Chapter 9
Calil was the last person I wanted to see after getting those pictures.
I knew the moment he saw me crying, he would ask questions.
There was no way I would tell him what I saw.
It was too embarrassing. I wasn’t sure if I would even tell Kendyll.
The images were burned in my brain, and I hated the person who sent them.
I hated my husband even more. I tried to call the number, but it was disconnected.
I assumed they did what they needed to do then got rid of the number so that I couldn’t trace it back to them.
No other pictures or messages came through, but what I saw was enough.
How could Roy do something like that? I knew things weren’t like they used to be, but having sex with multiple women was too much.
Why couldn’t he just talk to me about what he’d been feeling?
I was sure we could have worked out any issues before he resorted to having an affair.
Bile rose to the back of my throat every time I thought about the pictures.
“You good?”
My gaze shot up to Calil. His concerned eyes studied my face. I wanted to tell him the truth, but I couldn’t.
“I’m okay,” I lied.
“I know we haven’t seen each other in years, and we don’t know anything about what either of us has going on, but I can be a friend if you need me to, Sloan.” His eyes traveled to the ring on my finger then back to my face.
I took a few deep breaths, undecided if I wanted to share or not. I couldn’t, though, especially when Calil looked at me. The intensity in my eyes made me shift in my seat.
“It’s not important. What’s going on with you? How’s basketball been treating you?” I forced a smile and tried to pretend like I wasn’t dying inside. Calil didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t say anything.
It took him a few long seconds to speak. “I see what you did, and I won’t speak on it for now. Anyway, basketball has been everything I dreamed of and then some. Some days, I can’t believe this is my life. There were times when I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m here.”
For a second, there was this faraway look in Calil’s eyes, but it only lasted a second before they lit up. I wondered what happened but felt that if he wanted to tell me, he would have.
“I’m proud of you, Lil.” I genuinely smiled when I called him by the name I called him in high school.
The smile he graced me with spread across his face, making my cheeks warm.
Jesus, this man is fine.
“Thank you, Sloan. I’m proud of you as well.”
“Thank you.” It felt like my temperature had risen a few more degrees.
Multiple people in my life have told me they were proud of me, but it was different coming from Calil. Maybe because we used to talk about our dreams and goals, and all of them came to fruition for both of us.
I could tell Calil had something he wanted to say, but the server came to take our order. Once we had both ordered and the server assured us he’d be back with our food, Calil asked whatever had been on his mind.
“How long have you been married?”
“Twelve years.”
Calil’s eyes ballooned. “Shit. Well, congratulations.”
He didn’t mean that shit, and the way I felt, it wasn’t anything to celebrate.
“Thanks. We have two boys. Blake is thirteen, and Brooks is ten. They both are into sports. Mainly football and baseball, but they are planning on trying out for the basketball team.”
“That’s what’s up. Maybe you all can come to one of my games.”
“Oh, I normally don’t watch it. My hus—the kids watch with their dad.”
I didn’t know what made me pause when mentioning my husband, but something about saying it didn’t feel right. Calil knew I was married, so I wasn’t hiding it. It must have been the hatred I felt toward Roy.
“Cool. Well, maybe you can bring them one day.”
The hopeful look in Calil’s eyes made me agree to go, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Maybe he said it just to see what I would say. I didn’t think he wanted me to bring my husband and kids to one of his games.
“What’s up with you, though? Do you have a wife or girlfriend?”
“Nah, I let my wife get away a long time ago.”
The way Calil’s eyes bore into mine set my body on fire. I wasn’t completely sure, but I felt like he was talking about me. He couldn’t be, though. Could he?
I cleared the lump in my throat and put my hands in my lap. “What happened? Why, or how, did you let her get away?”
I wasn’t sure if Calil was talking about me or not, and I wasn’t sure if I was prepared for his answer. He leaned forward with his elbows on the table, and his dark, fixed gaze on me increased my heart rate.
“I was a fuck nigga and didn’t appreciate the beautiful soul that she was.
Now, she’s with someone else, and I may have blown my chances.
” The air suddenly felt suffocating when he leaned even closer.
“Make no mistake about it. If the opportunity reveals itself, I’m coming real heavy behind her, and I won’t let up until she’s mine. ”
My cell rang loudly, interrupting the intense moment. Calil’s eyes swept to the side as he sat back in his seat.
I pulled my phone out and rolled my eyes at Roy’s face on my screen.
I silenced the call and tossed the phone back into my bag.
I put my fist to my mouth and cleared my throat.
I didn’t know how to respond to that. I felt bad about being with Calil in the first place, but to hear him say that shit…
I was confused. He seemed so… serious. But how? His declaration had my head spinning.
“Sorry about that.”
“I didn’t mean to be so forward, but I had to let my intentions be known. I don’t want any surprises later on down the line.”
It was like he knew my marriage was in trouble. He couldn’t have known because he didn’t know who my husband was.
The server came over with our food, so I sat back to get my thoughts together.
My phone rang again, but I knew it was nobody but Roy.
He would continue to call until I answered, but he wouldn’t get the satisfaction.
Instead of turning it off, I put the phone on vibrate in case one of the boys called.
“Everything okay?” Calil asked as he cut into his steak.
“Yes. Everything is fine. I see steak is still your favorite food.” I focused on my food, even though my appetite was shot. I changed the subject because I didn’t want Calil to ask any questions.
Calil put his fork down. “I’m surprised you still remember.”
“I remember a lot.”
We ate in silence the rest of the time, but I knew Calil knew something else was on my mind. I couldn’t fully be in the moment because this whole thing was wrong. I needed to talk to Roy about what he had done before I turned around and did the same thing.
“I can tell something is going on. You barely touched your food, and I’ve been talking to you for at least two minutes, and you ain’t said a word, not to mention I found you crying.”
Calil didn’t sound mad, more so concerned.
“I’m sorry. I just have a lot of stuff on my mind.”
“It’s cool. I’ll have the server box up your food so I can get you back to your car.”
Multiple emotions flowed through me. I felt guilty and conflicted about being with Calil, angry about those pictures, and dreadful about having to talk to Roy about them. I was also worried about the state of my marriage.
“Okay.”
Calil waved the server down while my phone vibrated again. Calil looked my way but didn’t address it. The repeated calls made me feel like I had done something wrong, even though it was an innocent outing between old friends.
After settling the bill and bagging the food, Calil and I left the restaurant.
He held my hand like he did when we first arrived, but I could tell he wasn’t fond of the way our time ended.
I hardly paid attention to him because I kept falling too deep into my thoughts.
I wanted a do-over, but that probably wasn’t a good idea.
When we arrived back at the hospital, I told Calil where my car was so he could drop me off. He pulled up next to my car and put it in park before lifting my chin so I could look at him.
“If that nigga was the reason you cried earlier, he ain’t worth it. No nigga should make you cry unless they are happy tears or he’s sucking your soul from your body. You hear me, pretty girl?”
I closed my eyes because that name brought back so many memories.
Calil used to always call me pretty girl, especially whenever we had sex.
I never knew where he learned to talk like that, but I liked it.
It was so grown-man-like for such a young guy.
My breath caught in my throat when he leaned forward.
I thought he would kiss my lips, but he bypassed them and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Don’t forget what I said, Sloan.”
My mind might have drifted a few times, but I heard everything he said and didn’t say.
Calil climbed out of the car, then came around to open the door for me.
Once I was out of the car, I said, “Thanks for dinner, and I’m sorry for ruining it.”
“Hey, it wasn’t ruined. It’s all good.”
He opened my car door for me when I pressed the button to unlock it.
“Bye, Calil.” I slid into the front seat.
“Bye, Sloan. Get home safe.”
Calil closed the door softly and tapped on the roof.
I started the engine but didn’t pull out of the parking spot until Calil got into his car.
My mind was on whatever waited for me when I got home.
I didn’t know how I was going to ask Roy about the pictures.
I mean, it was right in front of my face, so I didn’t need him to confirm it.
I was just curious to hear his excuse. I also knew Roy would be pissed since I ignored his calls.
I sat in the car for a minute when I pulled into the driveway. I needed to mentally prepare for what was on the other side of the door.
“Where have you been, Sloan?” Roy’s voice boomed as soon as I stepped foot into the house.
It wasn’t that late when I got home, but it was later than my usual time.
“Shh. Would you lower your voice?” I hissed through clenched teeth. I didn’t want the boys to hear us.
“Nah, fuck that. Where were you, Sloan?”
I scoffed because he had the nerve to have an attitude with me like he wasn’t out here living foul.
“No, Roy. The question is where have you been lately, and what type of shit have you been into?”
He stepped back and glared at me. He studied my face and body like he could figure out what I was talking about or where I’d been just by looking at me.
“Your kids and husband needed you.”
I laughed at his attempt at ignoring my question.
“Are the boys okay?”
Roy sucked his teeth. “Okay, Sloan. You want to play games, so we’ll play. I’m out of here.” He left out of the back door and slammed it in the process.
I shook my head and poured myself a glass of wine. I needed to get my attitude in check before I went upstairs to check on the boys.
After I chugged the wine, I turned off the kitchen light and went upstairs. Both boys were on the games with their headphones on, and I was thankful they didn’t hear anything.
Once I saw they were good, I went into my bathroom to shower. A nice hot shower would relax me enough to, hopefully, allow me to sleep. Roy had to come back home at some point, and we would talk.