Chapter 8 #3
“Nah.” He grabbed her, pulling her into his chest. “You owe me.”
Irish’s head fell back before she cackled. “Owe you what?”
“More pussy. You can’t just fuck a nigga like that then leave. Have some respect.”
She was clearly amused by his dry begging. “Noble, please. I would stay longer but I gotta go let my sister in. You understand, right?”
Of course, he understood but Noble didn’t want to be logical at the moment. He wanted to be selfish and keep Irish there all night long so he could fuck her until the sun broke through the skyline.
She didn’t wait for a reply from him. She only met his lips with hers, creating more yearning for her.
“Go handle your business,” he told her.
It pained Noble to say that, but she had priorities, and he didn’t want to disrupt them, especially when she officially wasn’t his. He watched her get dressed and grab her purse from the couch.
“I really enjoyed you tonight, Noble.”
Irish had transform back to his sweet girl as she smiled at him. There was a gentle side, and he had just discovered her naughty side. Noble preferred both, now that he had been introduced.
“I enjoyed you too. You want me to walk you down?”
Shaking her head, she replied, “No, I’m okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“No, hit me when you get home so I can know you made it safely.”
She blushed before kissing his lips again. Noble grabbed ahold of her waist, pulling her into his lean frame. He didn’t want to let go as his tongue slithered into her mouth. Reluctantly, he pulled back and pecked her lips once more.
“Go ‘head.”
“Bye, Noble.”
He regretfully watched her walk out his condo before he plopped down on his couch and thought about the ways Irish had snatched his soul.
“We are going to start weaning him off the ventilator.”
Cali rushed over to the doctor along with Ruthia and Deasia.
“What does that mean?” Ruthia asked.
“It means he is recovering enough to start breathing on his own. X-rays show lung function, and he does have brain activity. He’s not ready to be removed from the ventilator just yet but he is showing signs of possibly breathing without it.”
“Hallelujah!” Ruthia raised her hands in the air, praising God.
Cali immediately clasped her hands together and said a quick prayer. It had been close to three weeks since Rio was hospitalized, and she had almost lost her faith. Praying relentlessly and not receiving any sign from God that He would save Rio had become exhausting up until now.
“So, my brother is going to be okay?” Deasia asked.
“I can’t promise you that, but we are going to wean him little by little off the ventilator machine,” the doctor assured.
Slime and Cee had been there every day, awaiting some kind of sign that Rio would be okay. They too smiled at the news the doctor had given.
“Bro gon’ come out of this shit,” Cee stated with confidence.
“On God,” Slime agreed.
“I’ll have the nurse come in and check his vitals. I’ll be back in a bit.”
The doctor walked out just as Ruthia began her worship session. Every day like clockwork, she thanked God for hours, trying to conjure up His power to save Rio.
“I’m about to go call my cousins and let them know the news,” Deasia announced, grabbing her bag.
Cali nodded and stepped over to where Cee and Slime were.
“You need anything, sis? Rio told us to take care of you if anything happened to him,” Cee told her.
Her brows knitted right away. “He told you that?”
“Yeah,” Slime answered. “He gave us a list of shit to do too with his anal ass.”
Cali cocked her head. “A list like what?”
“Shit, make sure your gas tank was full. Get the grass cut, and send you flowers every week. Small shit.”
Cali was so taken aback by their revelation that her eyes suddenly were foggy. Everything about it made her stomach sour because she hadn’t deserved Rio at all.
“What you crying for?” Slime asked as if she had sprouted two heads. “You that man’s wife. You know he was gon’ make sure you were good.”
“But why would he tell you to do that?” She sniffled. “Was he expecting to die or something?”
“Naw but you know the kinda life a nigga living ain't safe. Shit bound to happen for niggas like us, sis.”
Cali shook her head, finding their confession to be so heartbreaking.
This man really did love me, and I didn’t deserve any of it…
“So, do you need anything?” Cee asked once more.
Shaking her head, she answered, “No, not at the moment. I just want y’all to keep coming here to talk to him. I’m praying that Rio hears us when we’re talking to him. That way he can have something to hold onto.”
Slime touched her shoulder. “We got you, Cali. We about to dip and check up on some shit. We’ll be back later on.”
She nodded and watched them say their goodbyes to Ruthia and Deasia. Cali needed a minute to herself. She had been cooped up inside the hospital room, crying and praying relentlessly.
“I’m going to the cafeteria,” she announced, grabbing her phone.
“Okay,” Ruthia conceded, rubbing his forehead.
Walking out the room, Cali boarded the elevator.
On the way down to the cafeteria, she inhaled a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
These days had been passing her by so fast that she didn’t realize it was the weekend.
Normally, they would be spent with her going to get her hair done and meeting up with Braye.
Now, she was confined to a hospital room, inhaling the smell of death while fighting to keep her sanity.
What would she do if Rio didn’t make a full recovery?
How would she live with herself knowing she’d planned to end her marriage while Rio was fighting for his life?
Cali was wrecked with so much guilt that her heart was hollow.
What was once a woman with high self-esteem was a person who could barely live with herself.
The elevator doors opened, and Cali walked toward the cafeteria. Nothing looked appetizing and despite her not having an appetite, she figured soup would suffice. After ordering it, she grabbed a tray and took a seat near the window. As soon as she took the top off her soup, her phone rang.
Cali swallowed hard when she spotted Braye’s name on her screen. He had been blowing her up for the last three weeks. She hadn’t had time to talk to him, considering Rio’s condition. Now that she was alone, she felt he was owed an explanation for her disappearance.
“Hello?”
“Got damn.” He huffed with relief. “Where the fuck you been at? I've been calling you for the last three weeks.”
A short breath flowed from her nose as she propped one of her elbows on the table.
“I had a family emergency. That’s why I’ve been MIA.”
“And you couldn’t tell me that?” he snapped. “You act like it would’ve killed you to send me a text. What the fuck, Calia?”
“I know, I should’ve said something, but I’m dealing with a lot here, so excuse the fuck outta me for not putting you first.” She matched his energy since she was in no mood to be chastised by Braye when her husband was fighting for his life.
The phone had become so silent that she had to see if he was still on the line.
“My bad.” His voice softened. “I was worried, baby. Disappearing on me like that when you promised it would be me and you had a nigga fucked up. Everything all good?”
“No, my husband was in an accident. He’s on life support.”
The line went silent again. “Damn, what kind of accident?”
Clearing her throat, she confirmed, “A car accident. It was pretty bad. I’ve been at the hospital hoping that he shows signs of waking up.”
“That’s fucked up.” Braye seemed to sympathize with her. “So, now what? You gon’ take him off or nah?”
Cali’s features contorted into a scowl. “No, of course not. I’m hoping he comes out of this alive.”
“I mean, I understand. You don't want a nigga to die… I gotta ask though. What does this mean for us?”
Her upper lip curled immediately. “As far as what?”
“Me and you.”
Cali rolled her eyes, trying her best to keep her attitude from emerging. “I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m trying to keep it together for my family.”
“So, just fuck our plans then, huh?”
Cali gawked, taken aback by Braye’s selfishness. “Did you not just hear me tell you that my fucking husband is clinging to life? What aren’t you getting about that?”
“I heard you, but don't act like you didn’t promise me it would be us. You did say that shit, Calia.”
“Well, plans changed. I can’t leave my husband in a hospital when there’s a big possibility he won’t make it. What kind of woman do you take me for?”
Cali was extremely turned off by Braye’s insistence to hold her to a promise when Rio could die at any second. She didn’t expect him to have compassion for her husband, but she at least thought he would extend it to her.
“Now you high and mighty all of a sudden?” He scoffed. “Fuck outta here. You are the same woman that led me on for three years. Don't act like you this down-ass bitch all of a sudden.”
“Yeah, bitch! I’m high and mighty for my fucking husband. The fuck you thought.”
“Bitch?” he repeated. “I’ll come up there and make sure you get a room next to that nigga of yours. Don't ever disrespect me, Calia.”
“Fuck you!”
Cali ended the call and placed her phone on do not disturb. She was so bothered by her phone call with Braye that she pushed her soup away.
“Selfish-ass nigga.”
It was funny how the tides had turned in her life.
Three weeks ago, Braye had been the love of her life.
They’d made plans to ride into happiness and be blissful together.
Within twenty-one days, their bond had been severed by a tragedy that ripped through Cali’s heart.
Although her choice had been made, Cali was forced to make an addendum.
New conditions had arose, and her obvious choice had to be Rio.
“There you are.” Irish beamed at her as she strutted toward her. “Ms. Ruthia said you were in the cafeteria.”
When Cali spotted Irish coming toward the table, she immediately stood and fell into her arms. Suddenly, Irish’s embrace felt like the safest place on earth.
“Hey, it’s okay,” she soothed Cali, rubbing her back.
Cali didn’t believe that though. Nothing would ever be okay in her perspective.
“No, it’s not.” She pulled back, wiping her wet eyes. “I just had to curse Braye the fuck out.”
Irish’s eyes expanded. “Let’s sit and you tell me all about it.”
The two took a seat at the table. Cali grabbed a napkin and dabbed her cheeks.
“He’s so fucking inconsiderate. I told him what happened to Rio and his ass is still asking about us. Like I’m supposed to say fuck my husband and run into his arms.”
Irish had a crinkle in her nose when she said, “What the hell kinda man is he? Did you tell him that Rio is on life support?”
“Yes, I told him!” she snapped, becoming irate all over again. “He don't give a fuck… I swear if Rio makes it out of this shit, I will never look at another man again.”
“So, your choice has changed? You don't want Braye anymore?”
Cali sniffled, trying to put together the words to answer her question.
“I don't know, Irish. This situation has truly changed my perspective. I was living so foul before. Just being selfish for no fucking reason. I didn’t give my marriage a chance. Just went about doing my own thing like Rio wouldn’t be affected by it…
” She paused for a second. “I’ve had so much to think about during this time in the hospital.
I don't know, maybe God sent me a warning.”
“What do you mean?”
“To shift my focus back on my husband. You know how I was moving before. Barely wanted to spend time with Rio because I was so consumed with Braye. Don't get me wrong, my love for Braye hasn’t left but my love for Rio has increased drastically… Do you know he prepped Cee and Slime to take care of me in case something happened to him?”
“I mean, this is Rio we’re talking about. He always made sure you were good. I don't know if you were too wrapped up in Braye to see it, but he’s always been about you, Cali.”
That made an ache sit in the middle of her throat.
She was so undeserving. So unworthy of Rio.
Why did it take this tribulation to see the type of man she had?
Her eyes had been shielded with glasses of lust and now that they had been snatched off her face, she’d been forced to see her reality.
The one where Rio was the man who loved her beyond comprehension.
“You know they say God works in mysterious ways,” Irish noted. “Maybe this was your sign to end things with Braye and really focus on your marriage.”
Nodding, Cali sighed. “I think so, too.”
Irish grabbed her hand. “Well, just pray for forgiveness and be present for Rio. In the meantime, let’s get something on your stomach.” She slid the tray in front of Cali. “You really need to eat something.”
A small smile covered her lips. “Thank you for being here, Irish. I don't know what I would do without you.”
“Oh, honey, you’ll never know. Now eat up.”