“You know what?”
Here comes the bullshit…
“You really think life is all about what you want. You act like I switch weekends often, Noble. Why are you making shit so damn difficult? I compromise for you so why can’t you do it for me? Oh, I know why. You never think about others, just your-got-damn-self. So, fucking selfish”
“I ain’t about to do this with you. You already know my word is law, so I don’t have to repeat myself. Have my son ready on Friday.”
Noble walked away, not bothering to engage further. The exhaustive conversations that Daysha forced on him were tired. She still hadn’t gotten past their divorce and although Noble carried the weight of the demise of their marriage, he refused to get in the ring with her again.
“Bria, do you think he knows?”
Cali sat in her car, heart thumping wildly while her thoughts ran amuck inside her head. She hoped her sister, Bria, would be able to soothe her nerves.
“Knows what?”
Cali smacked her lips. “You know what. Why are you acting slow today?”
“Girl, I’m tired. Those twins ran me raggedy today. I’m so glad bedtime is almost here.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s cute but get back to what I asked. You think Rio knows about Braye?”
Bria groaned. “Girl, how the hell would I know? Hell, if I had to guess, no he doesn’t.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because if he knew you were cheating on him, he would click out on you.”
Cali pondered that reality. Maybe Rio had suppressed the urge to wild out so he could get the details of her covert affair.
“Yeah, you may be right.”
“Can I be honest with you?”
Cali didn’t want honesty at this time, but she knew her sister would dispense it anyway.
“Yeah.”
“You should stop while you’re ahead. Rio is a good guy. He loves you, sis, and if he found out you’ve been creepin’ on him, he’s going to be crushed. Stop this now before it gets out of your hands.”
The smack of her lips echoed throughout the car. “Bria, you make it sound so easy. I’m in love with Braye. It’s not as simple as ending it. There are feelings involved.”
Cali didn’t mean for this affair to blossom into a garden of love. It was an escape. An underground getaway to a more fulfilling relationship. When she and Rio first married, they lacked chemistry. Their bond was strictly on paper and as a woman, Cali craved more. Intimacy was her craving, and sex was her fuel. Rio didn’t provide that initially, so she put out an Amber Alert for her feelings and Braye found it.
“Yes, I understand feelings are involved but you need to start thinking about Rio’s feelings. You’re being selfish.”
Scoffing, Cali retorted, “Coming from the girl who stepped out on her husband.”
“And why do you think I’m telling you this?” Bria countered. “You think I’m just talking out of my ass. I’ve been in your shoes and trust me, it doesn’t feel good knowing you hurt your spouse.”
Cali had been so caught up in her rapture of passion, that Rio’s feelings hadn’t been considered much.
“But I don’t care. Do what you want.”
Laughing, Cali said, “You do care. Stop acting like you don’t.”
“Actually, I really don’t.”
“Whatever. Let me go in this house and see what we need to talk about. I’ll talk to you later. Oh, and tell Koda and Dallas that Auntie misses them.”
