Chapter 8
Eight
Rozalin: Hey, do you wanna catch a movie? I feel like we haven’t spent much time together lately.
Rio ignored her text and placed a big band of money in the counter machine.
His life had consisted of nothing but hustling lately.
Admittedly, ever since Cali found out about his affair with Rozalin, it seemed like the air had been sucked from their balloon.
The thrill had dissolved without notice, making Rio realize that Rozalin was in fact just a plaything to take his mind off Cali.
Honestly, the distraction didn’t work. Even when he was with Rozalin, thoughts of Cali sat on his mind, protesting on her behalf.
He couldn’t shake her—not even in his sleep.
This hold Cali had on him was one that made him feel like a fiend; as if he would have to check into rehab to detox her from his system.
How could he still be in love with someone who had inflicted the worse pain on him?
Even with him getting her back, she still invaded his life.
“Aye, was I a good husband?”
Cee and Slime paused their count to look at him.
“Nigga, what?” Slime questioned.
“You heard me. Was I a good husband to Cali?”
Cee hunched his shoulders. “Shit, I mean, yeah, to me, you was. You always made sure she was straight. Paying for whatever she wanted and upgrading her car every year. I’d say you did more than a lot of niggas do for their ol’ ladies.”
“Yeah, you was way too good to her,” Slime chimed in. “She ain't even have to work like that. That big-ass house y’all had and all the shopping sprees you was funding, I’d say you was more than good to Cali.”
Rio immediately regretted asking them that question.
It only confirmed what Cali had said in the parking lot.
Ever since her rant, he continued to reflect and compare the times when he didn’t show up for her.
There were too many to count. He’d let her down on more than a few occasions, promising to make up for his blunder when time allotted.
“Why you ask? You miss her, don't you?” Cee accused.
Rio shook his head. “She said something to me that I can’t shake. It was after she had the fight with Rozalin.”
“Damn, you just reminded me how bad she beat her ass.” Slime winced. “I ain't even know Cali had hands like that.”
“What she say to you?” Cee asked, getting back to Rio’s original point.
“She said I wasn’t…” He cleared his throat. “…a great husband. That I didn’t spend enough time with her and always canceled our plans.” Rio was so frustrated with her words, and they wouldn’t leave his mind even if he prayed them away.
“Man, she’s only trying to justify her bullshit.” Cee scornfully waved his hand. “Don't fall for that shit.”
“I thought that too but… I don't know. She got me thinking about everything.”
Slime chuckled while putting a rubber band over a stack of cash. “Cali only trying to play in your mind. She knows she was disloyal and now she’s trying to blame you for what she was doing. Her ass ain't slick at all.”
Rio wished his talk with them would have lifted his spirits, but it did the exact opposite. It left his feelings in disarray. They were jumbled like the Soul Train Scramble Board, and he couldn’t figure out what the emotion was that plagued him.
After counting the money, Cee and Slime invited Rio to the club but he declined. He needed a moment by himself so he could think. As soon as he got inside his car, he dialed his mother’s number. He needed to be vulnerable with someone, and she was the first person he thought of.
“Hello?”
Her voice provoked a faint smile to cover his lips. “What’s up, Mama?”
“Oh, hey baby. How are you? I was just thinking about you earlier.”
“I’m straight.” He sighed, dragging his hand down his face.
“Uh oh. You don't sound good. What’s wrong?”
Rio reclined his seat while trying to gather the words to express his true feelings.
“I don't know, Mama. Everything been so complicated lately. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Was I a good husband to Cali?”
“Hmm,” she contemplated. “I think you were. Now I don't think you were perfect, but I believe you both tried your best.”
He scoffed at her statement. “You really think Cali tried her best when she was out here getting fu—I mean out here being unfaithful?”
“I do. Rio, no one is perfect. You can’t hold human beings to your expectations because we all fail. Now, you tried your hardest to be the best but I’m sure you came up short.”
“Cali said I didn’t spend time with her like I wasn’t out here trying to make sure she had everything she wanted.”
A part of Rio was infuriated that she’d fixed her lips to complain about the lack of time spent together. Then, the other piece of him hated that Cali’s reality was true.
“A woman needs time, Rio. I know with the state of this world that material things mean everything. But you have to take time to nurture relationships. You can’t just throw money and expect everything to be all good. No marriage would survive that.”
“Clearly.” He snorted. “I hate that I’m even letting her words get to me. I shouldn’t even care what she’s talking about when she was the one who ruined our marriage.”
“Rio, baby, your feelings don't shut off just because the status of the marriage changed. It’s natural to still love Cali.”
“But I don't want to.”
“I know but does our heart ever really care about what it is that we want?” She tittered. “It always has its own agenda.”
Rio rubbed his tired eyes. Sleep still evaded him when he laid down at night. He either tossed and turned or sifted through the countless memories he and Cali had made.
“You been good? You need some money?”
“No, honey, I’m okay. I picked up a part-time job at the school. I’ll be working four days a week.”
Rio wished Ruthia would retire but she was an ol’ school Black woman who believed in working until she couldn’t anymore.
“A’ight, Mama. I gotta go. Hit me if you need anything.”
“Alright, baby. Bye.”
Rio ended the call and responded to a few messages.
He then went on Instagram and stopped at the first picture on his timeline.
It was Bria posing with Cali, who looked so good that he couldn’t peel his eyes away.
Her face was still the most perfect art God had ever mastered.
The black dress fit her form as if it was second skin.
Her seductive eyes always drove him to insanity.
Per usual, her pixie was on point, making Rio wish he could palm the back of her head and devour her pouty lips.
I’m wishing my sister nothing but blessings on her new journey. Diamond Falls ain't ready for you!
“The fuck?” he uttered as he read the caption again. “New journey?”
Rio’s chest tightened right away as he went to Cali’s page.
He tapped through her stories, looking at all the family who were wishing her well.
Suddenly, Rio wished he was there. He felt like he was on the outside when he’d been the one wronged.
Cali was moving on in her life. No longer did she sport the garment of depression.
It seemed like she had shed the burden of destroying their marriage.
Meanwhile, Rio felt like he was stuck in cement.
His heart couldn’t move on just yet. Cali had fucked his head up.
Not even Rozalin could distract him from the ache in his chest. Never had he adored and despised someone concurrently until he met Calia.
She’d started a fire that he couldn’t put out.
It blazed inside him, burning his insides with the love he wanted to extinguish.
Now he had to watch the woman, who still possessed his fractured heart, move away.
Rio honestly didn’t know how to remedy this situation.
Two days later…
Cali grinned so widely as she spun around.
She and her family had arrived in Diamond Falls, and she was in awe.
The city was so beautiful with vibrant art, rich Black history, and walkable neighborhoods.
Before she’d arrived, Cali had secured a loft that was ten minutes away from her job.
She stood in the empty space, admiring the brick walls and view of Downtown Diamond Falls.
“Okay, I’m officially jealous,” Bria declared, looking out the bay window. “This is so beautiful.”
Douglas tested out the lights with one hand inside his slacks. “Everything seems to be working fine. Did they have any bad reviews online, Cali?”
She jokingly rolled her eyes. “No, Dad, I told you everything checked out.”
He was always so worried about everything.
“I think this place suits you.” Cecilia smiled. “And you said the train station is two minutes away, right?”
Cali nodded. “Yep, on the days I don't wanna drive, I think I’ll catch the A train to get to my job.”
“You're not catching a train,” Douglas griped. “That’s why we’re here to get you a car today.”
Bria laughed. “You swear Cali is sixteen years old.”
“She’s a single woman in a new city by herself. I won’t rest well, knowing she’s traveling by a train. We don't know this place that well so, no, she won’t be getting on the train.”
Cali wasn’t going to argue with her father. There was no use when Douglas had his mind made up.
“You guys, I’m just so happy right now. I really think I’m going to love it here,” Cali gushed, gazing out the window.
This was exactly what she needed to mend her broken heart.
A new scenery with a new job and people who she didn’t know.
They wouldn’t know her sins. They wouldn’t judge her for her bad decisions.
Cali had a clean slate. The stains of her past wouldn’t show up in Diamond Falls.
Everyone would take her as she was and Cali looked forward to it.
“You definitely are going to thrive here,” Bria agreed. “There’s so many possibilities here for you.”
“As long as you stay out of trouble.” Douglas eyed her.
“I promise.” She raised her hand. “I’m going to be on my best behavior. No more bad decisions. I’m here to work and live just a lil’”