Page 31 of The Hellcat Barbies: Zora
“Stay tonight.”
“You didn’t even have to ask.” she grinned.
11
Zora
Things with Semi had settled into a rhythm I wasn’t used to. It wasn’t loud, dramatic, or confusing. He checked on me without me having to hint at anything, made time even when he was busy, and didn’t give mixed signals that forced me to read between the lines. I’d caught myself caring about him deeper than I intended to. Love was hovering in the background, waiting for me to acknowledge it, but I wasn’t about to say a word first. I’d been overlooked before, taken for granted, dismissed once the excitement wore off. I wasn’t giving anybody that leverage again until I knew it was mutual.
I needed a night out, so when Tiana and Nia suggested drinks, I didn’t argue. We went to the bar owned by Breezy. Once we ordered our drinks, and settled into our corner, we caught up on everything we hadn’t talked about in a minute… work, family, the little things we didn’t always have time to sit with.
About twenty minutes in, Justin walked through the entrance and spotted us immediately. I saw him pause when herecognized me, and instead of minding his business, he headed straight over. He greeted Tiana and Nia and then focused fully on me.
“Damn, this is how I have to see you, Zo?” he interrogated. “Why haven’t I heard from you?”
Before I could speak, Tiana answered for me. “She has a man now.”
Justin’s expression shifted. He wasn’t hiding his reaction at all. “You serious?”
“Yeah, I am,” I declared, taking a sip of my drink.
He searched my face like he needed confirmation a second time. “Wow. I didn’t know it was like that. I thought…” He stopped talking for a moment, then shook his head. “Never mind. I guess all I was good for was good dick.”
“That’s exactly what you were good for,” I stated.
The girls burst into laughter at my admission. Justin didn’t find it funny at all. His expression tightened, and he walked off with his pride bruised and his feelings in shambles.
Nia leaned forward once he was out of sight. “He is mad at you.”
“That nigga is big mad,” Tiana laughed.
“He needed clarity.” I shrugged.
“He definitely got it,” Nia said, still smiling.
“And he’ll definitely be alright,” Tiana added.
We raised our glasses and kept the conversation going. The moment with Justin had come and gone. Semi had my attention now, and whatever Justin thought his place was, he’d clearly overestimated it.
The rest of the evening moved on without interruption, and I didn’t give Justin another thought. My life was going in a different direction now… one he wasn’t part of.
***
I took my shower as soon as I walked through the door and moved through my usual routine. Once I finished, I grabbed fresh pajamas, tied my hair, and cleaned up the bathroom counter before heading to my room. I checked over my calendar for the next day, sorted a few products I needed to restock at the shop, and finally sat down on the edge of my bed to unwind. My phone started ringing before I even got the chance. Semi’s name flashed across the screen.
I answered and shifted back against the pillows. “You home?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I just closed everything up.”
That didn’t surprise me. His shop pulled a steady crowd the second the doors opened. “Long day?”
“Long as fuck,” he said. “I didn’t stop once I started cutting.”
“So I’m guessing you’re clocked out for the night.”
“Baby, if you want some dick, just say that. You’d have to do all the work though,” he chuckled.
“That’s not happening,” I replied. “You sound done, and I’on want no lazy dick.”
