Session 33

Chapter fifty six

The rain was coming down in sheets, pelting the windshield as I sat frozen in my car on the Howard Frankland Bridge, the whole thing shaking every time another car flew by. My hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight my knuckles were white. Ekon was in the backseat, crying—no, screaming—because he could sense my panic, and all I could do was stare straight ahead, unable to move, unable to think. The bridge, the height, the shaking.

I hated this fucking bridge.

Triple A said they’d be an hour, but I couldn’t wait an hour. My nerves were completely shot. I felt like the world was closing in on me, and I didn’t have time to figure out another solution.

I did what I told myself I wouldn’t do. I called Cassius. I couldn’t call Jonas or Naomi—they were in Miami. Solomon was out of town too, and as much as I wanted to keep my distance from Cassius, right now, I needed him.

He picked up on the second ring, and I could hear a woman in the background, giggling, like I’d interrupted some shit. But I didn’t care. Not now.

“Angel? What’s wrong?” His voice was calm, but I could hear the shift, the concern sliding into his tone.

“I... I got a flat on the bridge,” I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. “Ekon’s in the car, and I’m freaking out.”

There was a pause. “You’re on the Howard Frankland?”

“Yeah,” I breathed, feeling stupid for calling, but I didn’t know what else to do.

“Stay there. I’ll be there in 15 minutes,” he said, his voice suddenly firm, all business.

“You gotta take an Uber home,” he told the girl.

I heard her say something before he hung up.

Fifteen minutes. I could wait fifteen minutes, right?

When Cassius finally pulled up, I could’ve cried with relief. He parked behind me, jumped out of the car, and ran straight over, no umbrella, no nothing. We were both soaked within seconds. Ekon’s cries got louder, more panicked, and I felt like the worst mother in the world for dragging him into this.

Cassius scooped him up, holding him close, shielding him from the rain as best he could. His shirt was plastered to his chest, showing off the muscles I tried not to stare at. Shit. Why did he have to look so damn good, even now? Maybe it was because I hadn’t seen him in a few weeks—two months, to be exact. He’d been picking up and dropping off Ekon at Solomon’s house, Solomon answering the door. I was still trying to figure out a way to tell Solomon I didn’t want to do it his way anymore. It made the situation more uncomfortable than before. Cassius and I had our issues, but we had done it 100% right when dealing with our son. This way made it feel like we weren’t co-parenting the right way.

“Let me get him in the car,” he said, already moving toward his own car, not even looking back to see if I was following. The bridge was swaying, I was crying, hoping the rain covered it up. This was my worst nightmare. I had to get too close to the edge to get in the passenger side, and I imagined myself falling into the black water. I was damn near about to have a panic attack.

Once we were inside, I thanked God he had the heat on. He pulled Ekon’s wet clothes off and dried him with napkins before getting in. Ekon quieted down—Cassius’s presence always worked magic on him.

Cassius glanced over at me from the driver’s seat, his polo and dress pants drenched. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Thanks for coming.”

“Anything for my son. You know that.”

Why did that kind of make me feel bad—for his son, not me too? I pushed it to the back of my mind. It was obvious my fear had me feeling weak and soft.

We drove in silence, the rain still coming down heavy.

Cassius jumped out and grabbed Ekon after taking my keys, leaving me.

I followed them inside, going directly to my room to jump in a hot shower. I made it quick, then changed into a pair of tights and a t-shirt.

Cassius was coming downstairs just as I was turning off my crockpot, and he ended up in the kitchen with me.

I turned to him. “I’ve left some of your old clothes in the guest bathroom if you want to change. You’ll catch a cold like that.”

I went to check on Ekon when he walked away. He was still fast asleep. I went back down to make Cassius a plate—the least I could do was feed him if he was hungry.

He came back downstairs, just wearing his gym shorts. His shirt was slung over his shoulder.

I tried not to stare, but he noticed. Of course, he noticed.

“You can have anything you see and like,” he teased, that damn smirk that got on my nerves playing on his lips.

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up and sit your ass down. I made chicken and dumplings.”

He chuckled, but he sat down on the sofa. I brought him a bowl, handing it over before settling next to him on the couch. The TV was on, playing some random show in the background, but neither of us was really paying attention.

“I know you haven’t watched the last episode of Evil ,” he said, picking up the remote. “We could watch that while we wait for the rain to die down.”

He gave me a strange look. “You sure your fiancé is cool with me being here without him?”

“Please be quiet, Cassius, and let’s watch this show—or take the bowl and go away.”

He chuckled but said, “Turn it on.”

After the show, Cassius started talking. “I apologized to Keisha, too.”

My spoon of ice cream stopped halfway to my mouth. “You did?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I put her through some shit, and she didn’t deserve that.”

I was so surprised. “So y’all fucking around again?” I heard the anger in my tone with my own ears.

He laughed and shook his head. “No, she tried, but I told her my baby momma would kill me.”

I ignored his comment. “That’s... good, Cassius. Really good.”

He looked at me, his eyes searching mine. “I’ve been working on it, Angel. Trying to be better for Ekon. Thank you for him.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. You’re welcome didn’t seem like the right thing even though he was thanking me. Plus, there was something in his voice, something that tugged at a part of me, and I needed to change the subject.

Cassius was quiet for a beat, then he reached over, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His fingers lingered. “Anything for you, Angel. I mean that.”

My breathing went all crazy. It was like the air thickened, like we had been pulled into our old orbit. For a second, it was like we never fell apart. Like he was still mine, like we were still us. And I couldn’t help it—I leaned in, closed the gap, because a kiss felt inevitable. My body remembered how good his lips on me felt, even if I didn’t want to. I went to press my lips against his...

He pulled back, standing up so fast I blinked and missed it. “The rain’s stopped,” he said, his voice strained, like he was holding something in. “I should head out before it starts again.”

I just stared at him, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. He didn’t even glance my way as he left, just grabbed his keys and walked out the door like it was nothing. It clicked shut behind him.

I sat there, my heart still racing, confusion curling up in my stomach. Was he... over me? Had he really moved on?

The thought—the idea that maybe he had—sat heavy in my chest. I hated that it bothered me, that it even mattered. I had Solomon. I shouldn’t even care. But I did, and I didn’t know what the hell to do with that.