“This is nice,” she states a couple of hours later.
“What’s that?”
“Being up here eating dinner on the rooftop, watching the sun set, talking with you like this again.”
“You’re not scared of me?”
“No. I know who you are, Chrishon. I have always known you. You’ve done some things, but that doesn’t make you a badperson. At least now I know the things I never knew, the things I always wondered about. You’ve put the missing puzzle pieces in place.”
I groan internally because I haven’t shared it all. “You’re welcome.”
She smiles sweetly, sips her wine, and then asks, “Can we call CJ? I’d like to see him tonight.”
I think we both need to see our little guy. His presence is a palate cleanser after so much darkness.
THREE DAYS LATER
We’re not the same people we once were, but we’re also not the same as we were a week ago. We’re much better, and I like this place that Chaos and I are in. It’s almost like we’re finding ourselves with each other again, while learning about each other at the same time. This feeling that I’m on is like an all-time high, but I’m also scared that something will happen to pop this bubble of happiness that we’re in.
The other night was beautiful, and I only hope that we can continue to capture that feeling again that accompanied us all those years ago. I’ve decided not to be angry that we didn’t havemore time together because of a misunderstanding. Instead, I choose to focus on the time we have now.
I’m sitting on the couch, watching some old romcom when he walks through the door later that evening.
“Hey,” I greet hesitantly, trying to gauge his mood.
“Hey,” he replies, locking his keys into the lockbox that he keeps them in on the wall.
“You have a productive day?”
He bobs his head as he hangs his cut on the hook. “Yeah. We’re making some headway on this case, tracking some folks down, and starting to find the path that might give us the answers we seek.”
“Might?”
“Yeah. I don’t count anything as legit until it happens.”
“May I ask a favor?”
“Wassup?”
“I really enjoyed the other night. Not just the cooking, watching the sunset, and reminiscing, but being outside. I miss being outside and feeling the sun’s rays on my face. It’s amazing what we take for granted until it’s no longer there.”
“What’s your favor?” he asks hesitantly, eyeing me carefully.
“Can we go for a ride on your bike? I promise not to run.”
“Charisma, I don’t think?—”
“Please, Chaos. I’m not trying to go anywhere else, especially when I don’t have CJ with me. Besides, I feel safer here with you right now. I just want to get out, feel the wind, and experience a different environment for a little while. Please.”
He sighs and crooks his neck from side to side. He pinches the bridge of his nose as he stares at me, and I recall that as his telltale sign. Not only is he thinking, but he’s leaning toward doing what I’m asking of him. I don’t rejoice just yet; I hold my breath and send up a silent prayer.
“All right, we can go. But I swear, if you try to run, Charisma, I’ma make sure ya li’l ass regret it, and you won’t see CJ again.”
Chaos has never been the type of person to play or cast words and threats around idly. When he says something, he does it, and it’s hard to sway him once he’s made up his mind. I would never risk my relationship with CJ by playing with Chaos like that.
“I promise. I won’t try anything.”
“A’ight. Get your shoes on and meet me back down here.”
