Chapter Twelve #2
“I mean what?” He grinned. “You ain't trying to lock me down? I might be on that type of time with you,” he flirted.
The dimples in her cheeks deepened. “To answer your question, I don't know what she’ll do. I saw her the other day, and she didn’t look well. But she also accepted that you two are over.”
Rio resisted the urge to ask about Cali’s condition. He had been her protector for so long that he had to remind himself that it wasn’t his role anymore.
“We’re not exactly best friends but I’ve been doing her hair for years. Maybe she will feel some type of way and maybe she won’t. I don't know, and I’m honestly not worried about it.”
Rio didn’t give a fuck about Cali’s feelings, so he liked Rozalin’s answer. Picking up his drink, he said, “Let’s toast to you locking me down.”
She chortled, reluctantly raising her glass. “How about toast to a new friendship? That sounds better.”
“A’ight, cool.”
Their glasses met, creating a clinking sound before they took a sip. An hour later, Rio was in the back seat of his truck with Rozalin straddling him. Their lips had been tangled in a web of passion as he lifted her dress.
No panties? Yeah, she been plotting on a nigga…
Dipping his finger into her wetness, he noted how aroused she was.
His dick sprang to life, stiffening in his jeans.
Rio couldn’t even remember how they’d gotten there.
The last thing he recalled was walking her toward her car, but she made a detour toward his truck.
Rio didn’t stop her either. He needed a distraction even if this was their first date.
“Lift up,” he ordered between their kisses.
Rozalin raised her body, giving him enough room to free his manhood from his pants. Standing at attention, she slid down on it, covering his dick with warmth that made his lips divide.
“Yessss,” she moaned, sliding up and down. “I knew this dick was good.”
Rio was stuck in a sexual stupor, holding her waist while she gave him pleasure. Her wetness covered his shaft, creating a sticky sound.
“This pussy ain't been touched in a while. I can tell,” he grumbled before licking on her neck.
“Shit,” she whimpered when Rio started fucking her from under.
Holding her tightly, he thrusted his dick into her until he felt the pulsating sensations of her walls.
“Yes, Daddy, make me cum!” she screeched.
He continued stroking until he felt his climax near. Rio made sure to lift her before his essence sprouted from his dick. Heavy panting filled the car before they peered at each other and chortled.
“See what you made me do,” she complained. “I did not come here to get fucked in the back of the car.”
“Yeah, you did! You wanted this dick.”
He reached for the middle console and pulled out some napkins. He gave Rozalin a few and then cleaned up the remnants of their fuck session.
“I never do this so please don't judge me.”
He simpered at her. “You ain't gotta say all that. We grown. We both did what we wanted.”
“You're right. I definitely was a willing participant. Now, I’m a satisfied girl.” She winked.
The two got dressed, and Rio walked her toward her car.
“I enjoyed you.” He kissed her lips. “Hit me when you get home.”
Simpering from his gesture, she assured, “I will.”
As Rio walked away, the fleeting euphoria from their encounter began to fade.
With each step, he felt the weight of his reality settle back in.
Night after night, he was haunted by memories of Cali and the life they once shared.
No matter how hard he tried, those images clung to him, unwilling to vanish from his mind.
Cali was amongst the land of the living, walking inside the quaint bakery.
Job hunting was on her agenda today, and Bria insisted that she do her quest outside of the house.
Cali had to get her life in order, but she honestly didn’t know where to start.
How could she do something that she was never equipped to do?
In her marriage, Rio was the person to take care of all of her needs.
She only went to work so she wouldn’t be bored.
Now, with her savings low and no money coming in, Cali had to get herself together before she became a bum.
Sitting by the window, she sat up her laptop and placed her cappuccino next to her. Uploading her resume, she looked at all the software engineer job postings. Noticing one in Diamond Falls, she clicked on it.
“Damn that’s kinda far,” she whispered.
It wasn’t a totally bad idea. She never thought about leaving St. Parklynn.
It was her hometown. Land of the rich and dangerous.
Her family was here and all of her memories, but Cali had to admit that she was drowning here.
The sorrow was up to her neck, threatening to swallow her whole if she didn’t swim toward shallow waters.
After giving it careful thought, Cali applied for the engineering job in Diamond Falls.
A part of her didn’t think she would get it, but it felt good to apply.
After filling out several applications, she grabbed her phone and logged into Instagram.
It had been ages since she was on any social media app.
She’d literally been a hermit, falling victim to the depression that wouldn’t let her go.
Cali checked her messages then went to Rio’s page.
She chuckled when she realized he hadn’t blocked her yet.
Rarely did he use this page. She did notice he had posted a story, so she tapped on it.
Seeing that it was a quote, she read it.
I reward loyalty with loyalty and disloyalty with fuck you!
A sharp pain staggered through her chest as her eyes welled with tears.
Cali would never forgive herself for what she had done to him.
Blinking away her tears, she tapped off his page then scrolled her timeline.
She noticed Irish had posted a picture of an ocean and mountains.
Immediately, she left her a comment. Friend, I miss you.
Cali kept scrolling until she saw a post from Rozalin.
She appeared to be at dinner with a man but could only see a few fingers.
Cali smiled, knowing it had been a while since Rozalin was in the dating pool.
Immediately, she hyped her up in the comments. Get it, boo!
After scrolling for a while, Cali logged out and finished her cappuccino. She looked out the window, noticing the clouds that hid the sun.
“Is that…” she mumbled, recognizing a familiar face.
Cali got up and hurried outside. “Ms. Campbell.”
The older woman turned around, wearing a look of confusion until she spotted Cali. “Oh, hey.” She beamed.
Cali felt a revival when Ruthia smiled at her. She expected a grimace or even unkind words but never a smile.
“Hey, uh, I was in the bakery and saw you. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m go—”
“Mama, you forgot to get the foil,” Deasia said before stopping in her tracks. She looked at Cali as if she was a ghost before giving her a tight-lipped smile. “What’s up, Cali?”
It was so formal and lacked the familiarity they once had. Cali didn’t blame her though. She’d broken her brother’s heart.
“Hey, Deasia. Um…” Cali cracked her knuckles, attempting to find some courage under the debris of depression. “I owe you guys an apology. I know I’m probably looked at as the opp, but I never intended for Rio to be hurt behind my actions.”
“Did you set him up?” Deasia interrogated her.
Cali’s eyes widened as her head drew back. Every time someone brought that up, it wounded her because she loved Rio too much to want to see him harmed.
“Of course not. I would never put him in harm’s way.”
“I told him that,” Ruthia said. “I didn’t think you would do that to him.”
Cali was relieved by that, but Deasia’s austere expression didn’t waver.
“I would never… I did… well. I did—”
“Cheat?” Deasia pursed her lips.
The shame that had come with her sin felt like a third-degree burn.
“Yes.” Her eyes faltered. “I did and I regret that a whole lot. Rio didn’t deserve it and… I wish I could take it all back. I swear I do.”
Deasia sucked her teeth before saying, “Mama, I’ll be in the car.”
Just like that, she had dismissed herself from Cali’s I’m sorry speech. She didn’t fault her for the lack of empathy. Cali deserved nothing from them.
“Listen, I don't condone what you did, Cali, but I won’t judge you,” Ruthia said with a maternal tone Cali didn’t know she needed. “We all make bad choices and you're not the first girl to step out on her marriage.”
A lone tear slid from Cali’s eye. Quickly swiping it away, she prayed that her depression just held off a little longer until she returned to Bria’s house.
“How is he?” Cali had been dying to know.
“He’s well.” She beamed. “Still hardheaded but that’s Rio.”
A faint smile covered her lips. God, she missed her husband. This pain had to be permanent. No remedy would cure the ache she had in her heart for Rio.
Ruthia grabbed her hand. “I’m praying for you, Cali. Truly I am. I pray that God forgives you and that you forgive yourself.”
“How is it that you don't hate me for what I did to your son?”
Ruthia beamed. “Because I remember those nights you cried and prayed for him. You can’t fake that kind of love no matter what.
I know you loved Rio. I know you didn’t mean for him to get hurt.
I know your heart, Cali. So, I can’t hate you.
God orders us not to hate each other but to have compassion. ”
She nodded, swallowing the sob that sat in her throat. “Thank you.”
“You be good now. And if you need to talk, you can still call.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Alright now. I gotta go before Deasia gets impatient. God bless you, Cali.”
“You too,” she mumbled.
Somberly, she turned around and went back inside the bakery. Deciding that she’d had enough of the outside world, Cali packed up her things and headed back to Bria’s. She wanted to crawl back into that dark hole and let depression swallow her again.