Chapter 16 #2
He held her shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes. “This is forever for me. I don't want nobody else. Just you. I’m so sure about this shit that I’m not even making you sign a prenup. I’m going all in, and I need to know if you're on the same type of time.”
Irish was overwhelmed as she swallowed hard. Noble had put all of his chips on the table. He was taking a gamble on their love. She appreciated his efforts and made a vow to take the risk as well.
“I’m all in. You know that.”
A crooked grin graced his lips. “A’ight, ain't no going back. If you don't want this, walk away now ‘cause I’m not letting you go ever.”
This would’ve been a great time for Irish to back away from the table.
They’d started off wrong by sneaking and withholding their feelings from the world.
Irish had played with her first marriage and suffered greatly from Jovanis’ death.
These should've been red flags but Irish was in too deep. She had been infected with a man called Noble and unashamedly, she didn’t want to cure it.
“I want this. I’m ready to be Mrs. St. Anthony.”
He nodded, licking his lips. “Come on. Let’s go get married.”
Watching Noble and Irish become one caused Cali to encounter a flood of emotions.
She was so overjoyed for them as they each repeated I do’s.
Everything about the scenic view provided the perfect setting for lovers.
They were a match that only God could take praise for.
Their love was inspiring and authentically theirs.
Cali glanced at Ivory, who dabbed her wet eyes with tissues. “You owe me.”
Ivory bumped her shoulder. “You knew I would cry first.”
Cali chuckled lowly and tuned back into Irish and Noble.
They exchanged rings, making Cali revert to her memory.
Witnessing this took her back to when she and Rio had married.
It was a big production with flowers flown in from California and a dress that came equipped with a ten-foot train. Sadly, the love had been missing.
Now, it was ever so present. Bitterly, Cali wanted a cure.
She desired to make a clean break from Rio so she could fully move on.
Even knowing he had gotten Rozalin pregnant made her nauseous.
That reality had sourly kept her up the night before.
Pondering how he’d be permanently bonded to Rozalin caused her stomach to churn.
Their future was no more and the past was littered with their failures. Moving on was for the best.
Fuck, Cali, get your shit together.
A tear fell rapidly, prompting her to swipe it away.
One would think she was crying on behalf of Irish but that was a tear of agony.
It was one last drop before she truly made strides to rid her mind and heart of Rio.
It would take much perseverance but Cali was determined to suppress the love that wouldn’t go away.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. Sir, you may kiss your bride.”
“Woo!” Ivory yelled, breaking Cali out of her feelings.
Swiftly, she hopped up and started clapping. The boys jumped up and down as Noble consumed Irish with no regard for them.
“He about to have her walking funny tonight,” Cali joked.
Ivory snickered while holding her chest. “You did not have to say that.”
After their kiss, Noble and Irish walked down the beach with the boys following them. Cali and Ivory trailed behind, heading to the car so they could go to dinner.
“Hold on,” Cali requested when her phone vibrated. There was this feeling as she stared at the unknown number that it could be Rio. Did she want to answer and upset herself? Or should she continue on with celebrating her best friend’s wedding night?
“Um, go ‘head, I’ll catch up with y’all in a second.”
Ivory nodded and headed down the beach.
Cali inhaled a deep breath before answering the call. “Hello?”
“Damn you got me going to buy prepaid phones ‘cause you keep blocking me,” Rio complained.
She expelled a breath. “What do you want?”
“Listen.” The bass in his voice made her tune in. “Don't believe what Rozalin posted. I don't have nobody pregnant.”
“Good for you. Now is that it?” Cali was so annoyed that she’d revealed how bothered she was by that sonogram.
“No, that’s not it… Don't let this shit mess up the understanding we had, Calia. I don't wanna fight with you. I just… I’m not your opp. I know I used her to get my lick back but I wouldn’t go that far by getting her pregnant.”
“But you fucked her so there’s a chance she could be carrying your child,” she argued, looking at the crew climb into the truck.
“I’m telling you that she’s not pregnant. Just give me a chance to—”
“No, Rio. This isn’t going to work for me anymore. It’s best if we cut the cord. No more communication and no more visits. This will be best for both of us.”
“I don—”
Cali hung up and powered her phone off. Shutting Rio out completely was the only way to go if she was ever going to get over him.
One week later…
A daydream had Cali hostage as she sat in the break room at her job.
She reminisced on her time spent on Nirvana Sky Island.
Although she had to leave the night after Irish’s wedding, she still enjoyed her time.
Waking up to the sunrise and watching the ocean waves dance in sync had been the perfect getaway.
It left her with room to think about her past.
Out there on the island, Cali had officially made peace with her mistakes.
Leaving Rio behind was number one on her list. It was a must that she release him so that she could move on.
She asked God for forgiveness and left it all on the beach.
Finally, Cali forgave herself for hurting the people she loved most. The trip had been a soul cleanse that she desperately needed.
When Cali’s phone rang and she saw Enya’s name, she rolled her eyes. For a split second, she decided to ignore her but she changed her mind at the last minute.
“Hello?” she answered, unenthused.
“Cali,” she whimpered. “Can you talk?”
Within an instant, her brows furrowed. “What’s wrong with you?”
Enya sniffled. “I don’t know how to say this but… Kip has been cheating on me with some bitch. Can you believe he has another family in fucking Emerald Village? My child won’t even be his first one because he already has a two-year-old daughter.”
Cali’s eyes broadened as she covered her mouth with her hand.
Kip had been deemed the good guy by the family.
He was the one her dad took under his wing and taught how to move about within the mob.
Everyone made such a big deal about him, including Enya, but Cali hadn’t been fooled.
She saw right through his persona and knew he was up to no good.
Men that liked to portray themselves as good men were the worst humans.
“Hold on for a second,” Cali requested then muted her phone.
She burst into a fit of laughter, in disbelief of how karma had come to pay her sister a visit.
For years, Enya taunted Cali whenever she got the chance.
Instead of uplifting, Enya chose to chastise and be judgmental.
Cali couldn’t find an ounce of sympathy for her sister when she had been her biggest opp.
“Girl what’s so funny?” Elara asked, entering the breakroom.
“Oh, nothing. Somebody is finally getting their karma, that’s it.” Cali chuckled.
“You're a mess.” Elara laughed and walked out the room.
Quickly, Cali resumed her call. “Okay, I’m back, so you said that nigga got his real family in Emerald Village?”
“Real family? Why would you say that?” Enya asked, defensively.
“I mean, he got the girl and created life with her.”
“I’m his fucking wife, Cali. I know you don't know what a wife means but I got the ring.”
“See, bitch, that’s why I don't feel bad for you,” Cali snarled. “You always throwing shade now look at your dumb ass. Crying because your man’s been cheating on you. You actually deserve this.”
Enya gasped in her dramatic fashion. “How dare you? No woman deserves to be cheated on.”
“I’m not saying you deserved to be cheated on but you deserve this pain.
Your inconsiderate ass has been a nuisance to everyone in this family.
You offer no support or compassion. You will literally see someone down and decide to beat them down even more.
You think because you're honest that your words don't hurt but they do. When I was depressed, you did nothing to help me out of that black hole so fuck your pain.”
“I did help you,” Enya argued. “I came and checked on you. We even went to the spa.”
“You still were an evil bitch that didn’t choose your words carefully. Just face it, Enya. You're a bitch, and I’m glad that Kip humbled your wanna be perfect ass.”
“Wow,” Enya uttered. “That’s such a heinous thing to say to a pregnant woman who just found out her husband is having an affair and already has a child.”
Cali allowed her to cry before she sighed loudly. “All this crying ain't gon’ solve shit. Now, what are you going to do about it?”
“What do you think I'm going to do? I’m leaving his punk-ass.”
Cali snorted. “Well, good luck, sista.”
“You know, you and Bria are some of the worst sisters ever. I call to gain some kind of consolation and you two act like I just told y’all about a walk in the park. This is my life, Cali. My marriage is ending and all you have to say is good luck?”
Looking at her nails, Cali was so unmoved by Enya’s pain. Who cared that her husband had cheated on her? To Cali, people got cheated on every day. What made Enya so special that she thought the world was supposed to stop because of her husband’s infidelity?
“What else do you want me to say? Maybe you should've been paying more attention to your husband than portraying that you're in a healthy marriage.”
“You know what? Fuck you, Cali. The next time you fuck up because we know you will, I won’t be there to help you through it. I’m gonna watch you drown in grief while I laugh in your face, bitch.”