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“You know you can always tell me anything,” he reassured. “Just because we’re not together doesn’t mean that’s changed.”
I swiped at my tears and leaned into the phone. “God, how I’ve missed you.”
Nico quickly replied, “I’ve missed you too.”
“Listen, I’m not trying to make things crazy for you, and I know you have a woman...a whole fiancé, but I would like....” I took another deep breath. “No, I need to see if there’s a chance for us. Please say it’s not too late.”
He chuckled. “Nik, it’s never too late. Seeing you unexpectedly, like I did, got to me. I’ve been wanting to call you and just talk. See if you were ready to tell me why you shut me out.”
“What about your woman? I may be wrong to say this before we have a chance to talk, but I’m not trying to start an affair.”
“I would never ask you to do that. We broke up. I realized she was only a substitute for you, which wasn’t fair to her. Thought being with someone else would make me forget you, and that failed miserably. Where are you now?”
“At the airport. Just came home from a conference in Jamaica and couldn’t wait to call you to explain the real reason I ended our relationship. In case you were wondering, it wasn’t another man.”
“Never thought it was. You wouldn’t cheat on me.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” Despite how I treated him, his confidence in me reminded me why I felt so blessed to have him in the first place. “Hoping you can forgive me and trust me again once you hear what I have to say, and we can start over.”
“Can’t wait to see if we can. Let me pick you up.”
“I don’t want to interrupt whatever you were doing. I’ll catch an Uber to you if that’s okay?”
“It’s late to be in a stranger’s car. I’d rather come to get you, and we can grab a drink, dessert, or each other and never let go,” he said, his voice clear and strong. Certain of his love for me. Still.
I laughed and shook my head. “You won’t ever change.”
He chuckled. “I hope that’s a good thing. I like me.”
“Oh, it’s so so good.” I smiled. “I’ll wait here for you no matter how long it takes.”
After I ended the call and found a bench outside the airport awaiting Nico, I thought about Bakari and how right his last comment was to me. That love isn’t supposed to be complicated. That he and I had made it that way. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
Loving Nico had been easy. Simple. My parent’s love was simple and easy. Perfect. Instead of letting Nico be there for me through good and bad times like a genuine relationship, I let him go when I needed him the most. And I went through a terrible ordeal alone out of this martyr sense of duty that only hurt us, my family, my best friend, and me. If Nico gives me another chance, I won’t forsake him again.
And as for Bakari, I hope he takes heed of our experience together. I also pray that he realizes that the love he seeks is simple and true. And that he will one day have the woman meant for him.
