Kairo
I woke up the next morning without an alarm. That alone felt like progress. I stayed still for a second, feeling Khloe’s body warm against mine, her leg draped over my thigh. I decided right then I wasn’t rushing that day. Whatever happened that morning at the office could wait a couple hours. I knew my day had the potential to run late, and I didn’t want to start it already owing her time.
She rolled over, hair a mess, eyes barely open.
“Good morning,” she said, voice thick with morning breath.
I laughed. “Good morning to you too.”
We kissed, laughing at how we both needed to go brush our teeth.
“You hungry?” I asked.
Her eyes lit up instantly. “Starving.”
That smile was the shit I lived for. We both laughed and rolled out of bed. Brushing teeth side by side. She started her makeup while I bounced between the closet and the mirror, holding upshirts, switching shoes, trying to decide how I wanted to dress for the day.
“Baby,” she said suddenly.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s do something spontaneous.”
I turned toward her, eyebrows raised. “What you mean?”
My mind went straight to sex because… why not? I thought she wanted to try some crazy position and I was down for that shit.
“Let’s fly to Chicago. Right now. Just for the day. Eat. Walk around. Do something fun.”
For a split second, I almost said yes. Chicago is her favorite city. It's a quick flight and a place to make quick memories. Something just for us. Then reality punched me in the chest.
“Baby…” I started, already hating the way the word sounded. “That sounds fun as hell, but I’ve got a meeting after lunch I can’t miss. That’s why I wanted to do breakfast, so I could still give you my morning.”
Her face changed immediately.
She shut her eyes like she was counting backwards from ten, trying not to explode. When she opened them again, she was calm.
“Kairo,” she said slowly, “you and this fucking job that you let control your fucking life is exhausting me.”
“You are the boss,” she continued. “You make the rules. You call the shots. But you walk around acting like you work under somebody else’s authority, and it pisses me the fuck off.”
I opened my mouth to say something then closed it because it would start another argument.
“I don’t want to argue,” she said. “I don’t want to go back and forth. I actually want you to have a good day, so I’m fine. I’ll take Kennedi to school. Then I’m going to the art store and do something for myself.”
She stepped past me, already done.
“You go ahead and go to work,” she added, not even turning around. “I’ll see you whenever you decide to come home. I said what I wanted to do today. If you can’t do that, then have a great day.”
She walked out of the closet. I stood there staring at the empty space she left behind likewhat the fuck just happened.
As much as she didn’t want to argue, neither did I. I’d woken up trying to do better. Trying to show up. Trying to give her time. And somehow, it was still wrong.
I finished getting dressed in silence. I grabbed my keys, took one last look at the bedroom, and headed out.
I pulled up to the office still fuming. I sat there for a second, trying to cool off before I walked inside. As soon as I opened the door and stepped into the lobby, Kemi was just turning the corner with her usual caramel latte in hand. The second she saw me, she jumped and grabbed her chest.
“Boy! What are you doing here? I got your message earlier. You’re not supposed to be in until around lunch,” she said, side-eyeing me like I ruined her quiet start to the day.
