Page 40 of Guarding Our Love
“Well, shit. I like him,” Kendyll said as she laughed.
“That was sweet of him. What the hell does he think we are eating?”
“That was the same thing I said. He told me to buy myself something because he wants me to be at his next game.”
I didn’t have a problem going to his game. In fact, I enjoyed watching him play. Maybe this time, I could leave the boys with their father. They might be upset, but I didn’t want them to get too used to Calil’s presence until I knew what I was doing with him. I didn’t want them to think I moved on quickly from their father, even though I kinda did. They both seemed to be handling things a little better. They knew they could see or talk to their father whenever they wanted.
Kendyll snapped her fingers. “Okay then.”
The three of us laughed. I was so busy messaging Calil that I hadn’t realized the server had brought our food to the table. Since I knew I would be a little late, I had my mom order my food for me.
“Enough about me. What’s going on with you, Ken?”
Kendyll smiled and told us how she and her husband were working on baby number two. I was happy for her, not just because they were trying for another baby, but because her husband was good to her. Yeah, my husband was trash, but that didn’t make me that jaded to where I couldn’t be happy for my friend. Roy might have bent me a little, but I wasn’t broken. I wasn’t sure when, but I knew I would find love again. It was already knocking at my door with Calil.
The three of us stayed at lunch for a while until Kendyll had to leave to meet her husband and daughter at the mall. My mom said she had to go home to fix dinner for my dad. I went home to shower and relax before the boys got home from school.
A few hours later,I sat on my back porch listening to an owl hoot with a blanket covering my legs. It wasn’t cold, but there was a chill in the air. The boys were in bed, but I was on the phone with Calil. We briefly talked after he had practice because he had some other obligations, but he assured me he would call as soon as he was free, and he did.
“Did you end up going shopping after lunch?”
“No. I wanted to go home and relax before the boys got home. I did do a little online shopping, though.”
I still had money left over because I had only gotten a couple of pairs of jeans, new lingerie, and some new underclothes. Ithrew out all the lingerie I had accumulated over the years with Roy. I wasn’t going to bring old shit into a new situation.
“That’s what’s up. And there is nothing wrong with getting a little relaxation in. Are the boys any better?”
“They are. Thanks for asking.”
“No problem. Are you going to model your new clothes for me?” His voice lowered, and my stomach tightened.
I bit my bottom lip and looked out into the yard. “Maybe.”
Calil chuckled. “I hope you do. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait either.”
“How are you feeling? I know I ask you every time we talk, but I really want to make sure you are good.”
I picked up my glass of wine from the table near the chair and took a sip. Some days, I wondered how I felt for real. At times, I thought I should have been more heartbroken over my marriage ending, but I wasn’t. I’ve cried over it when no one else was around, but I couldn’t live my life being sad. I had a thriving career and two growing boys. There was no time to sulk, but I did allow myself process my emotions when I needed it.
“I’m good, and it gets better every time I talk to you.”
“That’s cap.” Calil chuckled. “Nah. On some real shit, mine gets better when I talk to you as well. Your voice soothes me after a long day.”
“Aww, Lil. That was sweet.”
“It was the truth.”
The wine had crept up on me, so I yawned.
“You ready for bed?” Calil asked as he let out a yawn of his own.
I shifted in the chair and pulled the blanket up further even though I should have headed in the house.
“Not yet.” I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the time. “I think I can make it another hour if you can.”
I heard Calil moving around in his background. “Yeah, I can. I do think you should go back inside the house, though. Get in your bed and get comfortable.”
