Chapter 17 Orion #2
“Since you're so worried about her,” I spat, “you take her.”
Cayla’s eyes went wide. “Orion, what are you doing?”
I stared at her, the hurt and betrayal boiling into something colder.
“I’m done. You made your choice tonight. Live with it.”
Before she could say another word, I turned, walked across the lot, and climbed into my car. Her voice cracked through the air as I pulled out of my parking space.
“Orion, don’t leave us out here!” I heard her scream.
It was muffled because my windows were closed, but still, I heard her loud and clear. When I drove past her, I rolled down my window and tossed Oriana’s baby bag out the window. It landed right in front of her feet.
“Orion!” she screamed in a pleading tone.
But I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. The last thing I saw in the rearview was Cayla, standing in the glow of Christos’ lights, clutching Oriana’s car seat with tears streaming down her face.
Cayla
The days bled into nights, and the nights into mornings, all with the same empty space where Orion should’ve been.
It had been a whole week. I got no texts, no calls, and no keys turning in the front door.
I left voicemails he never returned and sent messages that stayed on delivered.
At first, I told myself he just needed time to cool off, but by day five, I couldn’t lie anymore.
He was punishing me. The silence was louder than any argument we’d ever had.
Lamont’s texts came steadily in the meantime.
You good?
Do you need anything?
Cayla, let me help.
For a minute, I almost answered. I almost let myself fall into the comfort he was dangling like bait.
But every time I read his name lighting up my phone, I remembered Christos and the way Orion had dragged me out in front of everybody.
I blocked Lamont’s number on the sixth day.
Not because I didn’t want to talk. But because I just couldn’t with him.
I knew what Orion was capable of, not just with me, but with anyone who crossed him.
And if I ever stepped out for real? If I ever chose Lamont or anyone else?
Orion wouldn’t just embarrass me again. He would probably kill his ass.
So, I sat in the house with Oriana in my arms, rocking her through the long nights, telling myself I’d wait.
That no matter how toxic it was, no matter how much it hurt, I’d stay put.
Because if leaving meant that I had to watch my back if I ever moved on, then I didn’t want it.
I didn’t want the embarrassment that he would surely put me through, and more importantly, I didn’t want to drag another man into my shit.
Since Oriana wasn’t going down for a nap, I decided to finally call Zynea back.
She had been calling my phone for days, but I just needed time to breathe.
Time to decompress from all the drama that had just happened in my life.
I needed a grippy sock vacation after all that bullshit for sure.
I bounced Oriana over my shoulder while pacing the living room as the phone rang.
When Zynea finally picked up, the background noise of an airport buzzed through.
“Girl, I’ve been blowing your phone up,” she said. “What’s going on?”
I let out a shaky laugh.
“What’s not going on?” I huffed out.
“Girl, you sound stressed.
“Stressed ain’t even the word.”
“Talk to me.”
I hesitated, chewing on my lip before it all came spilling out.
“Orion caught me at Christos last week… with Lamont.”
There was a beat of silence, then Zynea’s voice shot sharp through the line.
“Excuse me? Christos? As in date-night, dim-lights, couples-in-love Christos? And Lamont? College Lamont? How the fuck did that even happen? Cayla, what the hell were you thinking?”
I sank onto the couch as Oriana squirmed in my arms. I briefly caught her up to speed on me bumping into Lamont in the grocery store.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking. It’s just that Lamont was saying all the right things. And Orion… well, you already know all the bullshit we've been through. I’ll admit that he had been trying, but still, a piece of me feels invisible to him.”
“Uh-huh, and then he made you really visible, didn’t he?” Zynea snapped. “Because I just saw The Shaderoom reposts. Half the damn city saw him drag you out of that restaurant like you were a rag doll. You lucky somebody ain’t record the whole fight.”
My chest burned with shame.
“I know, Z. I know I messed up. But it’s not like he’s innocent either. He was cheating on me while I was pregnant.”
After giving birth to Oriana and after things had simmered down a bit, I told Zynea all about the night my water broke.
“Cayla.” Zynea sighed, her voice softening.
“I get it, he’s toxic, but you forgave that man and decided to stay after all that bullshit.
You can’t keep bringing that up at your convenience.
But Lamont? After all the shit he pulled in college?
That’s not the move. That man had you crying in dorm hallways, remember? ”
I brushed Oriana’s hair back with trembling fingers.
“I blocked him. I told myself I’d… stay with Orion. At least with him, I know what to expect.”
Zynea went quiet for a second, then spoke low but in a serious tone.
“Girl, you sound like you’re trying to convince yourself prison’s better than freedom just because you know the routine. You and my niece deserve more than this cycle.”
Her words hit deep, but I couldn’t answer, not with the lump in my throat and the weight of Oriana’s tiny hand clinging to my shirt.
“Just promise me,” Zynea said finally. “Promise me you won’t let him break you all the way before you figure it out.”
I closed my eyes while rocking Oriana slowly.
“I promise.”
But even as I said it, I didn’t know if I meant it.
The sound of keys turning in the door caused me to rush her off the phone.
His key sliding into the lock made my whole body tense.
My heart jumped and was beating against my ribs as I sat on the sofa with Oriana cradled against me.
The door swung open, and there he was. Being in front of him was like a storm I’d been bracing for but still wasn’t ready to face.
His scent hit first, that mix of cologne and smoke that clung to him like a second skin.
He stepped inside slowly, like the week of silence hadn’t been hanging over me like a noose.
My lips parted, but nothing came out. He dropped his keys on the table in the foyer and then glanced at me, then at Oriana.
“Is she good?” he asked casually.
I swallowed hard, shifting her weight in my arms. “She’s fine. Been fine since you left her in the parking lot.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t snap back the way I expected. Instead, he walked over, brushed his finger across Oriana’s cheek, and let out a sigh.
“I shouldn’t have left like that,” he said, finally addressing the problem. His eyes locked on our daughter. “I was heated. You had me ready to risk it all and crash out that night.”
I blinked, unsure if I’d heard right. Orion apologizing wasn’t something that happened often.
But before I could respond, he lifted his gaze to mine, and his eyes went dark.
“Don’t ever put me in that position again, Cayla. Ever. You hear me?”
The warning in his tone made my stomach flip.
I nodded slowly, though inside I was trembling.
Zynea’s voice echoed in the back of my mind.
You and that baby deserve more than this cycle.
But with Orion standing in front of me, chest broad, presence swallowing the whole room… all I could do was whisper.
“Yeah. I hear you.”
My hands jittered with my response, so I clasped them together to calm my nerves.