be processed and deposited into your account within 7–10 business days. Attached, you’ll find the finalized promotional material from the weekend, including the edited advertising videos. We’ve also included a small folder of candid clips or moments captured for you and Hasheem to keep for yourselves.
We wish you both the very best as you move forward, and we thank you again for the role you played in making this retreat and Duality launch a hit.
Warm regards,
Elena Brooks
Director of Partnerships Duality
I sat back, exhaling and processing the email. They were still paying me, and Simone might have gotten fired. Today was a good day. I scrolled to the bottom of the email and clicked on the attachments. The video opened with drone shots of the resort, couples laughing, ocean, candles, and vibes. Then there we were. Me and Hasheem, dancing together on the first night and then another clip of us playing Twister. My heart started racing. When the clip started talking about choosing your person on purpose like you choose a scent and panned to Hasheem looking me in the eyes, I snapped the laptop shut.
“I hate y’all,” I muttered, but the truth was I didn’t. I missed him so bad it hurt. Needing to feel his presence, I reached for the book he’d left on the porch this morning. I was already halfway through it.
I told myself I was going to pace myself, but apparently, pacing myself went out the window when the hero reminded me of my real life best friend slash heartbreak.
I flipped to the page I’d left off on. A neon sticky note stuck out near the top—a page he’d marked. I hadn’t let myself look at it yet. I’d been too scared of what it might say. My hands shook a little as I turned to it. It was a scene where the FMC finally stopped running and let herself admit she loved the MMC. The line he’d highlighted was simple, but he’d circled it twice in blue ink.
“Being scared didn’t mean I didn’t want it. It just meant I had something real to lose.”
