D.I.L.F

The last two days had been rough. Zaria and Zolani were still upset, and honestly, I couldn't blame them. They had every right to be frustrated with us. Romeo and I had kept things from them, and while it had been for a good reason—something that I had wanted to be a surprise—the tension was palpable.

It wasn't just the secrets. It was the way things had shifted. The girls weren't even sleeping in the same rooms as us now. They had kept their distance, choosing to retreat into their own space rather than sharing the bed with us. And while I hated the fact that they were mad, I respected that they needed their space.

The whole thing had started with a small lie—a lie that had spiraled into something much bigger. At first, the secrecy was purely about work. There were things going on at the company that I couldn't share, not yet at least. But then, I had an idea. A big one. I wanted to do something special for Zaria before the trip ended. Something that would show her just how much she meant to me, something that would make up for all the frustration and misunderstanding.

But for now, Romeo and I had to just wait. We couldn't rush things. We couldn't force them to forgive us. So, we did the only thing we could do: we waited.

The day had been mostly quiet. The girls had spent their time out shopping and exploring, while Romeo and I had stayed back, figuring out the details of what I had planned. We had to make sure everything was perfect—this wasn't just some casual gesture. This was about showing Zaria how much I appreciated her, and how much I valued what we had together.

When the girls finally returned from their night out, it was nearly midnight. They looked a little tipsy, but still radiant. Zaria's smile made my heart skip a beat, even though there was still a hint of coolness in her eyes. She was still angry, and I could tell that she wasn't quite ready to forgive me, but I was hoping tonight would change that.

"Hey," I called softly as they walked through the door. Both Zaria and Zolani looked at me with guarded expressions.

"Hey," Zaria replied flatly, though her voice softened a little when she saw Romeo. I could tell she was trying to stay mad, but her resolve was wavering.

"We're not mad at you guys," Zolani added, her voice light. "We're just...giving you some space."

I nodded, trying to hide the guilt that washed over me. I respected their boundaries, but I hated that it had come to this. I had always prided myself on being honest with Zaria, but this time, I'd kept too many secrets.

"Well, we were thinking," I started, my voice careful, "maybe you two would like to get out of the hotel for a bit. There's something I've planned, and I think you'll like it."

Zaria raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What's going on?"

I exchanged a look with Romeo before replying, "A little surprise. But, we need to go now."

Both Zolani and Zaria hesitated, glancing at each other. But eventually, Zolani shrugged and said, "Alright, why not?"

Zaria still didn't look convinced, but she agreed to go along.

We all made our way down to the beach, the moonlight reflecting off the water, casting an ethereal glow over the sand. The night was warm, with a light breeze that carried the faint scent of the ocean. It was quiet, the sounds of the waves crashing providing a soothing backdrop to the night.

As we walked along the shore, Zaria's steps slowed. She looked around, puzzled. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice still a little cold, but there was an edge of curiosity now.

I just smiled, guiding her forward. "Trust me. You'll see in a minute."

We finally reached a secluded part of the beach, where a long table was set up under a canopy. The table was covered in white linen, with candles flickering softly along its length. The setting was intimate, romantic, and beautiful—a contrast to the tension that had been hanging over us for the past few days.

When Zaria saw the setup, her eyes widened. She stopped walking, taking in the scene. Her gaze moved from the table to the candles to the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. It was exactly what I had hoped for—a moment that would melt away all the misunderstandings and frustrations.

"I...I can't believe this," Zaria murmured, her voice soft, the coldness gone. She turned to me, her eyes softening. "Lorenzo... this is beautiful."

I grinned, relieved that she was no longer angry. "I'm glad you like it," I said, taking her hand and leading her to the table. Romeo and Zolani followed behind us, but they gave us a moment to settle in before they took their seats as well.

The waiter who had set up the dinner stepped aside, leaving us alone under the moonlit sky. The waves lapped at the shore, the sound gentle and soothing as we took our seats.

We all started eating, and the conversation picked up again. Slowly, Zaria began to relax, her guard starting to come down. We laughed and joked, but I could tell there was something in the air—a tension that had nothing to do with us being mad at each other. This moment was ours, and I wanted it to be perfect.

After a while, I stood up. I felt the weight of the moment pressing down on me, and I knew it was time to speak my heart.

"I just want to say a few things," I began, my voice steady, but the emotions were already rising in my chest. "Zaria, from the moment I met you, my life has been different. You've made me feel things I never knew I was capable of feeling. And I want you to know that, even when I mess up, even when things get complicated, I will always love you. I will always do whatever it takes to make sure you know how much you mean to me."

Her eyes were fixed on me, and I could see the softness in them now. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't say anything. I could tell she was listening, really hearing me.

"More than that," I continued, "I love the bond we have. The friendship, the trust, the way we make each other better. I love that we're a team—through the good times and the bad."

I took a deep breath, looking around at everyone at the table. Romeo and Zolani were watching, their smiles soft, encouraging.

"I know I've made mistakes," I said, my voice quieter now, "but I hope you all know that I'll keep trying. And I'll keep fighting for what we have. For us."

Zaria's eyes glistened in the candlelight, and she stood up slowly, walking toward me. I could feel my heart racing as she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug.

"I love you too," she whispered in my ear. "And I'm sorry for not being more patient with you. I just wanted you to be honest with me. But I get it now."

I squeezed her tightly, holding her close. "I'm sorry, Zaria. I never want to keep anything from you again."

We stayed like that for a long moment, and when we finally pulled away, the tension that had been building for days had dissipated. There was still some healing to do, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like everything was right in the world again.

"We're good," Zaria said, her voice light. "Now, let's finish this dinner."

We all sat down again, the mood lighter now, and continued eating. But in my heart, I knew that this moment would stick with me forever. It wasn't just about the romantic dinner or the beautiful beach. It was about the love we had, and the bond we shared as a group.

The night ended with laughter, good food, and a sense of peace that had been missing for too long. Tomorrow, we would leave Rio and head back to New York, but for tonight, I was content. Everything was exactly as it should be.