Zuri awoke with a huge smile on her face even though she was exhausted, if this was him restrained, she could only imagine when he broke free but for right now, she couldn’t wait to see him tonight.
That was two week ago, she hadn’t seen him since that night even though she felt him a few times then he would shut himself off from her. Now she was just pissed, she didn’t know what was going on or what she had done wrong and wish she had the courage to stomp down in the subway tunnels and search until she found the damn city. Until she found him, but she knew only of few of the things that lurked down there and wasn’t that pissed at him to risk finding out what else existed in that world but more than anything she just missed him.
She knew it had to be about the things he had blocked out when they were together. He shut down quickly, but she felt enough to know that something bad would happen to her if he were to take it all the way with her. That thought had terrified him, she was hoping to talk to him about it when he came the next night, but he never showed. And anytime he let his guard down and she slipped into his thoughts, he would push her out again, leaving her alone with her own thoughts and feelings. She had no idea how lonely she would feel without him when she agreed to do the ritual with him, she wondered if he felt the same lonely emptiness as her.
Regardless, she was pissed and the second he decided to show up, she planned to lay into him with a few choice words. She slammed the folder shut on her desk after she had tried to read it for the fifth time. She shook her head and tapped herself in the head, stop thinking about him she told herself. She needed to focus on work and letting him consume her every thought wouldn’t accomplish anything. After a few deep breathes she reopened the folder and finally pushed Eros out of her mind to finish her workday.
After leaving work around four that evening, she went to the gym to burn away some of the frustration she felt. An hour later, she felt better than she had earlier in the day and decided to treat herself to her favourite dessert truck. Was it bad eat something like this after such an intensely great workout probably not but wasn’t Wafels and Dinges worth every decadent bite? Her favourite thing to get was the WMD, a warm liege waffle covered in speculoos spread and whipped cream topped with fresh strawberries and chopped walnut then the entire thing is drizzled with a rich dark velvety smooth melted dark chocolate. She couldn’t wait to sink her fork into the marvelous sweetness.
One quick trip to 34th street and 6th avenue and she was in heaven, she sat in the seating area people watching while enjoying herself for the first time in two weeks. The summer heat took a surprise break that brought in a cool, mild breeze. Instead of the constant hustle and bustle that New York City was known for, people casual strolled enjoying the weather and everything the city had to offer. This was a favourite thing for her and Romi to do together. This would be the first summer that would enjoy this treat together, their first time apart.
Her mine drifted back to Eros, whatever his reasons were for staying away, she had to believe they were good, what she felt between them was too fated for her not to trust him. She was still pissed but she wouldn’t let it consume her or control her emotions.
Her phone rung and she rolled her eyes while she accepted the call, “and who have you been stuck under for the past week that you could not return a single call?” Zuri had missed her friend dearly but every time she called; Ari seemed to be busy. She wasn’t worried however it wasn’t the first time that Ari had disappeared for a long period of time, and it always related to work. She knew that whenever she got back, they would be back as they always were.
“Excuse you, I am never stuck under any man. I am too good of a rider for that to happen.”
“Ew tmi,” she made a face in response to Ari.
Ari laughed at her, “hey, you should have known better before saying something like that to me.” She laughed again, “anyway what are you up too?”
“Nothing, sitting at 34th street eating Wafels and Dinges.”
“Damn, you should have called me.”
“I have been trying to for the past week, bitch!” Zuri snapped back. First, Eros and then it was Ari, Zuri was pissed at both for essentially dropping her without a word. She knew, she was being dramatic but whatever she could probably guilt trip dinner or something out of her. Eros she was still learning but in Ari’s case even when she wasn’t in town, she would at least get in contact, it was completely unlike Ari to not call or text for days on end.
“Ok, ok damn, I was out of town on a case, and it took longer than we expected.”
“Hmm, ok well next time send a text or something.”
“Ok, so what are you doing tonight?”
Zuri stood up taking her container to the trash and finishing off the water she had brought with her.
“Helloooo?” she heard Ari yell into the phone.
She sighed loudly, “It depends on why you’re asking?”
“Well, I want you to go on a double date with me,” she said quickly then waited. She knew that dating especially blind dating wasn’t something that Zuri took lightly but she wanted her to at least try. If she would go on this date and have fun maybe she would see that being a single mother wasn’t the end of love life and men still wanted to get to know her.
“Ugh, Ari you know how I feel about blind dates, the guy is never as described, and I don’t want to have to hurt someone’s feeling.”
“Look, look ok, I get it, but I met him, and he was gorgeous. Tall, olive skin, Italian with the accent and all.”
A few weeks ago, Zuri would have agreed in a second if he was exactly as Ari described him, she would have gone just to get a good look at himself even though she hated blind dates but now all she could think about was Eros. She knew there would be nothing between her and this guy because Eros was her other half. The soulmate she was beginning to believe didn’t exist all to find out that he was just from a different world that was never meant to meet. She wondered how the gods could play such a game with them and what it all meant now that they had.
But she also didn’t know how she would get out of it either, Ari was sure to keep going until she agreed. Although, if she agreed to it, she would just go enjoy herself and not think of it as a date, she’s just hanging with her best friend and her date while there just so happen to be another guy there.
“I know I’m going to regret this but fine I’ll go you’re not gonna give up until I say yes anyway.”
“Yesss, ok I love you so much, you’re gonna thank me trust,” Ari screeched into the phone.
Zuri’s face cringed as she pulled the phone away from her ear, “Ouch, you do not have to be that loud. So, when is this thing supposed to happen?” she asked
“Well see that’s the thing…,”
“Ari, what…wait?” Zuri thought for a moment, “today. You planned it for today! Didn’t you?”
“Well, I didn’t know I was going to be gone for some long and that damn nest was a bitch to find.”
Zuri frowned, “Nest? What nest?”
“Nothing, really just a work term, umm so do you think you can be ready by eight maybe eight-thirty?” Ari asked.
“Yea eight-thirty, sure.” She grumbled, “but you’re paying for my Uber.”
“Deal! I can’t wait see you at seven, I’ll text you the restaurant,” Ari hung up.
“Great, thanks,” Zuri mumbled to herself as she put the phone back in her bag.
She sighed, she really didn’t want to go but she couldn’t exactly explain why to Ari, there’s was no way she would understand. So, to Zuri this was a compromise, going on this date and getting to keep Eros. One evening and she would be able to say no to Ari for at least another six to eight months maybe by then she would figure out how to tell her best friend about the demon who stole her soul in one evening. She laughed at herself when she got on the train and sat down definitely don’t want to say soul when she told Ari.
By the time she made it back home it was a little after seven p.m. she would have just effort time to change into something and put on a bit of make-up. Good thing she took a bath at the gym after her work-out, so it saved her a bit of time. She decided on a blood red spaghetti strapped dress that hugged her curves and flared out with pleats mid-thigh. She decided to pair it would a nude-colored strappy high heel shoe that added at least two and a half inches to her five-foot three height.
She hoped Ari appreciated the effort she was putting forth. She sprayed her hair with a curl refresher and decided to just let it fall down her shoulder. By the time she finished her make-up, her phone pinged her letting her know the Uber was about a minute away. She grabbed the nude color bag she chose to wear with her outfit and left. The restaurant was on the upper east side of Manhattan, it was small and intimate which would allow for great conversation and a mellow atmosphere.
She stood outside for a moment and fought as her mind drifted to Eros before she scolded herself and pushed him out of her mind. She would have one fun night and then she would go back to thinking about him. She took a deep breath, pulled the door open walking in, and plastered her best fake smile on her face. Ari quickly made introduction and she sat down on the opposite side of the guy whose name she learnt was Patrick. Which she thought sounded so simple compared to Eros then scolded herself again. She really needed to forget him for the rest of the night.
He was however exactly as Ari had described him, tall, gorgeous, with the prolific features that made him very much Italian. Ari’s date was just as handsome but black, she wasn’t surprised Ari hardly ever dated anyone who wasn’t black, she claimed it was because she was addicted to black dick. Zuri on the other hand didn’t care either way as long as they were cute, funny, kind and smart. She had limited tolerance for egoistical men, and it was the main reason why she and Romi’s father didn’t work out.
It turns out they were both cops and detectives at that, they were also partners, Ari’s guy was funny, attentive, and seemed to be humble. While Patrick seemed a bit less than, he kept going on and on about his fast promotion to lieutenant and the next promotion he was in line for. Michael, Ari’s date tried to steer the conversation back to universal topics, but Patrick like to be the center of attention it seemed. She was sure if he was doing it to try to impress her or just liked hearing himself talk but the way he came off it was as if he expected her to be grateful, he was giving her a chance.
She took a sip of the Mai Tai she ordered while she looked around and began to think of ways, she could get out of this before she flipped on this man. She would at least enjoy the food she was going to make sure she paid for herself just in case he had any delusion of her being interested in him. Ari knew she wasn’t having a good time and tried to get her to talk about her interest in baking and photography. That was always the way it went, Ari reading her non-verbal cues and then trying to redirect by putting the attention on her.
She quickly turned the tables back on her and allowed Ari to talk about herself, that way once her food was finished, she could make a quick away. Patrick stood up and announced that he was going to take a quick smoke break and would be back before the food showed up. She slowly turned to Ari and gave her the ‘are you crazy’ look if it was one thing that Zuri hated was smokers and Ari knew this. Ari silently pleaded with her and told her she didn’t know with her eyes after thirty plus years together, they didn’t need words to communicate anymore looks said it all when they wanted it too.
She scoffed and shook her head; she was two seconds away from getting her food to go and walking out. However, she wouldn’t do that to Ari she would stay until the meal was over and make an excuse to leave that Ari had better play along with.
When Patrick returned, she did a double take of him because this was not the same man that left. He was white as a sheet and his eyes were wide with fear also by the smell it seemed that he might have pissed himself. She was about to ask if he was ok when a voice boomed inside her head. “HOME, NOW!”
Shit, they stared at each other when acknowledgement finally flashed in her eyes, Eros. Patrick made a quick excuse about needing to leave but she barely heard him as Eros raged constantly barreled into her.
“I am not going anywhere,” she said back in her mind.
“If you think I will not plunge that entire space into darkness and burn it to ash before I carry you out, then you do not know me yet, woman!”
“Did … did you just woman me?” Fine, she drew the napkin down on the table and pulled out her phone, a Lyft was less than one minute away. She grabbed up her things and stomped out the restaurant as Ari called behind her.
“Zuri, what is going on?” Ari grabbed her arm and pulled her to stop.
She spun around and some of her anger dissipated as she looked at her bewildered friend.
“Nothing, Ari just go back inside please, I’ll call you later and I’ll apple pay you for the food, ok?” She wished she could have easily explained it to Ari. Tell her all the scary and incredible things that happened to her over the past month but how do you explain the existence of demons, monsters and things that go bump in the night without sounding well mad as a hatter.
Ari waved her hand dismissively, “I don’t care about that, look I didn’t know that guy was suck a jerk, really.”
She sighed and hugged her, “It’s fine, look your guy is great. I really like him try not to break his heart ok; I can already see him falling head over for you. I mean he practically already is.”
Ari giggled, “I won’t. I really like him too,” she hugged Zuri back.
They
released each other and Zuri got into the car, now she had to go home and deal
with the fuming demon and she was just as pissed.
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