“I can’t believe you came all the way here.” Irish simpered.
Cali folded her arms over her chest when he held the flowers out to her. Reluctantly, she snatched them from his hand.
“How the hell did you get my address?”
Peering at her, Rio fueled her stomach to flutter.
“Why you keep asking me how I get information on you when you know who I am? I can get anything, especially when it comes to you, Calia.”
“Aww.” Irish laid her hand over her chest. “This is too cute.”
“Irish, please.” Cali scoffed, unimpressed. “You really need to stop hyping this man up. He just cursed me out the other night.”
He chuckled. “You was talking crazy to me like I was a sucka. What did you expect?”
“Rio don't be coming at my girl crazy,” Irish warned, wagging her finger. “She might have messed up but that don't give you a right to beat her up. Now she moved away and she’s doing really good. She don't need you coming here trying to remind her of what she did because you were on bullshit too aka that hoe, Rozalin.”
Holding his hands up to surrender, Rio swore, “I’m not here on that. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”
Cali rolled her eyes. “You could’ve sent a text. You ain't have to come here.”
“You blocked me, remember?”
Cali smirked. “Oh, yeah? That’s one of the best decisions I’ve made recently.”
“Well, I see you two may need a little time so I’m going to get ready for bed.” Irish winked at Cali. “You two be good. I don't want y’all fighting.”
Irish shuffled to the guest bedroom and closed the door, leaving them in an awkward silence.
“You look beautiful.”
Cali gave him a fake smile before rolling her eyes. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass to put her flowers in. Despite the person who delivered them, they were a stunning bouquet.
Rio put his hands inside his pockets and slowly walked over to the island. “So, what you do today?”
While she adjusted the stems, she wondered if she wanted to join Rio in this dance. Cali had literally moved away from St. Parklynn because of Rio. The pain of their breakup had become too much to bear. Now here he was, asking about her day when she wanted nothing more than to keep the distance between them. She was too tender to be in his presence. Her heart still belonged to him even after the pain they’d both caused each other. Cali was strong when she wasn’t in Rio’s presence. Yet when he was in front of her smelling like a god, she knew she would fold.
“You don't hear me?”
Her irritated gaze landed on him. “Rio, seriously, why did you come here?”
A deep sigh push from his nostrils. There was a hint of nervousness in his eyes that Cali spotted. Initially, he appeared confident but she knew him best. He was anxious.
“Can you have a drink with me for your birthday?”
She snorted. “I already had a drink.”
He angled his head. “Can you have another one… so we can talk? I feel like we haven’t had a civilized conversation without all these emotions. I just wanna holla at you, Cali.”
She exhaled before nodding. “I think it’s a bar down the street. We can go there.”
He nodded. “Cool. Let’s go.”
Got damn.
Rio had never seen anything more beautiful than the woman that sat across from him. Cali’s face had to be one of reference when girls went to get plastic surgery. Her eyes mixed with her cheekbones and pouty lips were a dangerous combination. The dress she wore clung to her curvy frame with cut outs that gave a sneak peek of her cacao skin.
Had Cali always been this beautiful? Rio knew the answer but damn did she not shine in front of him. Maybe he had taken her for granted or he may have become used to her efforts of looking like a goddess. Rio ashamedly hadn’t appreciated his wife the way that he should have. That had been a truth he had avoided taking accountability of until now.
