“I miss my girl. I don't think Deasia likes me anymore, though.”
“She ain’t said so but I don't care.”
“Not even with Slime and Cee?” she questioned. “Cee hired a private investigator on me, remember? I’m sure he won’t be thrilled about us reconnecting.”
“Who gives a fuck? That nigga don't run my life and I don't live for his approval. I make my own decisions,” he ranted then calmed a bit. “Niggas know not to come to me on some slick shit, especially about you.”
Cali looked forward. “This feels like a dream and not the good dream, but one where I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s not quite doom but it’s like I can’t get too happy. I feel like I’m in a waiting room.”
Rio gently grabbed her chin and turned her face toward his. “What you worried about? I’m here and me and you bothmade a promise to give our best effort for this. You don't need to be waiting on anything except for me to love you.”
This man virtually made her heart smile. The sincerity of his eyes spoke volumes that were sometimes too loud for her to receive. Under all the healed parts of Cali was a tiny piece that felt unworthy of another chance. She didn’t want to acknowledge it but it was there, attempting to bribe her into self-sabotage.
“You're right.”
“I know I am.” He kissed her lips. “Positive shit only, Cali. No more negative talk.”
“Okay.”
Cali inhaled a deep breath while preparing her mind for their next discussion. Grabbing her phone, she tapped on an app and passed it to him.
“What’s this?”
“My period app. I’m four days late and there’s no sign that it’ll be here soon. I always spot a couple days before my period and I’m clear as shit. Oh, and before you ask, you were the last person I had sex with.”
Rio looked at the phone then back at her. “I wasn’t going to ask that.”
“Why not?” she quipped. “You were calling me all kinds of hoes and friendly pussy-ass before. Why wouldn’t I think you would question the paternity if I were pregnant?”
“That was back then when I was in my feelings about not having you. I know it was immature but that’s how I chose to deal with our separation. I wouldn’t question you now, Cali. So, stop bringing up old shit.”
Raising her hands to submit, she replied, “Okay, I’ll stop.”
“Now do you think you're pregnant?”
“I don't know. I don't have any pregnancy symptoms. Just a late period. Maybe I should wait it out. I’m probably not even pregnant.”
“Well, we about to figure it out.” He stood.
“Where you going?”
“To find a pregnancy test.” He tossed Cali her phone. “I’ll be back.”
“Wait, I wanna come, too.”
“Nah, just relax and let me take care of you.”
Blushing, she agreed, “Okay.”
Rio left the bungalow while she sat in great anticipation. A pregnancy would disrupt her life right now. She was in a new city with a new job. Rio was all the way in St. Parklynn. She wasn’t certain how they would make it work with a new addition.
“I’m probably not even pregnant. Let me chill out.”
An hour and fifteen minutes later…
Rio had declined Cali’s offer to come with him to the store because he needed time to think. Over a month ago, Rio had created a plan to get back into Cali’s life. Witnessing her move on left him desperate which led him to plot. Still having access to her period app, he figured out the week she’d been ovulating which was her birthday week. Rio purposely went to see her with one objective in mind.
Cali would probably be mortified if she knew he had planned to get her pregnant. She’d curse him and leave him again for his devious actions. It was toxic. It was cunning. Riowas aware of this to be true but he couldn’t take back what he had done. If he’d known he’d be able to get her back without his underhanded plan, Rio would have never committed the sin. That was why he’d never reveal what he’d done. Not a soul could know about his desperate lengths to get his wife back. He would take it to the grave.
