“Whose Jordans are in the corner?” Lo peeps.
I let out a defeated sigh. “There might have been a small detail I left out.”
They look at me, both of their faces scrunched in confusion. I didn’t tell Lo about Othello and me being in the same room because I assumed it would be for a couple of days. I mean, sure, I would have ended up telling her, but there was so much chaos going on with this trip, I couldn’t stomach revealing another pitfall in my vacay.
“Marley…” Lo drags out my name, and the longer I take to reveal my confession. The look in her eyes tells me I better start talking and fast.
“I’m…staying with Othello.”
And even I wince at the words I’ve just said because it sounds worse saying it out loud.
“Excuse me?” they both utter at the same time, but for very different reasons. For Lo, I withheld information, and for Siobhan, she has no idea who Othello is.
“It’s not what you think,” I rush out. “There was a mix-up with my reservation. They extended someone else’s stay, and there were no rooms left, so?—”
“So, you ended up in a suite with that fine-ass man,” Lo cuts in, nodding slowly. “Okay. Got it.”
“Lo—”
“Don’t ‘Lo’ me,” she says, holding up a hand. “You’ve been keeping a lot of stuff from me.” Her eyes glaze over with mock sadness. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
Siobhan bursts out laughing. “Can someone please fill me in on what the hell is going on? Who is Othello and why does he sound like some mighty sex God?”
Lo catches her up on the highlights of my vacation drama, and I take over from there, walking them through everything that's happened up until today.
“This is literally the best story I’ve ever heard,” Siobhan says once Lo is done. “A meet-cute on a plane issooodreamy.”
“I know, right? And the fact that she’s been over there rooming with Sky Bae this whole time without telling me is madness,” Lo snaps.
I huff out a laugh. “Okay,‘Sky Bae’is insane. His name is Othello.”
“Okay, whatever you want to call him,” Lo shrugs. “Why are you not riding his face right now? Where is he?”
“It’s almost five o’clock! He’s out with the guys,” I explain exasperatedly.
Siobhan and Lo share the same dumbfounded expression.
“Say what?” They gasp in unison.
“Is there a certain time of day for riding faces?” Siobhan asks.
I erupt in laughter.
“Look, there will be none of that on this vacation.” But even to my own ears, I don’t sound convincing. I was so ready to give in to this man. And sharing a room with him just made matters worse. It was dangerous, cause how am I supposed to contain myself when I’m feeling like this? Like I’m ready to bring down my walls and let him beat my walls.
I promised I would shove my hopeless romantic antics down on the next guy I fell for. I would shove them down in the very back of my mind and be single and free. Nothing complicated. But I like Othello. Like,reallylike him. And Ihatethat Ireallylike him. And I hate that he’s making it hard for me tonotlike him
“Okay, I’ll be honest,” I say, no longer able to hold back the truth. “I’ve been wanting to give in and take a chance with him..”
“With all due respect, please give in.”
“Then report back to us,” Lo orders and then stands and disappears from her screen.
“I’m trying to protect myself, you guys. I like him too much.” I steal words from my mother and state, “I haven’t been having much luck in the romance department.”
Siobhan moves her face closer to the screen.
“Fuck. That. Who says you have to turn this into something serious? Why would you not have fun with this man? I haven’t even seen him yet, and I want him.”
