Chapter 13 #2
Cali gave him a fake smile before rolling her eyes. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass to put her flowers in. Despite the person who delivered them, they were a stunning bouquet.
Rio put his hands inside his pockets and slowly walked over to the island. “So, what you do today?”
While she adjusted the stems, she wondered if she wanted to join Rio in this dance.
Cali had literally moved away from St. Parklynn because of Rio.
The pain of their breakup had become too much to bear.
Now here he was, asking about her day when she wanted nothing more than to keep the distance between them.
She was too tender to be in his presence.
Her heart still belonged to him even after the pain they’d both caused each other.
Cali was strong when she wasn’t in Rio’s presence.
Yet when he was in front of her smelling like a god, she knew she would fold.
“You don't hear me?”
Her irritated gaze landed on him. “Rio, seriously, why did you come here?”
A deep sigh push from his nostrils. There was a hint of nervousness in his eyes that Cali spotted. Initially, he appeared confident but she knew him best. He was anxious.
“Can you have a drink with me for your birthday?”
She snorted. “I already had a drink.”
He angled his head. “Can you have another one… so we can talk? I feel like we haven’t had a civilized conversation without all these emotions. I just wanna holla at you, Cali.”
She exhaled before nodding. “I think it’s a bar down the street. We can go there.”
He nodded. “Cool. Let’s go.”
Got damn.
Rio had never seen anything more beautiful than the woman that sat across from him.
Cali’s face had to be one of reference when girls went to get plastic surgery.
Her eyes mixed with her cheekbones and pouty lips were a dangerous combination.
The dress she wore clung to her curvy frame with cut outs that gave a sneak peek of her cacao skin.
Had Cali always been this beautiful? Rio knew the answer but damn did she not shine in front of him.
Maybe he had taken her for granted or he may have become used to her efforts of looking like a goddess.
Rio ashamedly hadn’t appreciated his wife the way that he should have.
That had been a truth he had avoided taking accountability of until now.
“I wanna apologize…” he began, his gaze centered on the double shot of Remy that was in front of him.
“Wow, you apologizing? I’m shocked,” Cali said, sarcastically.
His stare finally met hers. “I’m serious. I owe you one because I didn’t realize I hadn’t been that great of a husband.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat but didn’t respond to him.
“I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do. I spoiled you and made sure you had whatever you wanted. I didn’t realize I had been neglecting you with my time, though.
I thought you understood my lifestyle because you grew up with your pops doing the same shit.
I never took time to figure out what it was that you needed.
In a way, I was selfish with my time. When I used to cancel our plans, I didn’t think about how it would make you feel.
Shit, I just figured you knew the lifestyle I lived and you would understand.
I took you for granted, Cali, and I’m sorry about that. ”
Cali took a huge gulp of her drink and exhaled deeply. “I don't think we ever…” she stalled. “…I don't think we had a good marriage. You did your dirt—”
“Oh, about that,” he interrupted her. “I fucked up. I’m sorry for dippin’ with my ex when we first got married. I shouldn’t have done that, and I was wrong.”
Pressing her lips together. “Were you ever going to confess to that if I didn’t let you know that I was aware of you cheating?”
Rio nibbled on his bottom lip while the truth and lie battled on his tongue.
“Honestly, no. In my head, I chalked it up to something trivial because we had just got married and our feelings weren’t involved.”
“Mine were,” she revealed.
His eyes narrowed a bit. “I don't believe that.”
“It’s true.” She rubbed her pouty lips together.
“I appreciated the way you took care of your mom and sister. They revered you in the highest regard and it made me wonder. When we first got married, you were very kind and honest—well, at least I thought that.” She smirked.
“But I started liking you because of the way you respected other people. It wasn’t fake or performative either.
You were genuine and I started coming around to the idea of you being a person I could love. ”
Rio would’ve rather Cali taken a knife to his chest than this. Why were his blind spots so blind? How was he able to live like Cali was just a plus one and not his better half? Rio had fucked up right along with her. They’d both destroyed the very thing that was supposed to be sacred.
When his phone chimed on the table, he looked at the screen.
Rozalin: I can’t get over how you used me. You really have me looking like a fool and for what? Cuz Cali found out. The bitch who cheated on you. She had a nigga trying to kill you and you care about her opinion. Fuck you, Rio.
Rio shook his head and locked his screen. The last time he had spoken to Rozalin was the night at the restaurant. She wanted to have another conversation and although he had agreed, Rio canceled on her when he made the decision to get on a plane to see Cali.
“I didn’t know that,” he muttered.
“Well, now you do.”
An old blues record played softly in the background as they retreated to their thoughts.
There was so much mess to clean up but Rio honestly didn’t want to.
If they were to wipe their slate clean, he knew it would be the end of this communication between them.
Admittedly, he wasn’t ready to part ways with Cali just yet.
Yes, they had divorced and of course, they hated each other, but there was still so much love in their cup—at least for Rio it was.
“You said something to me that’s been bothering the shit outta me.”
“What?” Cali asked.
“You said you were going to leave me before the accident. You for real about that?”
She bobbed her head.
“Damn.” He rubbed his hand down his face, trying his best to swallow her truth.
“Your absence became too much for me, Rio,” she confessed.
“I didn’t wanna keep living by myself. I know what you're a part of. I know that TLM is supposed to come before everything but five years of being second took its toll on me…” Rubbing her eyebrow, she confessed, “Before I say this, I’m not blaming you but, it’s one of the reasons I stepped out of the marriage.
He gave me the attention that you didn’t. ”
Rio’s jaw clenched before finishing his Remy.
He would need another shot to continue this conversation.
Without saying a word, he got up and walked over to the bar to order another drink.
The bitterness from Cali’s betrayal had emerged from the darkness.
It smiled at him, ready to make a grand entrance but Rio fought it.
He hadn’t come all the way up North to fight with Cali. He wanted peace only.
As soon as the bartender made his drink, he returned to the booth where Cali was texting. The subtle smirk on her lips pushed him to think she was entertaining another man.
“Who is that? Your new nigga?”
Her stare pierced him before showing the phone screen. “For your information, it’s Irish asking how the talk is going.”
“You ain't have to show me that.”
“Actually, I did ‘cause you seem to think I’m a hoe and will give my pussy up to any man.”
Rio simpered at her attitude. “So you telling me that man that you took a picture with is nobody?”
“What man?” She scrunched her face.
“The nigga’s arm that was in your picture. Or you have that many on your roster that you can’t remember?”
“Oh, that.” She gave him a careless hand wave. “That wasn’t anything special.”
“Yeah, I bet.” He sipped his drink, attempting to flush images of Cali with another man from his mind.
“So.” She propped her hand on the table. “Did the fire blow out with you and Rozalin?”
Rio sank into his seat while taking in the details of her beautiful face. He knew most of her countenance but there were subtle things he rediscovered. Like how her cheek had a subtle dimple or the line in the middle of her bottom lip that made them poutier.
“I really don't want to talk about her. That was just something to do.”
“To get back at me, right?”
It was time to confess it to Cali since he had done it for Rozalin.
“Yeah, I did it to get back at you.”
She shook her head. “Your vindictive ass.”
“But I didn’t go after her, though. She approached me. Hell, she knew who I was when I didn’t know who she was.”
“Because she’s a desperate hoe and you fell for it. But whatever.” She hunched a shoulder, finishing her drink. “That shit ain't my business.”
Rio had to change the subject before they both fell into their comfort zone which was arguing.
“So, how you doing? You know, being in a new city.”
A smile surfaced on her lips, making him feel like puddy.
“I feel good. I’ve met some great people and I like my job. There’s so much to do here, and I’m determined to try everything.” She smiled. “St. Parklynn had become too dark for me. It’s like I couldn’t escape the mistakes I made.” Sighing, she continued, “I like it here, though.”
“It’s cold as hell up here.”
She twisted her lips. “Rio, it’s chilly not cold. You just a Florida boy who’s used to that hot-ass sun.”
“Maybe so.” He checked his surroundings then returned his attention back to her. “But I guess it’s cool. So you here for good?”
Silently, Cali pondered. “Possibly. I don't know. We’ll see how the first year goes.”
Suddenly, a somber feeling Rio couldn’t name overcame him. Cali had been a part of his existence for over five years. He had gotten used to her being in his life. Knowing she wasn’t in the same city as him left him glum.
“I’m happy for you.”