Nineteen #2
She took one step but paused when Rozalin wrapped her arms around a neck. That neck was so familiar that Cali still smelled his scent.
“What the fuck?” she whispered.
“Is that Rio?” Bria asked her.
Cali couldn’t answer. She only stared at the exchange that was too close for her liking. When Rozalin pulled back, she gazed into Rio’s eyes, inciting a dazzling grin. His hands roamed down her ass, cuffing it like it was his territory.
“Wow.” Cali was as stiff as a mannequin.
Her man had moved on. She knew that fact would be inevitable, but she never suspected Rozalin would be the girl.
She considered her a friend and had even done her hair for her wedding.
How could she move about like this? Cali had shared intimate details about her marriage once upon a time.
Rozalin was aware of how damaged Cali had been after her divorce.
Now here she was, kissing her ex-husband like she wasn’t her friend.
“I’m about to fuck this hoe up!” Cali rushed toward them, knocking over anyone who was in her path.
“Cali, wait! Don't!” Bria yelled behind her.
There was no waiting; her common sense had snuck out the back door, inviting her rage inside. Cali needed answers, and she needed blood. She didn’t care who it came from. All she knew was that somebody was about to get fucked up.
Irish sat on the bench, peering at the water as she awaited Jovanis’ arrival.
All day, her nerves had been in a frenzy, reciting what she would say to him.
A part of her wanted to let him down easy but then she wanted to rip the Band Aid off.
They were grown adults. She shouldn’t have had to tiptoe around his feelings.
However, he still was her protector. A man who went through great lengths to display how much he loved her.
Irish knew she owed him grace as well as respect.
The sounds of a trunk rattling brought her attention to the parking lot.
Jovanis always had to have subwoofers inside his car.
He’d play his music at excessive levels, causing her to complain.
He got out the car, looking around before ambling toward her.
She inhaled deeply then pushed out a breath that could’ve blown a house down.
Jovanis reached the bench and took a seat without greeting Irish. She looked into his reddened eyes, suspecting him of being high. The only time he really smoked was when he was stressed.
“How are you?”
“What you think?” he asked, sarcastically. “Life’s been great.”
“I’m serious, Van. I really wanna know.”
“Oh, word?” His brows lifted. “You wanna know how I’m doing all of a sudden? If you truly wanted to know how I’ve been, you could’ve picked up the fucking phone, Irish.”
Nodding, she understood his perspective. “I wasn’t dodging you on purpose. I just needed space.”
“Or you needed to run back to Noble’s bitch-ass.”
“I know you think that was the case, but I needed time away from you. You wouldn’t let me go, Van, so I took it. I know it wasn’t right to ignore you, but I felt that I did what’s best.”
He shook his head, scoffing at her explanation. “You're selfish, Irish.”
“And you're not?” she retorted, looking him up and down.
“I never said I wasn’t, but me and you made promises to each other. I expected you to keep them.”
“Well, promises are meant to be broken.”
Jovanis scratched through his nest of locs that were piled on top of his head. “I never imagined you not being in my life, Irish.”
“And you don't have to. I told you I would always be there for you.”
“Until Noble came through.” He smirked. “When that nigga came into your life, you switched up on me. And don't say that you didn’t.”
Irish couldn’t deny his claim. Noble was a hurricane. He came into her existence and blew what she thought she knew with his winds. He wiped out any remnants of another man, including Jovanis.
“I’ll accept everything that you're saying.” She swallowed hard. “Maybe I did switch up when I started dealing with him, but you switched up, too.”
“How?” His angry eyes seared into her.
“When you got with your guy, you stopped coming home. How many times I used to ask you to spend time with me? We became distant because you had gotten wrapped up in your love life. How come it’s cool when you do it but a tragedy when I do it?”
Jovanis looked away, appearing to be in deep thought. Irish didn’t have the words to convey how lonely Jovanis had made her. It lasted for almost two years. Jovanis had forgotten about Irish. He didn’t make her his top priority, which was why she didn’t care about him being hurt.
“A’ight, I can admit that I did leave you alone a lot. A nigga fell in love. Shit, I’m still in love with somebody who don't want to be with me.”
Irish grabbed his hand as he put his head down on his forearm.
The agony that Jovanis held was heartbreaking.
She rubbed the back of his neck as they sat in a silence they both needed.
Their thoughts took over, permitting them from speaking for a while.
Despite the cease in oral communication, no one knew them better than each other.
He lifted his head. “You wanna know who I fell in love with?”
Irish bobbed her head, dying to know.
“Tuck.”
Irish’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes ballooned.
“I know.” He chuckled at her reaction. “You never thought he was gay, right?”
“Hell no I never expected that from Tuck. The way he used to run through women now makes sense. Well, did he love you back?”
“Shit, I don't know. He used to tell me that he did, but he was playing with my emotions. He was fucking another nigga in TLM. I hate his bitch-ass,” he griped.
“Oh, Van, I’m sorry that happened.” She rubbed his hand. “Wait a minute. All this time that you’ve been spending away from the house and claiming you were with your guy was what? A front ‘cause Tuck has been locked up for a while now.”
Pushing out a weighted breath, he nodded.
“Yeah, I’ve been lying. I was depressed so I stayed away from you.
All those times when I told you he wants to come out was me wanting him to step out with me.
His refusal is what left me frustrated. I apologize for lying to you, Irish. I feel bad about that.”
“Wow,” she whispered, not knowing how to respond to his revelation.
“Irish, I fell hard too,” he admitted. “That nigga had me so gone, I was ready to come out the closet and be with him. I didn’t give a fuck because I had the man I loved, but he insists that he’s not gay.”
Irish’s nose wrinkled at that. “Well maybe he’s bisexual.”
“Nah, he’s in denial. Those are the worst type of men because they're fucking delusional. But I got that nigga back, so it’s fuck him forever.”
“Are you the person who put the pictures out?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I did it and I don't give a fuck. He deserve all that shit.”
“Van,” Irish scolded him. “You know that wasn’t right.”
His red-rimmed orbs cut into her. “But it’s cool for him to play with my feelings and lead me on, knowing he didn’t love me like he said?”
“I’m not excusing his behavior but it’s not right to out him. You don't know how it made that man feel. I know you're hurt but you could’ve handled it better than putting his business out for the city to clown him.”
“It’s done, Irish.” He shrugged. “I just feel like I’m not gonna find a love like that again. He was it for me.”
“You will find a love like that. You have it in me.” She smiled.
Jovanis tried to hide the smirk that formed on his lips. “It’s not the same.”
“You're right because a love like ours never end. You’ll always have me, Jovanis.”
“Does Noble know that?”
“Yes, he does.”
He snorted, gnawing on his bottom lip. “That man is gonna hurt you, Irish.”
“I don't think so.”
“He is. When he was done with Tuck, he abandoned him. When he didn’t want his wife, he got rid of her, too. He walks away from anything that doesn’t serve him.”
Irish had never thought about that angle pertaining to Noble. She hated to admit that it made her think.
“He don't know what to do with a gem like you. Niggas like him fumble good girls all the time. I’m not wishing it on you but… Noble’s gonna fuck up and when he does, I’ll be here to pick up the pieces.”
Irish had faith in her relationship with Noble. Jovanis wasn’t aware of how good he loved her. They both had taken risks to be together, and she didn’t think he would fumble her.
“So, now what?” he asked when she didn’t respond to his last statement.
“We both move on and get a divorce. I’m still your best friend, if you’ll have me.”
He sighed as his gaze cast toward the chipped wood. “I need you, Irish. Always will.”
“And you have me. I just can’t be your wife anymore. I need to stand on my own two and live life. I’m here, though. You never have to worry about me abandoning you.”
Jovanis stood and gestured for her to do the same. Irish rose from the bench and walked into his awaiting arms. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent as he kissed her forehead.
“You know you're my baby, Irish. That’ll never change.”
Drawing back, she peered into his eyes. “I know that, Van. You're my best friend and my protector. I appreciate you so much.”
Jovanis hugged her tighter and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“Make sure that man takes care of you. As a matter of fact, raise the bar on his ass.”
Irish snickered. “Sure, Van.”
“I’m serious. You deserve the very best.”
She nodded as he placed his arms on the side of him.
“I’ll see you around, Irish.”
“Don't say it like that. You’ll still see me, Van. I’m not ending our friendship, just the marriage.”
He snorted, twisting his lips. “I got a feeling your man won’t let me stay in contact, but I’ll let you lead me on. Hit me later.”
“Okay,” she sadly responded.
Her heart ached watching him walk to his car. This was the end of an era. The couple wouldn’t be connected like they once were and that reality broke Irish’s heart.
Jovanis stopped and looked back at her. “You're the greatest love a nigga ever had.”
She beamed, holding back tears. “Likewise.”
He chuckled and faced forward. Irish’s smile faded when she noticed a figure appear from the shadows. He was dressed in all black with a ski mask shielding his face.
“Oh my God! Van, watch out!”
He turned around just as the masked man raised his arm.
Gripping a gun in his hand, Irish watched in horror as her voice vanished.
Her heart stopped as her lungs held her breath captive.
Everything happened so fast but in slow motion.
The gun pressed against Jovanis’ head and within a few seconds, Irish heard the noise that would forever change her life.
Pow!
To be continued…