Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
CALYSTA
It had been an entire week since our first phone-sex conversation, and it hadn’t been our last. Frankie knew how to heat me up with his words, and my body was dying to see if he could put his mouth where his words had been.
And Lord had his words been places.
I set the casserole I’d just taken out of the fridge on the counter and fanned my face. My entire body ached to be touched by him, and since it wouldn’t be happening in that moment, I needed to screw my head back on straight.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I swiped up with my thumb, unlocked it with my face, and found a text.
Marianne: You promised!
My gaze flicked up at the time, and I realized I was late. I’d promised Marianne I would go to the Station Two barbecue, and as much as I’d rather get a hold of Frankie and invite him over, I couldn’t.
Calysta: Running late. Be there in 15. Promise.
The short time with Frankie had been a reminder of how much life I had left to live. I’d gotten into a rut, and it was time to shake things up.
Fifteen minutes later, I found parking down the street, grabbed the casserole, and made my way to the Jameses’.
The sounds of laughter, music, and happiness increased the closer I got.
I smiled, remembering all the parties and barbecues with Station Two.
When Sergio and I had split up, it was the part of the divorce I’d dreaded the most. His stationhouse had been part of our family.
Stepping inside, the sound of giggles reached my ears. “It’s about time! Your dad is hot—”
I cocked my head in surprise at the familiar voice, except it had lost the young-girl sound.
Whoever Willa was speaking to groaned. “Stop! I don’t want to think about him as hot.”
I stepped around the corner as the new voice and face registered in a whirlwind of emotions.
“Titi Calysta? Oh my God!” Willa said, scrambling to her feet. “Ma said you might show but, oh my God!”
I managed to not drop the casserole when Willa rushed me with a hug. She was much stronger and taller than the last time I’d seen her.
“Careful! You don’t want to hurt her!”
I met my friend’s gaze. Her unshed tears made her eyes sparkle. “Hi.”
“Ma, look, it’s Titi Calysta!” Willa said, moving to my side.
“I see. How about you grab that casserole from her before she drops it,” Z said.
Willa did as her mom asked and ran off to the kitchen.
Z met me halfway and hugged me tightly. Her body was firmer, whereas mine had become soft, but her smell and the warmth of her embrace hadn’t changed in the thirty-plus years I’d known her.
“This is Noelani, Willa’s best friend, although I think she’s kind of like our extra kid at this point,” Z said after releasing me.
I nodded. “Actually, I’ve met Noelani. How are you?” I asked, my gaze moving to the window overlooking the back.
“You’ve met?” Z asked.
“Yeah, she’s kind of seeing my dad,” Noelani said, ratting me out to my friend. I was happy to see her face soft with acceptance, rather than anger, at the fact her dad was dating.
“I am.”
“You are?” Z asked and motioned me to follow her. “You know what, how about we go on outside?”
I paused as nerves at seeing everyone stopped me dead in my tracks. Would they be upset at me for disappearing after the funeral? For moving on after Sergio’s death?
“There are a lot of people who want to say hi.” Z lowered her voice. “We’ve all missed you.”
Nodding, I forced myself to follow her. The moment I stepped outside, Marianne spotted me and shrieked, the sound deafening. A round of shouts followed from the others.
“Look who’s here!”
“She’s alive!”
“Now the party can really start!”
Z grinned and blew me a kiss as she moved back, so I could be hugged first by Marianne and then Des, her wife, followed by the men of Station Two.
Danny, one of the newest guys when Sergio had been alive, lifted me off the ground and swung me in a circle. “About fucking time!” When he set me down, I held onto his shoulders to steady myself. Danny grinned and pressed his lips to my forehead. “We’ve missed you. Glad you’re back home.”
Tears sprung to my eyes and I covered my mouth, failing to hold back the sudden sob.
“Shit,” Danny said, tugging me against his chest. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Cal.”
“Let go of her!”
Danny stiffened at the familiar voice. “Who the fuck—”
I pressed my hand on Danny and sniffled. “It’s okay.”
Frankie cupped my face between his hands and swiped at the tears streaking my cheeks. “What’s wrong? What did he say to make you cry?”
I hadn’t heard hardness in his voice before. Staring up at him, I could feel everyone watching us with curiosity. Danny’s angry glare was still directed at Frankie.
“He didn’t,” I said.
Frankie tipped my face up and leaned down to meet my eyes. “Darling, you weren’t crying until him. He clearly—”
“I’d never make her cry on purpose!” Danny snapped.
Desarae joined us and put a hand on both my and Frankie’s shoulders. “Why don’t you two go inside and talk? And then when you come back, Z and I can beat you at cornhole.”
Frankie scoffed, his gaze still on mine. “As if, Des.” He released my face and placed a hand on my lower back. “Inside?”
I nodded and let him guide me back the way I’d come, except when we got inside, the two teens were there.
“Is everything okay?” Noelani asked the moment she looked at me.
“It is.” Looking up at Frankie, I said, “I’m going to clean up. Give me a moment.”
The guest bathroom hadn’t changed since the last time I’d been inside it. With a bit of toilet paper, I carefully cleaned up the smears of makeup along my eyes.
My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I couldn’t believe I’d broken down in front of everyone.
And Frankie’s quick protection of me against Danny had been a surprise.
Seeing everyone again was both nerve-racking and exciting.
I hadn’t known what their reaction to me would be, but I’d felt nothing but love from the Station Two family.
Opening the door, I was met with Willa’s concern-filled eyes. “Titi? You okay?”
I listened for Frankie or Noelani but heard nothing. “I’m fine, mama.” Walking into the living room, I found it empty. “Where’d they go?”
“Noelani’s mom just arrived. Mr. DeLuca said he’d be back in five minutes,” Willa said, wrapping an arm around my waist. “We really missed you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Squeezing her tight, I kissed the side of her head. “I’m okay. You’ve grown so much since I saw you last time.”
Willa chuckled. “Like three inches this last year. Ma’s had to buy me two pairs of running shoes this season because my feet grew so much.”
Laughing, I imagined Desarae’s annoyance. “I bet she loved that.”
“Not at all,” Willa said. “So, you and Mr. DeLuca?”
Pulling back, I raised a brow. “I’m not talking about that with you, nosey girl.”