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“She didn’t want you to move out.”
“She didn’t care so much about me moving out as she did about how I could afford to do it.”
“Oh…” Cali’s eyes met his.
“What about you? You close with your parents?” He noticed the hesitation and his scowl was back. “What’s that look for?”
“I don’t know my biological parents. They left and never looked back. Didn’t care enough to give the option of us finding them when we got older. Conner and I were adopted though and they did the best they could.”
“What’s that mean?” Cali felt his protective nature surfacing in a way that felt dangerous and relentless.
“They couldn’t have children. Tried and failed enough times to give adoption a try. I think initially they thought it could work. That we could replace the children they wanted but couldn’t have. But eventually they realized we weren’t a substitute.”
“What did they do…” War’s expression was hard and a deadly energy began pulsing around him.
“Nothing bad. They were good to us. We had a good life, almost everything we wanted, but they treated us like an obligation. No warmth or affection, forced smiles and care. I didn’t really understand it until I was older. They were good people who felt slighted by life and couldn’t love us because we weren’t theirs. They call twice a year. Christmas and birthdays. Or at least they usually do.” Cali frowned, realizing she hadn’t heard from either of her parents for her birthday. It slipped her mind since War had her occupied. “I haven’t seen them in almost a year and don’t plan on it. We don’t fit in their lives and they don’t fit in ours.” She shrugged as if unbothered but War sensed the truth. Cali felt unloved. He wasn’t sure if she had ever been loved properly, by her parents, by Merritt, shit, by anybody.
He moved his chair closer and lowered his face so their eyes leveled. “You gonna let me make it up to you?”
“What?”
“Everything.”
“Everything?” She frowned and he nodded.
“Repair what they damaged. Provide what they never gave. You gonna let me be the right for all the wrong you’ve been subjected to, Cali? Clearly you survived, but you still had to carry that shit. I want to make it right, and not just with them, but with every fucking body who didn’t love you properly. You gonna let me do that?”
“What makes you think you can…” Her eyes met his and he smiled.
“Because it’s a need, not a want and when you need something, there’s nothing you won’t do to have it. I’ll give everything that I am to make you happy, but you gotta be willing to let me. Can I get that?”
She nodded and a smile surfaced slowly. “You can get whatever you want.”
He chuckled, gripped her chin, and allowed his mouth to meet hers. “You better be careful about what you offer. I’m the type of nigga who will hold those promises hostage.”
“I know.” She kissed him softly. “Which is why I said it.”
“Come take a ride with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“To meet my mother.”
“What…” Cali’s eyes stretched wide. “Why?”
“Because my sister has a big ass mouth and now she wants to meet you.”
He hadn’t planned on making that trip today but he sensed Cali needed all he had to offer. His mother was a part of that. If she needed love, she would get it. From not just him but his family too. That started immediately.
“But do we have to go today?”
“Nah, we don’t but if not, I’mma have to tell her you declined the offer.”
She narrowed her eyes but he was already up and moving.
Shit, I guess I’m meeting his mother.
“Cali, you have kids?” While Cali’s eyes expanded in surprise, War groaned, knowing exactly where his mother planned on taking the conversation.
