“Zeus, I need you to tell me everything is going to be alright. I need you to get me out of my head because the way I’m feeling, I’m about to lose my mind.”
I could sense immediate worry as he started to speak. “Do I need to come there? Dionysus, if you’re feeling—”
I shook my head as if he could see me. “It’s not that. I promise. I’m just trying to figure out why I’m here. Am I here for you or for myself? I-I’m being challenged in a way I thought I could handle at first. Now, I’m feeling defeated.”
Zeuslet out a sigh of relief. “First, nigga, don’t do shit for me. If college is not for you, then it’s not, and at least you tried. But I know my brother, and he isn’t a quitter, no matter what the fuck it is. You challenge back, whatever it is. You give that shit all you got because you’re a fucking god!”
A small smirk eased on my face. “You’re right. Aye, thanks.” I paused. “Pops. I love you.”
Although Zeus was my big brother, since the day our father passed, he had stepped up and shown that he was more than just my brother and more like my father. Zeus and I ended our call, leaving me feeling a little better. Now, I needed one more thing that would really push a nigga to the end of this journey. I started my car and took off.
PRESS PLAY
I parked at the far end of the lot, got out, and jogged to the door. I glanced over my shoulders on both sides to ensure I wasn’t being watched. Then, I inserted my key and turned it until the locks clicked. The air was filled with the scent of orange and mint. The flickering glow of candles lit the living room, casting enough light to form my shadow on the wall. I removed my shoes as I tiptoed down the hall toward the bathroom. With a quick shower, I rinsed off all of tonight’s bullshit.
Once I finished, I continued down the hall to the bedroom. The faint light seeped from the crack in the door. I gently pushed it open to find Samara sleeping. I missed the shit out of her. I missed her so much. I found my way home, although I knew if the big brothers found out, they would probably put me through the worst time of my life, but in my mind, she was worth it.
I removed the towel from my waist, and I walked closer to the bed. Easing the covers back, I gently climbed in and spooned with her.
“Dio?” she whispered.
I kissed the back of her head. “Yeah, baby. It’s me. I missed you so fucking much,” I mumbled.
She leaned back into me, settling herself comfortably in my arms. It felt like heaven. I knew I needed to tell her why I had been gone. It only made sense, right?
“I got an intern position in the dean’s office.”
“Oh yeah? Damn, Mars! Look at you. I’m proud of you.”
“Are you coming home?” she asked, her voice soft and comforting.
The shit broke my heart. “No, not yet,” I muttered.
She pulled away from me and turned toward me. “There is no ‘not yet’, Dio. What the fuck is your problem?” She started to get loud.
“Mars, please just hold on a little longer.”
She shot up from the bed. “Why is everybody’s answer about every-fucking-thing that it’s a fucking secret?!” she shouted. “Like I’m some baby or I’m someone who wouldn’t understand anything. First, it was Zaria hiding the fact that something happened to you back in New York, and Chevy and the whole Zoo shit like I’m a child. And you and this stupid-ass Orange Light Special, and why you fucking left and won’t come back. You know what, Dionysus? Get out! Maybe it was a mistake, all of it.”
I hopped up out of the bed butt-ass naked, trying to calm her down. “Yo, you need to chill. You’re overacting.”
She scoffed. “Of course you would say that, but in the same breath run out here like a maniac as soon as the mail guy says hello!” She shook her head, then pointed to me. “Oh, so you thought you were going to be gone, then come back so we can fuck and leave again, but I’m overacting? Dio, if you knew better, you would walk out that fucking door now!”
Honestly, I didn’t want to fuck. I wanted to do exactly what Idid. A nigga was tired, mentally exhausted, and I missed my bed and my girl. Samara was at a point where there was no talking to her, and before I blew up my spot, I walked out of the room. I snatched up some basketball shorts and a shirt and dipped. I didn’t know what this meant for her and me, but it didn’t change the fact that Mars was the love of my life.
.
CHAPTER NINE
It was the last day before our project was due, and Dio and I hadn’t even communicated on what the hell we were going to do. I figured he gave up and did his own thing since catching Percy and me together. I knew he and Xavier were friends, and it made me wonder if those niggas talked like the girls did. Xavier and I hadn’t said anything to each other since then. I had been hanging with the girls, but it wasn’t enough to keep my mind off Xavier.
I sat in Hawks Chapel waiting for Dio to show up. I’d finally been able to get him to meet up with me, and this is the place he chose. A few minutes went by, and he came in looking over his shoulder like someone was following him. He hurried over, swung his back, and sat down. “Dark and Lovely, let’s get to it. I don’t have time for the small talk.”
I smacked my lips. “Don’t rush me. You’re the one who wanted to wait last minute.”
“You’re the one who wanted to wait last minute.” He mocked me. “Man, look. What kind of information did you gather?”
I pulled out my laptop and turned it to show him. “I was thinking we do like the whiteboard deal. Showing the formula in—”
