Chapter 14
Fourteen
Three months later…
Mentally, life had been a breeze for Cali.
When Rio took his first breath outside of the ventilator, it felt as if God had breathed life into her.
He had given her a second chance to make her wrongs right and Cali jumped at the opportunity.
For the last three months, she aided Rio in his recovery—helping at home and making sure to take him to every doctor and physical therapy appointment.
Ruthia and Deasia tagged along when they could but for the most part, it had been Cali being the devoted wife.
She hadn’t heard from Braye, and she was thankful for that.
A part of her wished she could rewind the time and soothe the piece of his heart that she had broken.
But what good would that do? He hated her now, and she understood why.
Cali had chosen her husband over him. He would never get over that, so she left the situation alone since she didn’t have the mental capacity to make things right with him.
Cali opened the front door before Rio walked through. His gait was slow as he held on tightly to his cane. Rio didn’t move with the same urgency he once did. His actions were at a gradual pace ever since the coma. He took a seat on the recliner, leaning back as Cali sifted through the mail.
“Bills, bills, bills,” she muttered, tossing them on the table. “This is why I don't check the mail.”
Turning around, she peered at Rio who tapped on his phone.
They had just come from physical therapy and the barbershop.
His lining was sharp along with his mustache and goatee.
Despite all the turmoil he’d been through, Rio never lost his good looks.
Cali had been in heat for months but suppressed her desires due to his injuries.
She wanted to climb on top of him, and ride his manhood until she folded, but she refrained until he was better.
“You hungry? I can make you something.”
Rio eyed her skeptically, causing Cali to chortle.
“What?”
“I know a nigga was knocked out for a while, but I remember yo’ ass can’t cook.”
She doubled over laughing before retorting, “I’m not a great cook but I can whip up something easy.”
He shook his head, wearing a smirk. “Nah, I’m straight.”
“Babe,” she whined, walking over to him. Kneeling down between his legs, she peered at him. “Why won’t you let me take care of you?”
Rio leaned forward, gazing at her with his deep-set eyes. His hand cupped the side of her face, causing a heap of jitters to flutter in her belly.
“You do take care of me. Actually, you’ve been taking really good care of me, and I appreciate that shit. Niggas don't have women in their lives who are loyal like you, baby.”
Cali’s gaze drifted toward the hardwood floor, hoping the guilty feelings would stay dormant. Cali couldn’t afford to go back to the place where her disloyalty lied. The place where all of her wrongdoing waited for her to acknowledge that this new being she had turned into wasn’t always her.
“Don't,” she muttered. “I’m just doing what a wife should do. I’m not special.”
“Yeah, you are.” He pressed forward, caressing his lips against hers. It was so endearing that a light moan fell from her lips. She needed Rio so badly and only he could extinguish the fire sizzling inside her.
“You been my rock and when I get back to a hun’nid percent, I’ma do something real nice for you.”
Cali blushed, loving the feeling of falling in love with her husband. Not only did his accident disrupt their lives but it also suspended the bad behavior she had been participating in.
“Well, since you won’t let me cook for you, how about I take you to lunch? My treat.”
“Yeah, that’s cool but I’ll pay.”
Rio never liked for her to treat him to anything except pussy.
“Okay, come on.”
Helping him up from the chair, the couple walked out the house. Cali wanted to try a new Jamaican restaurant that was near the beach, so she drove there. Once seated, Cali and Rio looked at the menu while Peter Tosh’s music played in the atmosphere.
“What you feel like eating?” she asked. “I think I want some oxtails.”
“I’ll probably get some curry goat.”
Cali looked out the window, admiring the beautiful ocean waves.
Life had been so tormenting lately that she hadn’t taken time to really think about all that she’d gone through.
The endless tears and praying had worked in her favor, but Cali couldn’t help but think about the gloom that wouldn’t go away.
She didn’t think Rio’s accident was a consequence for her but more like a rebirth of a new mentality.
As if it was God’s way of grabbing her attention.
Still, there was this notion that something else had to happen to her.
Braye still needed to get some retribution for how she had played with his feelings.
“Cali.”
She blinked, focusing on Rio. “Huh?”
“I asked how you would feel about me getting back to the money?”
She groaned, not liking the idea. Now that she had almost lost him, a new fear had been unlocked. Being in the streets was risky. She was aware of that before, but the risks were higher now that Rio had suffered tremendous injuries.
“I don't know,” she answered honestly. “I don't want nothing to happen to you.”
“It won’t.”
A knowing expression covered her features. “You don't know that, Rio, and after all you’ve been through, I’m just fearful that next time, you won’t recover.”
Reaching across the table, he grabbed her hands. Before, his touch did nothing for her. Now, she yearned for it, wishing she had cherished it before his accident.
“Listen to me. Nothing will be able to take me away from you, baby. You the reason I was holding on.”
Cali’s head jerked back a bit, shocked by his revelation.
“W-what?”
“Yeah, I heard your voice. I don't know if it was actually you or I just had your voice in my head. I heard you though and you were the biggest reason I didn’t get swallowed up by that darkness.”
“I was talking to you every day. That was me.”
“Yeah, I heard you, baby, and I didn’t want to leave you behind. I almost let go a few times though. That shit got to be too much. I really can’t explain it, but I was right by death. It had a hold on me, but I kept fighting back.”
Cali was so taken aback by his words that she had to clear her throat before she broke down.
“Wow, I didn’t know you could hear me.”
He smiled. “Yeah, I heard you begging me to hold on. So, I did.”
She blinked away more tears and professed, “I love you, Rio. I may not have done a good job at showing you before, but I really do love you.”
“I know, baby.” He kissed her hand. “I love you, too.”
The waitress approached the table, interrupting the sentimental moment between the couple. Once their orders were recorded, she promised to come back right away with their drinks.
“I guess when you go back to fulfill your duties with TLM, then I should go back in the office as well.”
“About that… I was—”
“Calia, I thought that was you.”
Cali peered up at the figure standing by the table, feeling her mouth suddenly become dry.
“Oh, hey, Braye.” She swallowed hard. “How are you?”
The smirk on his face gutted her because she knew he wanted to see her squirm. Braye was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and maroon shorts with the matching Dunks. He was still handsome, but Cali had no feelings reserved for him anymore. Rio had resurged and taken them all.
“Shit, I’m straight. I miss seeing you at the office.” He smirked.
Cali’s gaze traveled to Rio, whose spidey senses had alerted him. He was always suspicious being that he lived life in the streets.
“Who dis?” he asked Cali, angling his head.
Before she could respond, Braye extended his hand toward Rio. “Oh, I’m Braye. Me and Cali used to do some work together.”
You mothafucka…
The taunting from Braye almost caused her to scream out. Why couldn’t he just leave her the fuck alone? Yes, she had hurt him but that didn’t give him a right to keep toying with her.
Reluctantly, Rio shook his hand but didn’t offer his name. Braye turned back to her, wearing a smile that said Yeah, bitch, I got you.
“So, when do you think you gon’ come back. You know, to the office.”
Cali smiled, propping her chin on her closed fist. “You know, I was thinking that I may not come back. I like being available to my husband. You know, making sure he has everything he needs. I really love being a devoted wife to him.”
Braye’s smile faded before he nodded. Cali loved seeing him defeated. She refused to let him get one up on her, especially in front of Rio.
“Yeah, I feel that.” He scraped his teeth against his bottom lip. “Say, bruh, you got a good one. She really knows how to work hard and get the job done.”
He’s such a bitch-ass nigga…
“I’ll see you around.” Braye smirked before walking away.
Rio watched until he disappeared out of the restaurant. “Who the fuck is that for real?”
Cali was nervous as she took another gulp of saliva. Taking note of her body language, she forced a smile on her face and held Rio’s hand.
“A loser I used to work with. He used to get on everybody’s nerves because he didn’t know when to shut up.”
“I don't like that nigga,” Rio confirmed. “Coming up to my fuckin’ table being friendly and shit. I didn’t like the way he was looking at you either.”
“What do you mean?” she feigned ignorance.
“Like he wanted to fuck you.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Cali laughed. “Rio, you think everybody wanna fuck me.”
“Look, I’m a man, and I know when a nigga want my lady. Watch his ass before I sit him down for good.”
“I don't need to watch him. I don't work with him anymore.”
Cali felt like a piece of shit for lying again but she couldn’t let Rio find out about her affair. It would kill him and her too.
“Good, ‘cause I ain't trying to put nobody down right now.”
“I know somebody you can put down.” She grinned.