Page 79 of Stoplight
“Yeah.”
Deciding to drop the topic, she sat sideways, stretching her arms on the side of his body.
“How do you feel?”
“…In pain,” he grumbled, closing his eyes briefly.
“Well, I’m glad you came back to me.” She caressed his face. “You will get back right, babe. You too tough to be down long.”
There was a half-hearted smirk on his lips before she kissed them. Cali missed everything about Rio and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else except by his side. She laid her head on his chest but hopped up when she realized she may have caused him more pain.
“Did I hurt you?”
“…No, you good. Lay back down.”
Cali resumed her position on his chest, closing her eyes and relishing the tempo of his heartbeat. She had made so many bad decisions in their marriage. The choice to stay was one of the best; it would trump any of her mistakes moving forward.
Noble checked his surroundings while inside his car with Kenji in the passenger seat. They were meeting Daysha since she was on this side of town. When Noble picked him up, he took them to their favorite burger place and Sky Zone. Even though Noble got Kenji most weekends, he made it his mission to see him every day, which was why he opted to pick him up from school.
“Dad, did you know that horses can’t throw up?”
Noble looked at him. “No, I didn’t know that. Why can’t they throw up?”
“I don't know.” Kenji shrugged.
He chuckled at his human replica. “How you going to tell me a random fact and not know why?”
Kenji snickered. “I don't know. My teacher told me.”
“Well, you need to figure out why then tell me, okay?”
“Okay… hey Dad, did you know I’m going to Tennessee for the summer?”
Right away, Noble’s brows rumpled. “The summer? Who told you that?”
“Mama did. She said I’m going to see Grandma and Grandpa for the summer.”
Noble shook his head, attempting to simmer the anger boiling inside him. Being a co-parent with Daysha was exhausting. He either was notified of important details at the last minute or not at all.
“You don't want me to go, Dad?” Kenji asked.
Noble didn’t answer as he watched Daysha pull into the parking lot, bumping Glorilla at an insane volume.
“Come on and don't forget your book bag.”
Noble and Kenji got out the car and walked to Daysha. The music turned down when he opened the back seat for his son to get inside. Once Kenji was in, Noble looked at Daysha.
“Aye, step out the car so I can holla at you.”
He never wanted to be the parent that argued in front of Kenji. Remembering what those nights felt like when Lyra and her husband would argue for hours, he didn’t want to traumatize his son. Daysha got out the car, shielding her shimmering eyes from the sun with her hand.
“What’s up?”
“Why is Kenji telling me he’s going to Tennessee for the summer?”
“Oh,” she chirped. “My parents want him to come for the summer.”
“And?” he retorted.
