Chapter fifty one
Naomi was sprawled on the opposite couch, legs crossed, a brow raised at me. "So you’re telling me," she said, leaning in like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, "Cassius was really crying in your bosom? Like, actual tears?"
I nodded. "Yes, Naomi. When I walked out of that therapist’s office and saw him like that, it nearly broke me. He could have asked me to do anything to make it stop, and I would have done it." I hesitated to finish my thought; the truth wanted to stick in my throat. "But a part of me... a small, twisted part of me wanted to tell him about Solomon and me. Just to make his chest hurt more."
Naomi threw her head back and laughed, loud and hard. "Angel, that’s fucked up."
"I know," I said, the shame of it sinking in. "That’s why I’m going to sign up for therapy on my own. Everything that happened back then... it wasn’t just Cassius. I was at my worst. Fighting Keisha, breaking his windows, keying his car—twice."
Naomi’s eyes went wide. "Twice? You didn’t tell me you keyed it once.”
I cringed, nodding. "Yeah. Before and after Ekon was born. He didn’t say a word."
"Probably because he knew he deserved it," Naomi said, her voice softening. "But you ain’t innocent. I told you back then he wasn’t ready. And you still entertained his mess."
Before I could respond, the front door opened, letting light and heat in. In walked Cassius, Silas, and Jonas. They were dressed for the court, all swagger and sweat.
Silas saw me first, his face lighting up like a kid. He sauntered over and flopped down on my lap, his weight pressing me into the couch. "Mother of my favorite person, where is our secret son?" I don’t know when we had gone from mortal enemies to him feeling like a bratty sibling, but after Ekon was born, he was all good. He’d show up just to play with him and bring him random things.
I laughed, pushing at his chest. "Get up, you oversized child. Ekon’s upstairs sleeping. You can go get him. We were just about to leave."
Just as Silas moved off me, the doorbell rang again. Jonas went to answer it, and a moment later, Solomon walked in. My heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did when I saw him. He was in khakis and a button-up, fresh off work. He greeted everyone, his voice smooth and easy, like he was already part of the family. Before I could make my way to him, Cassius was crossing the room, his eyes locked on Solomon. My stomach dropped to my feet. What was he about to do?
Cassius stopped in front of Solomon, extending his hand. "Man, I want to apologize. In front of everyone, for everything."
The room froze. Every pair of eyes was on them. Solomon shook Cassius’s hand, his grip firm, his face unreadable. "I appreciate that. Now that Angel and I are getting married, I think it’s important that we all get along."
The words might as well have been a grenade. Naomi knew, but the others didn’t. I watched as the light in Cassius’s eyes flickered, then died, his expression going blank. I wanted to reach out, to say something, but I knew it would only make things worse. Because then I’d have to deal with Solomon feeling like I did too much.
Cassius turned to me, his voice strained. "Y’all getting married?"
I hadn’t wanted him to find out like this. I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. A silence stretched between us. Finally, he forced a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "Congratulations. Kiss Ekon for me. I’ve got an appointment."
And just like that, he turned and walked out. Silas shot me a look that was a mix of confusion, anger, and disappointment. "That’s fucked up," he said, so only me, him, and Naomi could hear, before following Cassius out. I heard him say something to Cassius about taking the keys, about driving, but the words were muffled, distant, behind the closing door.
And then they were gone, leaving the room heavy—or maybe only I felt it. Solomon was talking to Jonas and Naomi, but all I could think about was Cassius, about the look in his eyes. Damn, seeing him broken didn’t feel as good as I thought it would.