Two hours later…
The annoyance woke her up first before she looked around. Cali heard the buzzing from her phone against the table and lazily reached for it. Looking at the screen, she couldn’t recognize the number. She ignored it and noticed she had several missed calls from the same number. Feeling like something was wrong, she prepared to dial it back when it called her again.
“Hello?” The eerie sensation coursing through her body caused her heart rate to accelerate.
“Hello, is this a relative of DuRio Campbell?”
“Y-yes, I’m his wife. Who is this?”
“I’m a nurse in the emergency department at Charity Medical Center and it seems your husband has been in an accident.”
Cali jumped up, eyes bucking because the news had hit her like a bolt of lightning.
“Accident? What kind of accident?”
“A car accident. They’re working on him now, so I would advise you to get here as fast as you can.”
“Well, is he at least awake?”
Cali was on the verge of passing out. Dizziness had consumed her, prompting her to pinch her inner tear ducts just to gain some clarity.
“I’m unable to share that with you. That’s why I advised you to get to the hospital as quickly as you can.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
Cali’s arm dropped just as her hand released her phone. She heard the thud when it hit the hardwood floor, but it sounded so far away. Emotional agony entered her body, evoking tears to sit on the brim of her eyes. This night had planned to be an agonizing one—specifically on Rio’s behalf. Cali had no idea that it would be her on the receiving end of the barrel.
My God please let him be okay…
Six
Irish shook her head as Jovanis’ voicemail came on. After three calls with thirty minutes between each, she had arrived at the point of irritation. It was their night to go to the movies, and he had suddenly become MIA. Glancing at her appearance in the mirror, she hated how she had wasted a good outfit when Jovanis wasn’t answering her calls. All day, she had been hyped about their movie date and even grabbed them some liquor to sneak inside. It wasn’t often that Jovanis stood her up. He usually kept his word when he promised to spend time, but this had proven to be one of those rare occasions where he dropped the ball.
“This man really made me get cute to sit in the damn house,” she fussed.
Irish scrolled through her call log and stopped at Cali’s number. The nosy part of her wanted to call and see how the breakup went but she refrained from dialing her number. As badly as she wanted the details, she would allow Cali to call and update her when she was ready. Irish then tapped on her contacts and stopped at a name that made her cheeks blush.
Noble
Confliction arose within her. She wanted to be bold and call him, yet something stopped her. What would he say if he answered? Hell, what would she say to him if he did? Irishtapped out of the contact and peered forward. Her reflection showcased how unsettled she was. She wanted something different. Something that inspired her. Nothing had given her that boost that she craved. Irish had nothing to call her own and it annoyed her that it could possibly be the case in the future.
“Fuck it,” she mumbled, tapping on Noble’s name and calling him.
The first ring caused her pulse to quicken. The second ring made her stomach bubble with anticipation. By the time the third ring graced her ears, Irish was queasy. The courage she’d just possessed dissipated with each breath she exhaled. Suddenly, she felt foolish for even reaching out to him. Irish’s finger hovered over the red button until she heard his bass-filled tone.
“Hello?”
Her body froze, not sure of what to say next. Wouldheysuffice or should she explain why she dialed his number at ten o’clock at night? They had nothing to talk about. There was no history and no beginning. Just one shared conversation where Irish had revealed too much.
“Why you ain’t saying nothing? Childish-ass girl.”
Irish burst into laughter before shaking her head. She wondered if people knew Noble had a humorous side.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t know what to say.”
“A simple hello would’ve been good. What you need?”
“Why do you think I need something?” she quipped, giddy that she was on the phone with him.
