“I don’t hide what I love,” he says. “And I don’t love in whispers.”
The room is placid. It was in that moment that I knew this love was a safe space for Zaria.
Calil shifts the energy entirely.
“I’m taking you both somewhere.”
I lift my head. “Where?”
“Costa Rica.”
Zaria sits up making sure she heard him correct and I follow suit as I push up on my elbow to look at him properly.
“You’re serious?” I ask.
“Five days,” he says calmly. “Private jet. Private villa. Rainforest on one side. Ocean on the other. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Infinity pool. Private wait staff.”
My mind tries to picture it. Sun on skin. No schedules. No hospital rooms. No expectations.
“Why?” I ask softly.
He looks between us like he’s weighing the answer carefully.
“Because we deserve to exist somewhere without expectations,” he says. “No questions. No labels. No side-eyes. Just us.”
Something inside me loosens. My body switches into vacation mode like it’s been waiting for it.
Zaria studies him carefully and cautious but hopeful.
“You’ve both been carrying things,” he continues. “Your health. Your past. Other people’s ideas of you. I want space where none of that defines our moments.”
His thumb traces slow circles against my shoulder.
“Five uninterrupted days to breathe.”
I swallow at the sound of ‘to breathe.’
“You trying to spoil us into submission?” I tease lightly.
He smirks faintly. “If that’s what it takes.”
Zaria exhales and leans back into him fully now. Her body relaxing in a way I don’t see often.
“Costa Rica,” she murmurs.
Rainforest. Ocean. Freedom.
Calil’s arm tightens around her waist.
“You’re not a secret,” he says firmly. “You’re not an experiment.”
I go lay on the side of Zaria. She’s now in the middle as I turn toward her and press my forehead to hers.
“We go together,” I whisper.
“Real bad,” Calil jokes.
Zaria giggles.
