Page 14 of Guarding Our Love
I took a few deep breaths, undecided if I wanted to share or not. I couldn’t, though, especially when Calil looked at me. The intensity in my eyes made me shift in my seat.
“It’s not important. What’s going on with you? How’s basketball been treating you?” I forced a smile and tried to pretend like I wasn’t dying inside. Calil didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t say anything.
It took him a few long seconds to speak. “I see what you did, and I won’t speak on it for now. Anyway, basketball has been everything I dreamed of and then some. Some days, I can’t believe this is my life. There were times when I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but I’m here.”
For a second, there was this faraway look in Calil’s eyes, but it only lasted a second before they lit up. I wondered what happened but felt that if he wanted to tell me, he would have.
“I’m proud of you, Lil.” I genuinely smiled when I called him by the name I called him in high school.
The smile he graced me with spread across his face, making my cheeks warm.
Jesus, this man is fine.
“Thank you, Sloan. I’m proud of you as well.”
“Thank you.” It felt like my temperature had risen a few more degrees.
Multiple people in my life have told me they were proud of me, but it was different coming from Calil. Maybe because we used to talk about our dreams and goals, and all of them came to fruition for both of us.
I could tell Calil had something he wanted to say, but the server came to take our order. Once we had both ordered and the server assured us he’d be back with our food, Calil asked whatever had been on his mind.
“How long have you been married?”
“Twelve years.”
Calil’s eyes ballooned. “Shit. Well, congratulations.”
He didn’t mean that shit, and the way I felt, it wasn’t anything to celebrate.
“Thanks. We have two boys. Blake is thirteen, and Brooks is ten. They both are into sports. Mainly football and baseball, but they are planning on trying out for the basketball team.”
“That’s what’s up. Maybe you all can come to one of my games.”
“Oh, I normally don’t watch it. My hus—the kids watch with their dad.”
I didn’t know what made me pause when mentioning my husband, but something about saying it didn’t feel right. Calil knew I was married, so I wasn’t hiding it. It must have been the hatred I felt toward Roy.
“Cool. Well, maybe you can bring them one day.”
The hopeful look in Calil’s eyes made me agree to go, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Maybe he said it just to see what I would say. I didn’t think he wanted me to bring my husband and kids to one of his games.
“What’s up with you, though? Do you have a wife or girlfriend?”
“Nah, I let my wife get away a long time ago.”
The way Calil’s eyes bore into mine set my body on fire. I wasn’t completely sure, but I felt like he was talking about me. He couldn’t be, though.Could he?
I cleared the lump in my throat and put my hands in my lap. “What happened? Why, or how, did you let her get away?”
I wasn’t sure if Calil was talking about me or not, and I wasn’t sure if I was prepared for his answer. He leaned forward with his elbows on the table, and his dark, fixed gaze on me increased my heart rate.
“I was a fuck nigga and didn’t appreciate the beautiful soul that she was. Now, she’s with someone else, and I may have blown my chances.” The air suddenly felt suffocating when he leaned even closer. “Make no mistake about it. If the opportunity reveals itself, I’m coming real heavy behind her, and I won’t let up until she’s mine.”
My cell rang loudly, interrupting the intense moment. Calil’s eyes swept to the side as he sat back in his seat.
I pulled my phone out and rolled my eyes at Roy’s face on my screen. I silenced the call and tossed the phone back into my bag. I put my fist to my mouth and cleared my throat. I didn’t know how to respond to that. I felt bad about being with Calil in the first place, but to hear him say that shit… I was confused. He seemed so… serious. But how? His declaration had my head spinning.
“Sorry about that.”
