Page 50 of Girl, We Go Together
I stopped just long enough to look her dead in the eyes.
“No, you made a scene the second you lied to me. I’m just showing everybody who the fuck you belong to.”
And with that, I dragged her out of Christos. I was sure neither of us would be allowed there anymore, and I didn’t give a fuck. Oriana was wailing in the car seat at my side as the whispers of judgment trailed us all the way to the door. The night air hit hard and cool against my burning skin. The second we hit the parking lot, Cayla yanked her wrist free, her face streaked with tears and rage.
“You got Oriana out here in the middle of this mess!” she shouted. “She didn’t ask for any of this, Orion!”
I looked at her quickly and yelled so loud that people outside were starting to look our way.
“I bet she didn’t ask for a hoe ass mama either. Don’t even bring her up right now. You weren’t thinking aboutourdaughter when you dressed up and snuck out to sit across from that bucket head ass clown like you’re single!”
Her mouth trembled before the words shot out. “You got the nerve to judge me? You were fucking around on me when I was pregnant with her! Don’t act like you're some saint now!”
That hit deep because, in my eyes, I was a saint now. I was trying my fucking best to show her that I had changed. I now knew that the shit wasn’t enough. Oriana’s cries pierced through the night, louder now, echoing in the concrete lot. Cayla bent down toward the car seat, brushing her hand over her, but I set the whole seat down hard on the asphalt.
“Since you're so worried about her,” I spat, “you take her.”
Cayla’s eyes went wide. “Orion, what are you doing?”
I stared at her, the hurt and betrayal boiling into something colder.
“I’m done. You made your choice tonight. Live with it.”
Before she could say another word, I turned, walked across the lot, and climbed into my car. Her voice cracked through the air as I pulled out of my parking space.
“Orion, don’t leave us out here!” I heard her scream.
It was muffled because my windows were closed, but still, I heard her loud and clear. When I drove past her, I rolled down my window and tossed Oriana’s baby bag out the window. It landed right in front of her feet.
“Orion!” she screamed in a pleading tone.
But I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. The last thing I saw in the rearview was Cayla, standing in the glow of Christos’ lights, clutching Oriana’s car seat with tears streaming down her face.
Cayla
The days bled into nights, and the nights into mornings, all with the same empty space where Orion should’ve been. It had been a whole week. I got no texts, no calls, and no keys turning in the front door. I left voicemails he never returned and sent messages that stayed on delivered. At first, I told myself he just needed time to cool off, but by day five, I couldn’t lie anymore. He was punishing me. The silence was louder than any argument we’d ever had. Lamont’s texts came steadily in the meantime.
You good?
Do you need anything?
Cayla, let me help.
For a minute, I almost answered. I almost let myself fall into the comfort he was dangling like bait. But every time I read his name lighting up my phone, I remembered Christos and the way Orion had dragged me out in front of everybody. I blocked Lamont’s number on the sixth day. Not because I didn’t want to talk. But because I just couldn’t with him. I knew what Orion was capable of, not just with me, but with anyone who crossed him. And if I ever stepped out for real? If I ever chose Lamont oranyone else? Orion wouldn’t just embarrass me again. He would probably kill his ass.
So, I sat in the house with Oriana in my arms, rocking her through the long nights, telling myself I’d wait. That no matter how toxic it was, no matter how much it hurt, I’d stay put. Because if leaving meant that I had to watch my back if I ever moved on, then I didn’t want it. I didn’t want the embarrassment that he would surely put me through, and more importantly, I didn’t want to drag another man into my shit.
Since Oriana wasn’t going down for a nap, I decided to finally call Zynea back. She had been calling my phone for days, but I just needed time to breathe. Time to decompress from all the drama that had just happened in my life. I needed a grippy sock vacation after all that bullshit for sure. I bounced Oriana over my shoulder while pacing the living room as the phone rang. When Zynea finally picked up, the background noise of an airport buzzed through.
“Girl, I’ve been blowing your phone up,” she said. “What’s going on?”
I let out a shaky laugh.
“What’s not going on?” I huffed out.
“Girl, you sound stressed.
“Stressed ain’t even the word.”
