Chapter 9 #2
“Shit, I did a lot of shit. She did too but that was only a result of my bullshit. After a while, everything became toxic, so we agreed to separate.”
“Why not divorce?” Cali quizzed then adjusted her body in the stool.
Rule watched every movement she made. His hunger for her was prevalent and it undoubtedly turned her on.
“Divorce is so final, ya know. I think we both wanna make sure we gave it everything we got before we make that choice.”
“Aye, Rule, this place lit, fam,” a boisterous tall man slurred. “You gotta let me in on the next one. I’m trying to make my money make money, nah mean?”
Cali watched Rule exhale a deep breath. She didn’t know anything about him, but she knew when a man was uncomfortable.
“We’ll talk later,” he told the man, dismissively.
“Nah, I’m serious,” the man continued on. “Shit, I know you bought this place to clea—”
“Aye, what the fuck I just say!” Rule cut him off. “We’ll talk later, nigga.”
Ol’ boy nodded, raising his arms to surrender. “My bad, bruh.”
“Fuck outta here,” Rule muttered.
He hurried out of the establishment as Rule’s annoyance vanished from his features.
“My, bad, baby. Niggas don't know how to conduct themselves in front of gorgeous women.” He rubbed his lips together. “Don't think I ain't notice you got a tattoo on your ring finger either. Who dat?”
Cali chuckled, suddenly hating her impulsive decision to get Rio’s initial on her ring finger.
“This was a mistake.”
“I didn’t ask you that.” He simpered. “I said who dat?”
“…My ex-husband.”
His eyebrows rose, making Cali smile. “Oh, so you were married. See, I know what I be talking about. What you do?”
It was Cali’s turned to laugh. She was in the small percentile of women who fucked up their marriages. Initially, she had been ashamed to admit it. Now that Rio had gotten his lick back, her wound wasn’t as raw as it had been.
“I cheated.”
“Word?” he asked, surprised.
She nodded. “Yep, I cheated, he left. The end.”
“Damn.” He pulled on his chin patch. “A lot of women don't admit when they fuck up. I respect you, Cali.”
“Yeah, thanks.” She nodded, finishing her drink. “Shit happens.”
“You ain't gotta tell me that. I know shit can really happen.”
Cali spotted Elara coming through the door. She waved at her as soon as she got past security.
“Hey, boo. Sorry I’m just now getting here,” she apologized. “Traffic was so bad coming from 95.”
“It’s okay. Mr. Rule was keeping me company.”
“Oh, hey, Rule,” Elara greeted him. “I didn’t even notice you.”
“What’s up?” he acknowledged her, but his gaze was on Cali as she stood.
Cali reached into her purse and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. Rule gently grabbed her wrist.
“You don't pay for shit when you know the owner, baby.”
Blushing, she asked, “Who’s the owner?”
Rule suddenly towered over her. “I think you know the answer to your question but there is something you can give me to cancel your debt.”
Elara chuckled at their interaction. “I’m going to go grab us a seat.”
Cali nodded before she walked away. She then placed her gaze on the handsome creature before her.
“Now I have a debt with you?” She eyed his neck tattoos, wondering what their significance was.
“Yeah, give me your number and your tab is cleared.”
Cali held out her hand, and he passed her his phone. Punching in her number, she made sure to call her phone so she could have his number as well.
“You're welcome.” She smiled, handing him the phone.
“Drinks on me for the rest of the night. Enjoy, baby.”
Cali flashed him her dazzling smile then walked to the back where Elara was. She was certain her charm had locked him in. For the first time in months, Cali was looking forward to connecting with another man who wasn’t Rio.
Rio sat across from Rozalin as she ranted about her long day at the salon.
Her words had fallen on deaf ears because he had unashamedly checked out.
For weeks, he had strived to keep the flame burning in their affair, but it had burned out the moment Cali discovered their fling.
Inadvertently, Rio placed distance between them, making up reasons why he couldn’t spend time with her.
The only reason he had met her at the restaurant because she’d made him feel bad about his lack of presence.
“I didn’t tell you this but.” Rozalin paused and inhaled deeply.
“Irish came to my shop talking shit. I’m guessing Cali filled her in on everything.
” She rolled her eyes, scoffing at the notion.
“Like, I already was attacked and now I’m being harassed.
What should I do since you don't want me to go to the police?”
Rio picked up the rest of his drink and gulped it. The last thing he wanted to do was get in the middle of a beef between women. That shit wasn’t his style.
“I don't know, Rozalin.”
A sharp breath fell from her lips as her nostrils flared. She was a raging bull, seeing red and coming straight at him.
“DuRio, what’s going on because you’ve been throwing me so much shade since the fight at the beach.”
Rio could’ve copped out and assured her that they were fine.
He could’ve fed her a fallacy about them arriving at a pit stop in their relationship and assuring they would get back on the right track.
Yet, Rio didn’t want to operate like that with her.
He was a man that had to be honest with a woman who had gotten deeper than he had.
“Look, right now, it’s just been a bad time for me.” He dragged his hand down his face. “It’s a lot of shit going on. I ain’t been trying to shit on you but I am distracted.”
Her gaze drifted toward her half-eaten plate. “Is it because of Cali?”
“Why do you keep bringing her up?” he retorted.
“Because it’s no coincidence that as soon as she finds out about us, you stop hittin’ me up. My texts go unanswered for hours. I haven’t gotten flowers from you in weeks and let’s not talk about the lack of sex. I can’t even remember the last time we fucked. Just be real with me.”
Rio wanted to spare her feelings since he knew she’d developed real emotions for him. “I’m trying to be real, Rozalin,” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes before his gaze centered on her. “What you want me to say?”
“That you're still in love with Cali.”
His gaze deepened, pushing him to ruminate on that theory.
Truthfully, his love for Cali hadn’t wavered.
Instead of letting her go, Rio’s yearning intensified.
It started as a slow crawl but then it developed legs.
It grew exponentially while he cursed himself for allowing it to happen.
He’d never gotten rid of his love for her.
In the past, Rio was able to push it down his mind like dirty clothes in a hamper but now it was overflowing.
Why couldn’t he let go of the girl who’d hurt him in such a horrific way?
Maybe it was the look on her face when she realized he had been with Rozalin.
Or maybe it was the agony in her tone when she revealed he had been a neglectful husband.
Rio felt insane. Evicting Cali out of his mind was next to impossible.
She squatted inside his heart, refusing to leave.
Leaning forward, he placed his forearms on the table. His lips parted, ready to release what was on his heart but he stalled.
“What is it?” she asked, impatiently.
He sighed. “Look, I’m not over her. I haven’t been over her, but I was fighting against it.
I shouldn’t have engaged in a situationship with you.
I should've taken time after my divorce to be by myself and get her ass outta my system. It was fucked up of me to even get involved with you, considering you were her hair stylist.”
“Stop bringing that shit up,” she hissed.
“It’s the truth.”
“You don't owe her ass anything, especially when she was cheating on you. Imagine you being married to her and she was going to fuck another man.”
Rio pounded the table, rattling the silverware and bringing attention toward them. Rozalin jumped and immediately looked around at all the patrons staring at them.
“If you ever bring that shit up again, I’ma show the side of me that I’ve been hiding,” he warned. His tone was sinister, causing her to swallow hard while peering at him with expanded eyes.
“I’m… just saying,” she muttered. “Why won’t you get over someone who betrayed you?”
“Because love don't work like that. You think I wanna be stuck on her ass? Do you think I like having these feelings for Cali? Well, I don't and I should be allowed some fucking grace since I was married to her ass for over five years.”
Quickly, Rozalin burst into tears. She covered her face, bawling like she had gotten some bad news.
Maybe this was terrible news for her. Did she think they would be together forever?
Rio chuckled at that reality. Sometimes, while fucking Rozalin, he pictured Cali being the girl riding his dick.
Secretly, he’d compared Rozalin, wondering why she didn’t do certain things like Cali.
It was exhausting trying to force himself to replace Cali when her spot had never been vacant.
“You know what? Fuck this and fuck you!”
Rozalin hopped from her seat and threw a napkin on the table. Rio watched as she stormed out of the restaurant. Her heels stomped against the tile as he dug inside his pocket. Placing two-hundred-dollar bills on the table, he quickly left the restaurant and caught up to her in the parking lot.
“Rozalin, hold on! Why you doing all this extra shit?”
She turned around, her red-rimmed gaze seared into Rio with her finger pointed at him. “You're a fucking user.”
Rio’s snorted a chuckle, appalled by her accusation. “A user?”
“Yes, a fucking user! You used me to get back at Cali! I’m not no fucking pawn in your game, DuRio. I’m a woman who deserves way more respect than what you're giving me.”
“Man get the fuck outta here,” he snarled, glowering at her.
“Like you didn’t have a fucking agenda of your own.
You wanted me, so you got me. You knew I had just gotten out of a marriage.
You knew I wasn’t ready to be in anything serious, but you thought you were special.
You tried to compete with Cali, and now you salty.
It’s women like you that think you the exception, like shit ain't gon’ happen to you.
Now you wanna act like you innocent. We both got something out of this shit, so miss me with this woe-is-me act. ”
“So, you did use me?”
“Yeah, I used you to get back at Cali,” he admitted to her and himself. “It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but I liked your vibe. There.” He shrugged. “Now tell me how much of a fuck nigga I am.”
“You said it, not me,” she countered.
“I can own my shit, Rozalin. I ain't afraid to look like the bad guy but you need to admit your shit too.”
“There’s nothing to admit.” She snorted, hunching one of her shoulders.
“Wow.” He was suddenly disgusted. “I guess not, huh?”
“Look, I didn’t seek you to spite Cali. It kinda just happened. Was it wrong to go behind my client’s back? Yes, but I won’t apologize for it. I just hate that you led me to believe that we would be together.”
“How did you figure that?”
He braced himself after Rozalin cocked her head.
“You sending flowers, fucking me like you love me. Making sure to send me lunch when my day is busy. We had several date nights and you even said that I was your type of girl. Don't act like I was in this situation all alone. You led me on, DuRio, and you know it.”
Words had suddenly fled from him. He tried to combat her claims yet they were true.
In the moment, he wanted to do something nice.
Sending flowers wasn’t shit to him. He had a standing order with the floral shop.
DoorDashing food was a common gesture and fucking her was a benefit for both of them.
He’d had some blind spots and now he stood there regretting them.
“Fuck it!” she spat. “We don't even have to go down this road. I’m done.”
Rio wanted to grab her and confess that he was wrong for how he had handled her but pride sat on his shoulder, bribing him not to do it.
She stalked away, stepping hard against the pavement as he drug his hand down his face.
Frustratedly, he turned around and entered the restaurant.
Heading for the bar, Rio took a seat and pulled out his phone.
He thought sending Rozalin a text would suffice but when he thought of what he’d say, he had no words.
“What can I get for you?” the bartender asked.
“Shot of Don Julio on the rocks.”
He nodded and went to make his drink. While Rio waited, he tapped on the Instagram app and noticed the first story was Cali’s.
He swiftly tapped on it. His brows jumped when he saw the picture of her.
She stole his breath as he peered at what used to be his.
With his finger pressed against the screen, pausing the video, Rio took in every detail of her as if he hadn’t explored her body for the last five years.
Why did it seem as if she was a new person?
Why were his eyes finding new things to obsess over.
Like how captivating her eyes were or how her hips had spread, making her dress look as if it was painted on.
“Here you are.” The bartender sat his drink down.
Rio swallowed hard, tapping on the next story.
Her face was angled, giving a sultry view of her high cheekbones.
Grabbing his glass, Rio sipped and tapped on the next one.
It was a picture of a drink with a hookah set up.
Rio locked his screen and sat in his puddle of emotions.
Some of them were abhorrence for the woman who broke his heart but the love he possessed for Cali was so prevalent.
It was potent, weakening his hatred for her.
Rio should've been moving on with his life. Instead, he sat sulking, wishing the woman he still loved hadn’t left him behind.