“I wanna apologize…” he began, his gaze centered on the double shot of Remy that was in front of him.
“Wow, you apologizing? I’m shocked,” Cali said, sarcastically.
His stare finally met hers. “I’m serious. I owe you one because I didn’t realize I hadn’t been that great of a husband.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat but didn’t respond to him.
“I thought I was doing what I was supposed to do. I spoiled you and made sure you had whatever you wanted. I didn’t realize I had been neglecting you with my time, though. I thought you understood my lifestyle because you grew up with your pops doing the same shit. I never took time to figure out what it was that you needed. In a way, I was selfish with my time. When I used to cancel our plans, I didn’t think about how it would make you feel. Shit, I just figured you knew the lifestyle I lived and you would understand. I took you for granted, Cali, and I’m sorry about that.”
Cali took a huge gulp of her drink and exhaled deeply. “I don't think we ever…” she stalled. “…I don't think we had a good marriage. You did your dirt—”
“Oh, about that,” he interrupted her. “I fucked up. I’m sorry for dippin’ with my ex when we first got married. I shouldn’t have done that, and I was wrong.”
Pressing her lips together. “Were you ever going to confess to that if I didn’t let you know that I was aware of you cheating?”
Rio nibbled on his bottom lip while the truth and lie battled on his tongue.
“Honestly, no. In my head, I chalked it up to something trivial because we had just got married and our feelings weren’t involved.”
“Mine were,” she revealed.
His eyes narrowed a bit. “I don't believe that.”
“It’s true.” She rubbed her pouty lips together. “I appreciated the way you took care of your mom and sister. They revered you in the highest regard and it made me wonder. When we first got married, you were very kind and honest—well, at least I thought that.” She smirked. “But I started liking you because of the way you respected other people. It wasn’t fake or performative either. You were genuine and I started coming around to the idea of you being a person I could love.”
Rio would’ve rather Cali taken a knife to his chest than this. Why were his blind spots so blind? How was he able to live like Cali was just a plus one and not his better half? Rio had fucked up right along with her. They’d both destroyed the very thing that was supposed to be sacred.
When his phone chimed on the table, he looked at the screen.
Rozalin: I can’t get over how you used me. You really have me looking like a fool and for what? Cuz Cali found out. The bitch who cheated on you. She had a nigga trying to kill you and you care about her opinion. Fuck you, Rio.
Rio shook his head and locked his screen. The last time he had spoken to Rozalin was the night at the restaurant. She wanted to have another conversation and although he had agreed, Rio canceled on her when he made the decision to get on a plane to see Cali.
“I didn’t know that,” he muttered.
“Well, now you do.”
An old blues record played softly in the background as they retreated to their thoughts. There was so much mess to clean up but Rio honestly didn’t want to. If they were to wipe their slate clean, he knew it would be the end of thiscommunication between them. Admittedly, he wasn’t ready to part ways with Cali just yet. Yes, they had divorced and of course, they hated each other, but there was still so much love in their cup—at least for Rio it was.
“You said something to me that’s been bothering the shit outta me.”
“What?” Cali asked.
“You said you were going to leave me before the accident. You for real about that?”
She bobbed her head.
“Damn.” He rubbed his hand down his face, trying his best to swallow her truth.
“Your absence became too much for me, Rio,” she confessed. “I didn’t wanna keep living by myself. I know what you're a part of. I know that TLM is supposed to come before everything but five years of being second took its toll on me…” Rubbing her eyebrow, she confessed, “Before I say this, I’m not blaming you but, it’s one of the reasons I stepped out of the marriage. He gave me the attention that you didn’t.”
Rio’s jaw clenched before finishing his Remy. He would need another shot to continue this conversation. Without saying a word, he got up and walked over to the bar to order another drink. The bitterness from Cali’s betrayal had emerged from the darkness. It smiled at him, ready to make a grand entrance but Rio fought it. He hadn’t come all the way up North to fight with Cali. He wanted peace only.
As soon as the bartender made his drink, he returned to the booth where Cali was texting. The subtle smirk on her lips pushed him to think she was entertaining another man.
“Who is that? Your new nigga?”
Her stare pierced him before showing the phone screen. “For your information, it’s Irish asking how the talk is going.”
