Rhyan #3
Silence stretched between us.
“I’m willing to do what it takes,” he said finally. “But I’m not rushing you this time. I’m following your lead, no matter how long it takes.”
I looked at him, then took a breath. “Wait—I gotta tell you something.”
He shifted slightly, eyes on me.
“Say it. What’s on your mind?”
I hesitated for just a second.
“I gotta leave Friday.”
His body went still.
“Why?”
“Because I gotta go back to work.”
He pulled back, really looking at me now.“How long are you gonna be gone?”
I exhaled slowly. “I start back Sunday.”
He frowned. “So why are you leaving Friday?”
“Because I need to go home and rest,” I said, keeping my tone even.
“You need two days to rest?”
“I work twelve-hour shifts, Chauncey. I’m not trying to walk in there already drained. I can’t afford to be running on empty.”
He didn’t respond right away. Just watched me.
“You want me to come with you?” he asked finally. “I ain’t really trying to be away from you right now.”
I forced a small smile, but it felt thin.
“Yeah… if you want.”
That caught me off guard. I hesitated because I knew I didn’t want him to come, and saying yes felt easier than admitting it. Because I needed to handle something in Dallas. Something I couldn’t do with him standing right there.
Chauncey’s eyes stayed locked on me.
He knew.
He might not say it out loud—but he knew I had something serious waiting for me in Dallas, and he knew it wasn’t small. Something bad was waiting for me there, and it felt like it had consequences I wasn’t ready to face.
And the crazy part? We hadn’t even made anything official again.
“I’mma let you slide back home Friday… alone,” he said finally, calm but deliberate. “But don’t get comfortable. I’m coming a few days after that.”
I swallowed.
“Handle your business,” he added, his voice dropping slightly. “Tie up any loose ends you got in Dallas before I get there, so I know what I’m walking into. I’m asking because I need to know what’s waiting on us.”
Dallas felt loaded, like it came with consequences I wasn’t ready to face.
“Okay,” I said quietly. He stepped closer than before. “The last time you left Dallas…” he murmured, reaching for my hand, “you left something behind that matters—and I’m not letting you ignore it now.”
My breath caught.
Before I could say anything, he slid my wedding ring back onto my finger—slow, deliberate, and final. But it wasn’t the same. More diamonds.
Heavier.
Like he was reinforcing something—our history, our promise, what still held on.
“I don’t want you leaving this again,” he said. “Not after this.”
I stared down at my hand… at the ring… at everything it meant. Love. History. Mistakes. Promises. Pressure. I looked back up at him, my chest tight.
“Chauncey…” My voice trailed off because I couldn’t find the rest.
Because I didn’t even know what to say to that.
“Rhy…” His voice shifted—softer, but serious enough to make me look at him carefully. “Rhy… if we’re really giving this a fair shot, blocking out all the noise,” he said, eyes locked on mine, “then put your ring back on.”
My chest tightened.
“I bought that ring for a reason,” he continued. “I asked you to be my wife.”
Before I could respond?—
He dropped to his knees. My breath caught as he dropped to his knees.
“Chauncey…”
“I’m not playing with you this time,” he said, looking up at me. “I’m asking you again.”
The room went still. “I’m asking you to be my wife… again.” I stared at him, heart racing, trying to steady myself. This wasn’t the same man.
Or maybe…
He was finally showing me the version I needed all along. But that still didn’t erase it. It still wasn’t easy. I looked down at my hand… at the ring… at him.
“You’re asking me like this, and don’t come with weight,” I said quietly. “Like I ain’t gotta trust you again… believe you again.”
“I know,” he said without hesitation.
“And that’s not something I can just give you overnight.”
“I ain’t asking for overnight,” he replied. “I’m asking for a chance.”
My throat tightened.
“A real one.”
I closed my eyes, steadying myself. Because I wanted this. Bad. Wanting it… Being ready for it?
Two different things.
I looked at Chauncey, tugging at his beard, my fingers lingering along his jaw. “I’mma put this ring back on,” I said softly, “but you gotta show me something different—something real.”
His eyes didn’t leave mine.
“I’m scared to give you all of me again,” I admitted. “I don’t wanna be hurt like that again.”
He nodded and waited before speaking.
“I know you’re scared, Rhy,” he said finally.
“And you got every right to be.” He took my hand—gentle this time, just holding it.
“I’m not saying the right shit… but I am committing to move right,” he continued.
“I can’t erase the past, but I can make sure my future with you doesn’t look anything like it. ”
That hit hard.
“I can’t erase the past,” he added, “but I can make sure my future with you doesn’t look anything like it.”
My chest tightened.
“No chaos. No guessing. No extra shit,” he said, steady. “I’m committing to just me… showing up how I’m supposed to.”
I looked down at the ring for a second… then back at him.
“Then do that,” I said quietly. “Every day.”