Rio looked to his left and saw a pretty girl with faux locs and dramatic eyelashes. He knew by her smile that she was way too young for his liking. Besides, he loved women with short hair.
“I’m straight.”
“Bruh, you’ve been acting pussy with the females,” Slime slurred. “Grab you one of these hoes and get busy.”
Rio snarled. “Shut your drunk ass up. You don't tell me what to do, nigga.”
Slime lifted his hand in surrender. “I’m just saying. I ain't seen you with no broad since you and Cali broke up.”
Unbeknownst to his crew, Rio had dibbled and dabbled in a few women since his divorce. When he felt that urge, he’d hit one up to release his frustrations. Once his post-nut clarity arrived, Rio put back on his armor and continued on. Truth was, he hated himself for missing what he once shared with Cali. He detested everything about her but still loved her all the same. The realization of what she’d done was still a pill that he refused to swallow. Actually, it was stuck in his throat, unwilling to budge because he couldn’t believe she had fucked him over.
“And stop bringing her ass up, too,” Rio warned, finishing the last of his drink. He loathed hearing her name.
“My bad.” Slime shook his head.
“Man fuck all that. I understand why you moving at your pace. That was a long-ass marriage, so I get it.” Cee shrugged.
They didn’t get a morsel of his perspective. Rio never expressed his feelings to them. He wouldn’t dare reveal how much he yearned to feel Cali’s body next to his when he laiddown. He missed sneaking up on her when she was lying about her whereabouts. Cali typically was at the mall shopping when he did catch her. He never thought her turning off her location was because she was fucking another man.
“Y’all need to be concerned about finding that nigga,” Rio griped.
Braye was still in the wind with law enforcement and TLM on the hunt for him. Noble had called his connect to locate him as well. The word had spread about the ransom on his head. They had been painfully waiting for the last few months on some kind of sign, but nothing surfaced.
“Noble’s people hit me up earlier. Just waiting on confirmation,” Slime told him.
Rio nodded and stood. He exited the section and walked over to the bar. Needing some air from his people, he took a seat and ordered a shot of Crown.
A powdery scent made him turn toward his left. A woman stood next to him, trying to gain the bartender’s attention. Her hair was in a pin-curled pixie cut, and her face resembled an angel. Those bright brown eyes were lined with flirty lashes. High cheekbones coupled with heart-shaped lips and a dimpled chin showcase celestial features.
She turned to him, wearing narrowed eyes with a smile tugging on her lips. “Rio, right?”
Not recognizing her, he asked, “Who you?”
“Oh, no, I’m not on that.” She quickly picked up on his paranoia. “I just remembered you were in the hospital fighting an injury. I actually came up there once to do your wife’s hair. I’m Rozalin.” She extended her hand.
Slowly, Rio grabbed her hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you.”
“Well, it’s nice to see you have recovered.” She gave him a once over. “Wow, Cali had been praying so hard for your recovery. I’m happy to see you healthy.”
The bitch caused it, so her prayers mean nothing.
Rio kept that thought to himself as the bartender sat his glass in front of him.
“Aye, she’s trying to order,” he told the bartender.
Rozalin ordered a vodka cranberry while Rio sipped on his beverage. When the bartender walked away, she returned her attention back to him.
“So, how has the recovery been?”
He smirked at her. “You don't care about that shit.”
Her pretty eyes bucked before she tittered. “Actually, I do. If you could’ve seen your condition, you would be amazed by how you're sitting here without any assistance. You have favor, Rio.”
He didn’t feel that way. Favor came with the wife. His life had been spared but his wife was gone. Now that he had gotten rid of Cali, he was certain that blessing from God ended.
“You a hairstylist?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah, I own Glamour Avenue Salon on Maple Drive.”
