“Girl, play along with me. I have to make it sound like I’m not gonna have anybody without her,” Bria mumbled to Kaylona.
Cali laughed at her sister’s dramatics. “Bria, please stop the act. You act like one, I won’t have a phone. Two, like I can’t FaceTime you and three, as if I’m not going to visit.”
Bria released a melodramatic sigh. “It’s not the same but on the real, I hope you do well. I pray this is the fresh start that you need.”
“I heard about your divorce.” Kaylona’s face expressed sympathy. “So many women go through divorces every day. You're gonna get through this, boo.”
Everyone said that but Cali didn’t have the optimism to see it.
“Shoutout to the one and only, Kaylona!” the DJ yelled into the microphone.
All the people at the party cheered as Kaylona waved to the crowd.
“How about you come bless the people with those vocals?”
Kaylona grinned while shaking her head. “I’m good.”
“Girl, go.” Bria playfully pushed her. “The city wanna hear from you.”
“Kaylona! Kaylona! Kaylona!”
Cali laughed at all the people cheering her name. That had to be a good feeling knowing others enjoyed her talent so much that they’d beg for it.
“Oh, alright.” She laughed, making her way through the crowd.
Kaylona reached the DJ and he immediately put on her latest hit,If You Want It.Bria and Cali bopped in their seats, sipping on their drinks and enjoying Kaylona’s beautiful voice. Cali gazed around the crowd, witnessing how hypnotized they were by the song. Her eyes doubled back when she spotted Rozalin sitting on the other side of the party.
“Oh, look, there goes Rozalin.” Cali pointed her out.
“Are you going to say hi?”
Cali nodded, sitting her cup on the ledge. “Yeah, I’m gonna go over there.”
She took one step but paused when Rozalin wrapped her arms around a neck. That neck was so familiar that Cali still smelled his scent.
“What the fuck?” she whispered.
“Is that Rio?” Bria asked her.
Cali couldn’t answer. She only stared at the exchange that was too close for her liking. When Rozalin pulled back, she gazed into Rio’s eyes, inciting a dazzling grin. His hands roamed down her ass, cuffing it like it was his territory.
“Wow.” Cali was as stiff as a mannequin. Her man had moved on. She knew that fact would be inevitable, but she never suspected Rozalin would be the girl. She considered her a friend and had even done her hair for her wedding. How could she move about like this? Cali had shared intimate details about her marriage once upon a time. Rozalin was aware of how damagedCali had been after her divorce. Now here she was, kissing her ex-husband like she wasn’t her friend.
“I’m about to fuck this hoe up!” Cali rushed toward them, knocking over anyone who was in her path.
“Cali, wait! Don't!” Bria yelled behind her.
There was no waiting; her common sense had snuck out the back door, inviting her rage inside. Cali needed answers, and she needed blood. She didn’t care who it came from. All she knew was that somebody was about to get fucked up.
Irish sat on the bench, peering at the water as she awaited Jovanis’ arrival. All day, her nerves had been in a frenzy, reciting what she would say to him. A part of her wanted to let him down easy but then she wanted to rip the Band Aid off. They were grown adults. She shouldn’t have had to tiptoe around his feelings. However, he still was her protector. A man who went through great lengths to display how much he loved her. Irish knew she owed him grace as well as respect.
The sounds of a trunk rattling brought her attention to the parking lot. Jovanis always had to have subwoofers inside his car. He’d play his music at excessive levels, causing her to complain. He got out the car, looking around before ambling toward her. She inhaled deeply then pushed out a breath that could’ve blown a house down.
Jovanis reached the bench and took a seat without greeting Irish. She looked into his reddened eyes, suspecting him of being high. The only time he really smoked was when he was stressed.
“How are you?”
“What you think?” he asked, sarcastically. “Life’s been great.”
