Page 114 of Stoplight
“I just wanted you, Calia, like I thought you wanted me.” His voice was void of the anger she had become accustomed to. This time, there was a plea in his tone. One that wanted to explain his actions even though they were fucked up. “I’ll admit, after it happened, I didn’t feel good. I regretted it because I was caught up in the heat of passion. I didn’t want that man dead for real. I just wanted him out of the way.”
“Yeah, but you put me in a fucked-up position, Braye. I don't know how you thought that was the way to get what you wanted.”
“I know, man.” He rubbed his hand down his face.
Cali fought the urge to raise her arms and yell out in victory. This was her game plan, hoping to get Braye to see the error in his ways.
“I feel like we’re even now,” she stated, face void of any emotions. “I hurt you and you hurt me. We made plans to be together, but they changed. If you would’ve allowed me to handle things the way I planned, we would be together but now we can’t.”
Snorting a chuckle, Braye said, “Were you ever planning on being with me? Keep it real, Calia?”
“I was… the night of Rio’s accident, I went home waiting for him so I could tell him that I was leaving him. Instead, I got a call from the nurse asking me to come to the hospital because he had been hurt. The plan was there but I got derailed when my husband was hurt.”
There was doubt in Braye’s eyes. His lips twisted slightly before he shook his head.
“Fuck it. You wanna be with that nigga then go ‘head.”
“I can’t do that if you're constantly harassing me, Braye. Let this shit go and move on. Don't you have someone you were messing with? Invest in her.”
“Invest in her?” he recited with disgust. “The way you be playing with niggas is crazy, but I’ll do just that. Invest in some other bitch.”
“I wish you the best of luck.”
Braye’s eyes suddenly turned darker as his nose crinkled. “Don't fucking play with me.”
Cali stepped off the car and bombarded his personal space. “No, you don't play with me. All it would take is one phone call for your ass to be wiped out. Did you forget who my father is? You know what kind of pull he has, right? Now, I’ve been more than nice to your ass because I in fact did hurt you but don't ever forget you tried to kill my husband. Just off that alone, you should be dead.”
Their eyes warred with each other before Braye smiled.
“I understand, Calia. I’ma let you go. I apologize for the part I played in all of this.”
Rolling her eyes, Cali turned around and walked toward the driver’s side of her car. She prayed Braye got the message because she wasn’t opposed to getting retribution for Rio. He had fucked with her husband when he didn’t deserve it. One would say she was being too nice by letting him go. Despite Cali hurting him, she wouldn’t hesitate to make the call to end him for good.
Cali reached for the door but froze when she felt something on the back of her head. A clicking sound followed soon after before she heard Braye say, “If you thought a nigga like me was gon’ take that kind of L, then you not as smart as I thought you were.”
Irish nibbled on her thumb before getting out her car. She walked down the street and looked around before entering the stoplight booth. All day she had been contemplating going back and even talked herself out of it. That was until her issuewouldn’t quiet down in her mind. She sat down and grabbed the receiver before placing it up to her ear.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Carrie?” Irish asked with her fingers crossed.
Carrie was the only person who would suffice at this time. She knew the basis of her issues and Irish only felt comfortable talking to her.
“Yes, it is. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”
“It’s Irish. Do you remember the woman who was married but fell in love with his associate?”
“Ah, I remember. How are you?”
“Anxious.”
She chuckled a bit. “Tell me why you’re anxious.”
“Because I’m ready to tell my husband about the man I fell in love with.”
Irish had wrestled with this reality for a while, but it was time for her to be selfish. She wanted Noble at full capacity. Not just parts of him but every fiber of his being. His presence gave her a high that not even marijuana could rival. The endless possibilities between them were boundless. Irish saw her future clearly with Noble. Marriage, children, and bliss were what she desired, and no man would suit except him.
“Okay, and I’m assuming you’ve thought about this which is why it makes you anxious.”
