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cloveroctobers · 1 year

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CARMY BERZATTO — x BLACK! Reader — spring prompts 🕊️

A/N: happy for season two! OC/Reader Cambria” is intended to be black and of color. Not fully described but she’s got textured hair. I also incorporated characters from two other shows for this bit: Abbott Elementary and Power Book II — Ghost — mostly a character is mentioned from Power…lurking at best! and it all takes place in the same setting for story purposes 😬

Using this prompt list and number 3.) spring fever + [gif belongs to user: @heardchef]

SYNOPSIS: Carmy’s got a teeny crush and when he’s invited over…he’s not really expecting this to lead elsewhere. It’s only some fluff and humor y’all!

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Carmy’s late by the time he’s pulling up to her condo downtown. Todays in the low fifties so he has to pull the collar of his jacket up around his neck to protect himself against the spring breeze. He’s a bit jittery with a few other thoughts on his mind but he’s quickly pulled out of that anxiousness as his shoulder is bumped.

“How the fuck is she paying for this shit?” Richie questions, cigarette perched in between his lips while he cradles a juice jug underneath his arm, “what did you say she does for a living again?”

Carmy can’t help but to roll his eyes and thinks about ignoring the taller man. He didn’t even invite him nor did Cambria but yet here Richie was in all of his brash glory.

“Why do you feel like that’s your business, Richie?” Sydney spoke what Carmy was thinking, now exiting the car behind them.

“Damn! I can’t make conversation and be curious about my cousin’s girl—

Carmy interrupted the bearded man, “Shut the fuck up will you? And let’s just get inside, we’re already late because of your bullshit.”

“My bullshit? You’re the one sneaking around Chicagoland—

“It’s the bear now Richie.”

“Whatever!—Making meals and thinking you can just ride off into the sunset with your sidekick here to this undisclosed location as if I don’t know Cambria. A pretty customer.” Richie argued while Sydney shook her head at the “sidekick,” insult.

Carmy flared his nostrils in annoyance, “it doesn’t even fucking matter. I went over this already. I was doing something for a friend and Sydney showed up and decided to help. There was no sneaking around because we’re currently closed, are we not? Also Weren’t you supposed to be with the kid this weekend?”

Richie grumbled to himself at that, not caring for the topic switching over to his child and it wasn’t Carmy throwing a jab back per say but it was genuinely a question on his part. When Carmy received a text from Cambria telling him to slide through when he had the chance, he didn’t want to show up empty handed so yeah he entered the bear (yet again) to whip something up. Sydney showed up while he was waiting on the prime rib to finish and she got to work preparing the grinders for the meat to go on, then together they dressed the sandwiches and wrapped them to go.

Richie caught them just as they were gathering the sandwiches and of course gave them a hard time about it. Now here they were with Richie stalking off to the gates of Cambria’s condo.

“I think you hurt his feelings.” Sydney muttered as she held the back car door open.

“The both of you can fuck right off!” Richie yelled on the front stoop of the condo, alerting them that he heard what was said even if there was a increase of distance between them.

Carmy scoffed, “he’ll get over it. He wasn’t even invited.”

“Neither was I.” Sydney pointed out.

Carmy slightly dipped his head, “true but I sent out a text to Cambria to let her know and she didn’t get back to me. I’m sure she won’t mind, she actually likes you.”

Sydney gave a small smile at that before Carmy followed through the gates and walkway to Cambria’s home.

“What’re you five?” Carmy and Richie were in a mini slap fight, the long-haired one out of the two yanked Richie’s hand away from repeatedly ringing the door-bell.

Richie mocked Carmy, sending him a nice middle finger in response followed with a squat.

“Wow I’m surprised your knees still work, Richard.” Sydney tossed in with a laugh, which Carmy snickered at.

Richie’s round blues widened in irritation and before he could spew something misogynistic, the front door was pulled open.

At the front door stood a brown skinned man with broad shoulders, lean but fit frame, low-cut fade, large brown eyes, and some facial hair.

“Hey, Carmy right?” He spoke first to Carmy on his left.

Carmy dipped his head, “yeah?”

“Oh. I’m Gregory, friend and co-worker of Cambria’s. She gave me the green light to let you guys in…but she didn’t say there would be a third person coming too.” His large eyes shot to Richie who put the unlit cigarette back behind his ear.

Richie than held out his hand for Gregory to shake, “yeah I guess my cousin forgot to mention that the life of the party was also comin’ through! I’m richie, man. Nice to meet ya!”

Gregory shook his hand with a slow nod of his head, blinking quickly, probably at how loud Richie was.

“If you or Cam need to kick him out, please don’t hesitate to do so.” Carmy added while Richie blew a raspberry, “it’s cool to finally put a name to the face, Gregory. Cam’s told me a little about you.”

“Same man.” Gregory smiled making Carmy start to wonder what exactly Cambria shared and hope it wasn’t his depressing life story, “Come on in…oh also as a fair warning to you guys, Cambria’s a little bit on one.”

“How so?” Sydney asked from behind, “also I’m Sydney by the way.”

Gregory nodded his head silently letting her know that he was aware due to the text messages, “Nice to meet you. Oh it’s nothing too bad just something to be prepared—

A soul beat became prominent as the group of four now stood in the industrial living room with bright lighting. There Cambria stood on top of the square coffee table, fuzzy feathered scarf wrapped around her neck as she sauntered across the table on her tippy toes to the lyrics.

Cause you’re a cool cat ♪

She spun just in time to hop down from the table, snatching the swifter handle back up to her lips as she mouthed the lyrics:

Tapping on the toe with a new hat ♪

She began to sway:

Ooh, just cruising

Driving along with the swing of the king ♪

Carmy watched in amusement as Cambria carried on, walking on her toes as she swung the scarf around along with her head, her now chopped soft waved hair glistened from the natural night, while she went to slap the scarf against Richie’s chest.

Feeling the beat of my heart ♪

She walked the line, singing that into Gregory’s face, making herself almost his height while he gave her a nod and a smile. He then shot a look to the three, hinting at this was what he was talking about as he closed the front door to the home.

Once she got to Carmy, she grabbed one of his hands to place right against her chest, alarming him as she continued the lyrics.

Feeling the beat of my heart ♪

Ooh, you’re a cool cat ♪

She shoots a wink at Sydney who gives a equally awkward thumbs up.

Coming on strong with the chit chat ♪

She turns back to Carmy, stepping back from him with a wiggle of her hips as she sung:

Ooh, you’re alright

Hanging out and stealing all the limelight

Messing with the beaaaat of my he-aaart

She lowered the mop as she actually attempted to hit Freddie’s high note.

Ooh, messing with the beat of my heart, yeah ♪

Cambria brought it back up slow as she clutched her chest, before letting out a smile and bowing as the instrumental played on. Richie was the first to clap it up for Cambria who grinned over at him while Gregory sped-walked away to the kitchen.

“Hey guys,” Cambria greeted as she lowered the music then turned back to them, “glad you made it. Come make yourself comfortable.”

Carmy cleared his throat, “hey uh, we brought some steak and pepper grinders. You know your favorite, from the spot.”

“With prime rib?” Cambria stared over at Carmy underneath her eyelashes, anticipating his response.

“The one and only.”

Cambria squealed, doing high-knees that Richie couldn’t help to chuckle and shake his head, looking over at Sydney who was still wide-eyed at Cambria’s antics.

The short haired woman tossed her arms around Carmy, squeezing him tightly to her chest and pecked his cheeks with kisses, further making Richie smirk at his cousin who seemed to be folding.

“Where’s Syd and I’s kisses? We helped too!” Richie boasted as Cambria turned to Sydney first to also give her a tight squeeze and rocked her from side to side.

And saved Richie for last, who purposely made the hug last a little too long for Carmy’s liking.

“Okay, back off.” Carmy shoved the taller man away from Cambria, who laughed and took the bags of food from Carmy and Sydney to take to the kitchen.

Sydney moved to sit on the mustard couch, followed by Richie who didn’t excuse himself as he crossed over Sydney to sit right beside her, arms stretching along the back of the couch.

“I hope we made enough.” Carmy started, eyes scanning the place.

He’s been here once or twice before but it’s clear Cambria did lots of updating since then. It felt much bigger than before with Cambria deciding to transform the walls to eggshell compared to the dark gray they once were.

“I’m sure you did.” Cambria commented, smiling over her shoulder at Carmy.

A door to the right creaked open, revealing a very short brown skinned woman with curly short hair, she was probably the shortest in the room smoothing down her long-flowy skirt as she entered the space. Carmy watched as Gregory’s eyes seemed to immediately lock on her before she even spoke, her gaze setting on Cambria instead.

“Whew! Cambria, I see you’ve decided to finally take a break. Good for you.” She swiped her fist through the air in a supportive nature, that Carmy wondered if she was really as happy go-lucky as she put out.

Cambria shook her head, leaning back against the counter as she looked over at the woman, “absolutely not! There’ll be no rest for the wicked. This is just a brief intermission Janine and you should know this. Also say hi to the new guest who just arrived.”

“You should have just gone with the flow and let her stuff her face then we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Gregory hissed before yanking the fridge open to bury his head inside.

Janine was a gaping fish as she slowly turned to the new faces in the room before glancing at the crew that were to the right of Carmy then back, “oh, my apologies! You guys sure did get here quick! Not as fast enough to help prevent the bruises on my back but nonetheless you made it!”

“What happened to your back?” Sydney sat up on the couch.

Janine awkwardly rubbed at the sleeve of her cardigan, “I’d rather not say—

“She tried to secretly do the running man in my bedroom to ‘Put Your Records On,’ tripped on my moss rug and broke part of my bookcase.” Cambria informed, making Janine clench her eyes shut in embarrassment.

“So that’s what happened?” Gregory peeled out of the fridge, “I warned you about that rug earlier.”

“I know! But I love that song and you can’t say Cambria doesn’t have a solid playlist. It’s so broad. And I’m going to do my best to help you rebuild the shelves.” Janine clasped her hands together in sincerity.

Cambria fanned her hands at the woman, digging into the bag to retrieve a sandwich, “Don’t worry about it. I can’t tell you how many marks I got on my body from almost breaking my neck to my jams. My playlists are fire and I’m glad you acknowledge that, bestie.”

Janine grinned at the mention of being considered someone’s friend. She soon cleared her throat realizing the crew was probably zooming in on her face, considering one of the men stepped closer to her and whispered, “I thought you guys left with Jacob and hope you consider deleting that footage from a few hours ago.”

Soon Janine moved into the living room to greet the new faces she had yet to officially meet, “Hi! I’m Janine Teagues. Cambria’s bestie and a fellow teacher at Abbott Elementary.”

richie sized Janine up and held his hand out, “Richie, hun. Are you sure you’re not one of those kids?” Before letting out a obnoxious laugh, elbowing Sydney who shook her head at him, ready to whack him with the diffuser that sat on the table.

Carmy pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Please don’t pay this idiot any mind. Hi, I’m Sydney. That’s Carmy,” She pointed back at him who stepped a little closer with a wave of fingers, “and we all work down at the bear.”

Janine bounced on her toes and seemed to smile a little brighter as she put Carmy’s name to his face, “Cool! What’s the bear?”

Richie chatted with his hands, “It’s originally called the original beef of Chicagoland, sweetheart. We’re rebranding right now but if that helps jog your memory that’s what it’s called. We own a restaurant.”

“You don’t own shit.” Carmy huffed, “its mostly a sandwich shop but we’re getting more variety of items coming soon. The restaurants been in my family for years.”

“Am I not your family, Carmen?” Richie placed his hand on his chest, while Carmy simply looked at him, “wow! Okay! I’m gonna eat!”

He squeezed himself by Janine, heading over to the kitchen where Cambria teared into the sandwich, cheeks puffing up like a chipmunk as she danced next to Gregory, who appeared as if he wanted nothing more than to leave already despite his expressionless face.

A small smile of satisfaction appeared on Carmy’s face before he brought his focus back to Janine.

“Oh, is he—

“He’s fine. He’s always like that, real dramatic.” Sydney assured Janine who pursed her lips glancing over her shoulder just to make sure Richie didn’t decide to explode, but she was sure she would probably hear it if he did.

Janine turned back to face the two and smiled with her signature gap, “hey, you know you look kinda familiar.”

“Me?” Sydney questioned, pointing to herself and peeking back at Carmy who lifted his shoulders.

“Yeah…what did you say your last name was again?”

“I—I didn’t?”

“It’s funny because you kinda remind me of my sister. The resemblance is almost pow! In your face you know?” Janine slowly sat down where Richie previously sat.

“Really?”

“Yes,” Janine nodded her head and called behind her, “Cambria, Gregory! Doesn’t Sydney remind you of Ayesha?”

Cambria lowered the music again and titled her head as she stared hard at Sydney who hated that the attention was on her now, “She does!”

“I don’t see it.” Gregory disagreed, taking the sandwich Richie handed to him.

“What?! I’m gonna find my phone and FaceTime her.”

“That’s okay. A picture would be fine.” Sydney tried to suggest but Janine was already up on her feet, searching the room for her purse.

Sydney looked back at Carmy who smirked and raised his hands in surrender. He left Sydney despite her calls for him not to do that as he entered the kitchen. Carmy eyed the updated stainless steel appliances and dark almost gray wood cabinetry. He then leaned against the large island, focusing only on Cambria who had her back to him, now fumbling with her phone; probably looking for the next best song to play.

“You’ve got something on your face Carmy and it ain’t the ugly.” Richie yelled with a mouth full of food.

Gregory’s large eyes went back and forth between the two, watching as Carmy unconsciously rubbed at the corner of his mouth, making Richie smirk. Gregory’s also noticed that Carmy’s been eyeing his friend real hard since he’s got here and it was evident that he felt something for her…possibly more than platonic.

Yet it wasn’t his business so he didn’t bother speaking on it like he knew Janine wanted to…if she got around to it that is.

Carmy sent two middle fingers his way and before he could spike up a conversation with Cambria, she slammed her hand on the counter in front of her. “Oh shit!”

“What was that for?” Gregory flinched but also asked calmly.

Cambria stared off into space thinking, “what time is it?”

“Four thirty.” Janine told as she tried to call her sister.

“I’m late!” Cambria disappeared from the kitchen for a moment.

Richie waved his hands about, “For…?”

Gregory shrugged his shoulders, “there’s no telling with that girl. Man, this sandwich is something.”

“Good something or shit something?”

“That doesn’t make sense but good something.” Gregory replied, “super flavorful, colorful and tender. It’s a well made sandwich. Where did you guys get it?”

“From our spot: The bear. You should check it out when we reopen in a few. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Carmy felt pride that Cambria’s friend was also enjoying something he made.

Gregory snapped his fingers in acknowledgment, “that’s right! Cambria did mention she’s got a potential chef husband but i of course didn’t take that seriously. You must be it.”

“Potential husband? This guy?” Richie jabbed a thumb at Carmy who tried not to roll his eyes.

“Let’s not go there, Richie.”

Richie scoffed, not saying anything more.

Smart choice.

Carmy can be lethal with his clapbacks when he wanted and Richie was always talking shit. He couldn’t help it, it just seemed to be in his nature for as long as Carmy’s known him.

“Meech, where’s my bag?” Cambria entered the room again.

Richie frowned, “Who the hell is meech?”

Gregory just shook his head, silently telling the older man not to further question Cambria’s mind.

Carmy sat up from the island, “uh, what color is it?”

This wasn’t his first time looking around for lost bags thanks to his disheveled mother.

“Aw, Ayesha can’t answer right now. She’s about to board another flight to some place tropical. Must be nice being able to travel the world whenever you please.” Janine thought out loud before zoning back in on the conversation, “what’s happening?”

“My bag, Janine.” Cambria notified, “it has my birth control in it and it was in the chartreuse bag that Jacob was modeling—he stole my bag.”

That’s the thing with Cambria, she wasn’t too private about much. She was a open book and Carmy found himself also being somewhat open with her when they had the chance to hold one on one deep conversations. So this wasn’t much of a shock to him whereas Richie choked a bit on his sandwich and Sydney patted at the back of her braids.

Gregory stopped eating, saying with a dry tone, “Nooo, not Jacob.”

“Who’s Jacob?” Sydney asked.

“Another co-worker of ours. He was here earlier dealing with Cambria’s spring fever. I mean cleaning.” Janine slightly stumbled over her words.

“I’m gonna call him and if he doesn’t answer then I know he took it. That’s the only place where I keep my pills.” Cambria snatched her phone up from the counter while Janine got to her feet, ready to ease the tension.

“If jumping to conclusions was a person, am I right?” Richie joked.

“We all know that you have a very active brain so maybe you decided to put them somewhere else.”

“Or jacob put them somewhere else.” Gregory added, making Janine widen her eyes at him.

Janine defended the man, “Jacob isn’t a thief! If it was Mr. Johnson here…then that maybe a different story but Jacob wouldn’t do that. We don’t steal from our friends.”

“I don’t know…Cambria did say he was modeling with it.” Sydney said, “could it be a possibility?”

“Jacob can be easily impressed. He was trying his hardest to get me to help him determine what color the bag even was.” Gregory stated.

Sydney hummed, “So he brought the bag to your attention? Did you see him leave with it?”

“I can’t say for sure…when he gets to going I learn to tune him out majority of the time. There’s a lot going on in this house if you haven’t noticed.”

“Gregory!” Janine hissed.

Cambria shushed everyone in the room, making all eyes turn to where she stood behind the couch, phone raised in the air.

“I might have taken the bag with me, forgetting that it was attached to my body after getting some pics…and I realized I was all the way on the other side of town by then. So I’m borrowing it for now. I will return it if not by tomorrow then definitely on Monday at work. Oh wait…you quit. You know, the bag would also work quite well with my dinner date outfit with Zach tonight so it all works out. Sorry for the inconvenience, love you bye!” Cambria lowered her phone as the automated message carried on after the voicemail.

Janine gasped and dropped her head, “Jacob is a thief! And I was ready to go to war for him and he let me down.”

“Mhm. Can’t defend someone who committed the crime.”

“That’s circumstantial.” Richie argued making Gregory frown back.

Janine deeply sighed, “Don’t do Jacob like that.”

“Jacob did Cambria like that.” Gregory fired off.

Cambria’s fingers went flying over her phone screen, sending Jacob a lengthy text as she began pacing the floor and abruptly stopped after pressing send. She then let out a wiggle, shaking her body about, “enough of that low vibration! It’s over and done with, if I end up pregnant or with a period then Jacob will be held accountable. Let the festivities resume!”

Richie mouthed, ‘who the fuck are these people?’ As he walked by Carmy, then Cambria before tossing Sydney a sandwich.

“Any requests?” Cambria asked.

Gregory was quick with it, “Reggie Becton, Stevie Wonder, or Victoria Monet.”

Janine also added, “Maybe VanJess, Whitney Houston, or Otis Redding.”

Cambria settled on a Doechii track, proceeding to vogue towards Carmy before grabbing his hand and pulling him away to her bedroom. Richie noticed this, ready to yell out something but Sydney shoved the remote into his gut.

“Or not…” Janine sighed as she moved towards Gregory.

Cambria welcomed Carmy into her spacious bedroom, placing her phone onto the night stand. Carmy hopped up onto her bed, spotting the few broken shelves that were once built into the wall and was knew that Cambria loved a good book resulting in many that covered the entire wall.

“Love what you done with the place,” Carmy complimented, as Cambria kicked the door to her closet closed.

Cambria smiled as she crossed over Carmy, her scent lingering in the air that he knew he had to fight within to contain himself. She pulled herself up beside him and picked up her buzzing phone, “why thank you Carmy, mhm no cane we’re not dealing with your back and forth today. Decline and on officially do not disturb for him specifically.”

“Cane…” carmy started, curious.

She shook her head, “nope! He didn’t show up for me so therefore he doesn’t matter. Only my real friends do so…how’re you today?”

Carmy raised his brows with a smirk playing on his lips, “Jesus you’re gonna give me whiplash how quick you’re able to switch everything up…but I’m good how are you? Finally slowing down for the evening with this spring fever?”

“No. You’re taking me to your apartment tonight so I can get to planning what needs to be organized with yours.” Cambria beamed sweetly at Carmy, hands clasped in her lap as she lifted her shoulders in happiness at the thought.

Carmy asked with a curl of a smile, “are we? When was that decided?”

“My place is done so it’s time to move onto the next and don’t say you can’t because you’re taking a break from the bear.”

“It’s not really a break. There’s still plenty that’s being done behind the scenes: lots of planning and brainstorming recipes, budgeting, taking inventory and figuring out what needs to stocked with those new and old recipes, paying off debts, possibly getting some new appliances, utensils for the place—

There he goes rambling but that’s what happens when you’re so passionate about your craft. Cambria admired that, she used to be like that with teaching but…we all know how that worked out.

She quit, if you missed that earlier.

Cambria briefly massaged her fingertips against Carmy’s temples, attempting to calm his mind, “Yes but you can’t fully do that without a clean space. A clean space helps the mind breathe better.”

“Ah, okay. Whatever you say.” Carmy scratched at his brow in thought after Cambria placed her hands back down. He was feeling a bit tingly? Just from her briefly touching him…was that norma?

Anyways, Carmy knew Cam wanted to help his mental the best way that she knew how and if it was anybody else he was positive he would have shut this idea down.

“So that’s a yes? I get to stay at your place tonight?” Cambria asked.

Carmy stammered then, “I—um. I dunno everything is kinda all over the place and I’m not prepared to have you over?”

“Are you being shy on me? I don’t care what you have going on, we’ll take care of it. I only need two to three days tops.” Cambria expressed.

Carmy rubbed at the back of his neck. He hasn’t shared a space with anyone in a long time, especially with someone that he was fond of. Was he making a mistake or would this be a bonding moment?

To be closer to Cambria did actually sound nice and before Carmy’s mind could berate him about not being good enough to even be in her presence, he answered.

“Okay.” He decided.

Cambria clapped it up, throwing her arms around Carmy’s shoulder to squeeze his cheek against her’s. “Great! Let me get my bag together and we can go.”

Carmy rubbed at his face in nervousness as Cambria went into her closet to grab her things. His eyes zoned back on the buzzing phone and figured this cane guy was trying his hardest to get a hold of her but Carmy didn’t know anything of their relationship. So to avoid the curiosity, he got to his feet and walked through the bedroom while Cambria danced to herself in the walk-in closet making Carmy scoff out a laugh, as he went by standing in front of her wall of a bookcase.

His fingers trailed over the spines of books in a daze that it seemed mighty quick that Cambria was ready to go with a duffel bag.

“You have everything already?” Carmy was surprised.

“Of course!” Cambria shoved her phone charger into the bag, then put the phone into her coat pocket, “this energy is unmatched baby, let’s go.”

Carmy walked by Cambria as she shut the door to her bedroom along with the lights before following after him. The house echoed with the tv rather than music and only Sydney and Richie remained.

“Where’s the other two?” Carmy asked.

Richie uttered, “They snuck off as soon as they got the chance and I don’t blame them.”

“They’re probably off to elope.” Cambria sighed, “love that for my friends.”

Sydney eyed the bag Cambria had in her hand as she went around shutting off the kitchen light, “are you going somewhere?”

Carmy cleared his throat, “um…Cam’s gonna crash at mine for a day or two to help out with my place.”

“Ohhh…” Sydney drawled out, peeking back at Richie with a knowing look, who was all snickers.

Carmy snapped his fingers at the two, “aye, dont do that.”

“You got it, Chef. Sorry, Chef.” Sydney stood up, brushing her jeans off as she shut off the tv for Cambria who walked around the home placing the swiffer into a closet, turning off the diffuser and shoving in the chair at the oak table off to the side.

Cambria called out after double checking the side doors, “alright, everybody ready?”

“For what…you and Carmy to play house?” Richie groaned with a stretch, his arms raised high in the air.

“Only if you be his best man.”

Richie’s mouth formed into a o-shape while Carmy gripped the roots of his hair, glaring up at the ceiling and fighting his brain to not think about alters and wedding attire. It’s not something he ever thought about.

Ever.

“I’d be fucking honored.” Richie said into Cambria’s face as he went to the door, winking over at Carmy.

Sydney and Carmy followed Cambria to the door, her allowing them to exit first before she locked up her place and set the alarm through her phone then followed them to the car.

Carmy pointed, “get to the back, Richie.”

“With these legs? Hell no.”

“Sorry, I am a passenger princess.”

“What about a pillow—

Richie started just for Sydney to shove him away from the passenger side. He grumbled to himself as he awaited Carmy to unlock the door but he was preoccupied taking Cambria’s bag from her to place in the trunk.

Soon everyone piled into the car with Cambria pulling the aux cord to Sydney, “let’s see what’s on your playlist, girl. I’ve put in enough overtime today with mine.”

“Okay, sure.” She smiled, pulling her phone out.

Richie folded his arms as Cambria pulled the seat up as far as comfortability allowed for them both, “This ought to be good.”

As soft upbeat tune began to fill the car, with Carmy beginning to pull off from the curb and kept glancing over at Cambria.

“Hey…I forgot to mention earlier…I like the um, the new look. You look great. Really great.” Carmy chewed down on his lips.

Cambria ran her fingers over her slicked down 4C hair for the day, still getting used to the processed hair being gone, “thank you Carm…yeah I did the thing since you last saw me. The big chop and got shitted on for it.”

“From who?” Annoyance was clear on Carmy’s face, “Not from Janine and Gregory I hope.”

“Oh no! They’re very encouraging when it comes to life changes for the better. I thank them for that especially when I quit a few days ago, they were really there for this change of course for me. It’s just worse when it comes from people that claim they love you. The ignorance is so hurtful especially when it comes to my appearance.” Cambria vented before reaching to crack the window open, welcoming some spring air.

Carmy peeked over at Cambria sensing she felt a way about her new do. “Fuck them then. It’s your life and if you want to adjust some shit and they don’t like it then that’s their problem. You don’t need anyone’s validation but your own.”

“What Carmy said. Fuck them and tell ‘em to go scratch.”

That earned some laughter from Cambria, followed by the rest in the car.

“Really richie?”

“Well yeah! I don’t play that bullying or verbal abuse shit. Not saying that’s the case but no one should make you feel low because of what they say. Which I know might be a shocker coming from a guy who doesn’t know how to shut their own trap but I stand by what I said.” Richie ranted and it was clear he meant that.

Carmy was glad Richie was being serious about this.

“How ironic is it that the shuffle is playing India.Arie right now? You’re so much more than what anyone says…remember that Cambria.” Sydney quickly added, making the woman smile as she settled into the passenger side.

It was a joy to be accepted when there’s been multiple decades full of trauma. Cambria only hoped she could do the same for everyone in the car, including herself.

The ride consisted of uplifting songs thanks to Sydney reading the room— or rather car which provided a sense of contentment for everyone even if it was only for a little while.

Carmy dropped Sydney and Richie behind the bear where Richie’s 1998 Toyota Corolla sat, the blue eyed man patiently waited for Sydney’s response on if she wanted to take Richie’s offer on getting her home this Saturday evening. When Richie turned his back after kissing both of Cambria’s cheeks through the window and attempted to lightly slap Carmy’s face, Sydney held up her phone mouthing that she’d text Carmy later to let him know she made it alive.

Doing the honors of waiting for Richie’s car to start, which was shaky mind you—Carmy let Richie lead the way from the alleyway, both turning right towards the lights. The ten minute drive to Carmy’s apartment was more nerve-wracking for him than it was for Cambria who seemed like this was the most normal thing.

Going home with him.

And little did they know, the high beams that followed them to Carmy’s apartment contained Cane, watching their every move since they left Cambria’s condo.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Carmy stood at the entryway of the kitchen as Cambria sat criss-cross on the floor, pulling off the sweater she had on underneath her discarded jacket in Carmy’s room, leaving her in a hot pink tank top.

“Gatorade?”

“As if you need anymore sugar. What about some water?”

Cambria tossed her head back letting out a groan, “you’re killing me. Yes, anything is fine, Carm.”

The water bottle slips from his shaky hand, making him let out a few curse words before he retrieved the dented bottle and made his way to the living room. The itchy couch is pressed up against the wall, a glass table is in the center, a floor lamp is tucked in the corner in between the couch and where his small black bookcase sits, which is what Cambria is currently preoccupying herself with, and the tv sits on a stand Carmy scored for a bargain at a flea market back in Fordham.

If it was one place Carmy didn’t mind to be in at his apartment, it would shockingly be his living room opposed to his kitchen. Although he spent the least time at this apartment, Carmy didn’t feel pressure just simply sitting in the center of the home. He didn’t like to get attached to places and he wasn’t sure if this was even that but there was so much surrounding him in the living room that it didn’t feel suffocating like the other rooms.

“Your bookcase is solid,” Cambria mentioned as she flipped the pages to one of the many cook books Carmy’s collected, “not as speculator as mine though. You could use a bit of variety but A- for effort.”

Carmy scoffed out a laugh as he sat back on his couch, “I’ll take it but until you recommend me something just as inspiring, I’ll take that with a grain of salt.”

“Oh I have plenty, just name your genre.” Cambria placed the book back, before sitting back on the floor to almost chug the water.

“Non-fiction.”

“Type?” Cambria almost panted from the water.

“Memoirs.”

“Locked in.” Cambria tapped her temple to remember it.

“So what’s your analysis of this shitty place?” Carmy questions after moments of silence.

Cambria almost whips her head back to look at him, not liking him taking down on this place but said, “just a few tweaks. Nothing that can’t be handled with the power of Cam and Carm.”

“Oh shit, really?” Carmy snorted, “you’re making this out to be like some sort of sitcom.”

Cambria smiled at him, chin tucked into her shoulder that he almost forgot the usual fatigue that was starting to set in, “Cam and Carm has a little spice to it, don’t you think?”

“What’re we a new seasoning now?” Amusement was in his bright blues.

Cambria nodded her head in satisfaction as she popped her collar, “let me cook, chef.”

“Heard.” Carm raised his hands, water bottle in one of them as he gave her a crooked smile before placing the bottle to his lips.

Cambria got to her feet, moving to sit beside Carmy as he placed his feet onto the table. The look she shot him made Carmy roll his head over to meet her burning stare.

“What?”

“It’ll be your task to wipe that down.”

“Fine.” Carmy sighed, making no move to put his feet down as Cambria scooted closer to him, letting her head rest on his shoulder.

Carmy hoped his heart wouldn’t burst right out of his chest at Cambria’s comfortability. So he played it cool, switching on the tv, which illuminated the dim room as he flipped through the channels, settling on some survival in the woods show, which put Cambria right to sleep.

And he followed suit, not long after, with his head gently resting against Cambria’s and her squeezing his tatted arm tighter and locked with her own.

That turned out to be the best sleep Carmy’s received in awhile.

❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗ ❝ ᵕ̈೫˚∗

Continue along with my anthology works I’ve written during this spring season here.

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cloveroctobers · 8 months

Text

SILENCE — ANGEL REYES x OC x CANE TEJADA | Part ii.

A/N: I can’t believe I’m actually doing a part two since I never do those because they don’t ever preform as well as the first but after that (terrible) finale I couldn’t resist. Thanks for the support on the first one, hopefully this will bring some sense of more life for Angel. if this is my last piece for him then why not also go out with a little something? He’s the last man standing apparently so here’s a send off on my part.

WARNINGS: language, hints of coping mechanisms? Or Mental illness Therapy is mentioned, I’ve also been binge-watching 9-1-1 from the beginning, I’m currently on season 4 I think! which is why Eddie’s character is mentioned but he doesn’t make a appearance so please skip over this if you’re feeling some type of way about that and are looking for a eddie based fic. I will be writing something for him soon btw. There’s also a little surprise towards the end for certain lovers who might read this.

*GIF and photos DO NOT BELONG TO ME!

Read part one here. + using this prompt and number 21. Timing

*ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *

Solay’s half asleep, the soft horns sounding from the NBA game Cane’s got his hands on was actually comforting and it often reminded her of nights when her and her sister would fall asleep on the couch together while their father watched the game. It was late, once watching the clock going from midnight to 2 am, she was once wired, greasing cane’s hair and brushing his waves before securing the doo-rag around his head.

It was a typical night, their version of normal until harsh knocks sounded at the door, breaking Solay out of her slumber. Her eyes felt heavy but she was alert and so was Cane as he paused the game, picking up on the knocks that appeared at the door some more. He tossed the controller onto the coffee table, moving slowly as he reaches underneath the cushion of the couch Solay was lounging on.

His low-lidded eyes briefly met her’s as he brings a single finger up to his lips after taking the safety off. Cane’s on his feet now while Solay shortly follows after, reaching over to turn off the side lamp and ready to head to the back of the home to check on her son, Xavier.

Cane wasn’t sure who it could be, he knew it couldn’t be any of his people considering the situation back home but he figured it could be Tariq’s bitch ass, you just never know with him. He’s against the door now, peeking around but all he could see was a shadow of someone.

Yanking the door back to fly against the wall, he’s quick with his grip as he aims the gun right at Angel Reyes who hold’s out a arm while he cradles his son.

“Fuck you want?” Cane asks.

Angel looks down but it’s not like Cane cares, although it seems he lowers the gun just a bit, for the baby’s sake.

“I need to talk to soso.”

“Nig—, you know what time it is? Knocking on the damn door like you the feds or some shit? What makes you think it’s okay to show up here unannounced at this time of the night?” Cane’s tone is clipped.

Angel shifts Maverick in his arms as he says, “that’s a conversation I need to have with Solay, not you.”

“Last time I checked, she ain’t with your ass no more and I’m the man of this house so you want to run that by me again?”

A house Angel was damn sure Cane didn’t put a penny down to help with the mortgage.

The darkness underneath Angel’s eyes was deafening but the twitch of his brows was evident that he had no intentions of backing down. He still felt a way about Cane showing up to his house and Angel thought he could do the same. If this was his house but Angel couldn’t see himself in the big apple.

It was only right in his eyes.

Before he can send a rebuttal at the shorter brown skinned man, Solay appears from behind Cane, who lets out a sigh before sucking his teeth.

“Enrique Iglesias is here,” Cane informs Solay who pulls her robe tighter around her body.

She hasn’t seen Angel since the funeral for Felipe. Understandably so, he needed time to grieve but she figured he was doing it alone due to the decline of Ezekiel’s relationship with the man and that couldn’t be healthy. And it wasn’t like Solay saw Angel much before that either, he showed up to the second therapy session but it was clear that his mind was somewhere else. Which wasn’t unusual when it came to his precious club but Solay didn’t pry since it seemed like Angel was always on the go or lost in his thoughts. It’s not like she didn’t care but he was the one who encouraged her there to these sessions but her gut also told her that it would always be only a matter of time.

Until he moved on to something else.

Timing was never something Angel managed well. If shit came at him, he was usually thrown for a loop depending on what it was and never had guidelines for plans or anything like that. He was more take things as they were tossed at him type of person but ever since EZ got into that president’s chair and Angel got the chance to raise Maverick, he was also changing.

“Angel…” solay started as she took in his appearance, she could tell that something was wrong, “what’s going on?”

Angel swallowed the lump in his throat and if Cane wasn’t in the room right now, he probably would have collapsed into Solay’s arms. She could see that, she could sense that. It was in his eyes, that he was hurting and sure way back when that might have gave Solay the tiniest bit of satisfaction but that’s not where they were now.

She was annoyed he stopped showing up to the sessions but brushed it off after awhile, saying that she “knew it,” up until Felipe was gunned down in Angel’s childhood home. There was always something going on with Angel and although they were trying to work on their relationship, Solay knew she couldn’t be selfish.

She didn’t have the heart to be.

Solay waved Angel in, despite the incredulous look Cane shot her way. She’s locking the door behind him and rests her hand on Angel’s lower back, which surprisingly makes him flinch as she does.

A brow raises at that but Solay says, “come into the living room.”

“Yeah okay…where’s Xavy?”

“Sleeping like yo ass should be.” Cane mutters, while Solay sends him a sharp look.

He places the lock back on the gun and puts it into the waist band of his basketball shorts, clasping his hands in front of him as he eyes Solay being so gentle with a dude that didn’t deserve it. Cane was heavy on that, “fuck the fact that he’s your baby’s father, after everything he put you through? Why are you still concerned when you knew he was gonna pull that shit? He doesn’t care about you like I do and I’m not even sure he gives that much of a fuck about Xavier.”

This was said after Angel stopped showing up to the sessions and Solay didn’t want to hear it. It didn’t feel like cane’s place—although she vented to him and he did the shit-talking to mainly make her feel better—and it also wasn’t angel’s place to feel a way about her seeing someone else.

Solay inhales as she sits on the coffee table, crossing one leg over the other as she takes in her ex-husband. He’s barely blinking as he stares off in space and Solay isn’t sure what to do about this.

“Talk to me,” she says bringing Angel’s dark eyes to meet her doe ones, “what happened?”

Angel places his lips against a sleeping Maverick’s temple that he cradles and then blows out a breath, “where do I start? Luisa’s gone, just buried my pops, now EZ’s dead—which I—I played a part in, I’m out the club and now I need you and Xavier to come with me to Arizona.”

Cane is laughing it up now while Solay is almost at a lost for words. She wasn’t surprised about Luisa but it would probably explain why Angel was checked out and why he moved in with Felipe. They haven’t really talked like they used to be able to do so hearing all of this—about what was going on in Angel’s world was a lot to process.

It always was.

“What do you mean…EZ’s dead?” Solay croaked out, shifting as she held out a hand to silence the man behind them.

Angel rubs at his exhausted face now, “The club found out…now it’s over. I buried him myself out on the road and I wish I never encouraged him to be in this shit you know? Maybe he’d still be here being a smart ass. My brother’s gone and I don’t got nothing left. This dried blood on my hands…it’s not worth it no more. Which is why I need you and Xavy to come with me before the feds come because I know they will. It’s only a matter of time.”

Solay searched Angel’s eyes and they held sincerity. It was all finally coming full circle now, what she’s been telling him for years…that the club’s brotherhood wouldn’t end well. Not when there was so much dirt, blood, lack of values, and deceit behind it. She had no issue speaking her peace on the club way back when (she also felt a way when she learned that EZ was getting involved fresh out of being locked up but angel didn’t want to hear that shit either) and sure she got along with some of the men there but it’s not like she was ever clueless to what it was. Solay was tired of constantly looking over her shoulder when it came to Angel’s club and that feeling never went away, even when she gave birth to their son and even when they were officially divorced. Everything was crumbling down around Angel and he was trying to get out for good.

“You want me to just pick everything up and follow you to Arizona?”

Angel dips his head, “yeah, it’ll be different this time. And I’m not saying let’s go off and get remarried or nothing like that but we could be something real. A family again.”

“Yeah a real fucked up one,” Cane comments, making Angel realize that he was in fact still in the room with them, “so let’s get this straight? Your daddy’s gone, that bitch you cheated with up and left your ass—which probably means she’s six feet under too—yeah I know exactly what she’s really into and it’s clear you’re too dumb to figure that out still, and now for a club to kill one of their own…it’s evident that your brother was some sort of snitch who got what was comin’ to him. But the ultimate disrespect is you coming back up in here with your tail in between your legs, thinking you can just take back what you lost long ago.”

“Listen man, you watch your damn mouth when it comes to my blood.” Angel points a warning finger at the man who chuckles; not the least bit threatened, “this is much bigger than your fucken ego. I’m looking out for Solay and our son, this don’t got shit to do with you. Never has. You can leave and go back to your own crooked shit in New York and leave Solay and my son out of it.”

Now isn’t that the coffee calling the kettle black?

Cane furrowed his brows, “Now you wanna win the father of the year award? You ain’t never been shit as far as I can tell and you’re never gonna be shit. Solay’s not going nowhere with you, she’s good on that.”

Solay got to her feet now as Angel glared at Cane who was all smirks, knowing he could get underneath the vulnerable older man’s skin so easily, “I’m going to need the both of you stop speaking for me.”

Both men kept their heated stares on each other but Cane couldn’t take Angel seriously with a child in his arms. The silence was weighing down the living room as Solay began to pace the floor. She didn’t know all of the details and didn’t think she would with Cane in the room. There was truth in his words when it came to the club—this Solay knew, although she was always on the outside when it came to anything revolving around the Mayans.

“Cane…I need a minute.”

“Aight, let’s go.” Cane was ready to lead the way back to the bedroom with a nod of his head in the direction of the room but a shake of Solay’s head had him confused.

Solay met Cane’s hooded eyes, “with Angel, alone.”

“I know you’re not considering leaving with this clown, So.”

Angel shrugged his shoulders, “It shouldn’t matter to you no way, the only reason you still stuck around is to get some product right? Now that that’s gone—you don’t need me or Solay. So maybe you should start saying your goodbyes now.”

Which provoked cane to whip out the gun again, until Solay reached for his wrist, making cane glance at her, ready to shove her hand off but he moved his stare back to Angel who had a sly smirk on the corner of his own lips.

“You act like you’re the only one I can do business with.” Cane tightened his stare, “Heroin ain’t really my lane but I thought why not since I’m here? You fucked that up like you constantly do and there you go again assuming shit about my relationship with Solay and you don’t know the first thing about it.”

Angel lifted his shoulders, “I know you ain’t no better than me and you don’t really care about Solay as much as you claim you do. It’s all a game but the difference is I’m always gonna be around, you on the other hand are disposable and I’mma always have my son’s best interest at heart. Solay’s the bonus.”

Cane rolled his eyes, “Let me find you a gold sticker for your forehead—

“ENOUGH!” Solay screams at the both of them, carefully peaking over at the sleeping baby afterwards,“this back and forth is getting on my nerves. Let me think in peace for a little bit, just go Cane.”

She orders.

Cane kisses his teeth and walked off, knowing that it was best before he might actually let some bullets fly.

Solay massaged the space in between her thin brows as her mind began spinning. She thought about all the bad the club brought to her front door and she was just leveling up without it.

So it seemed.

Now here Angel, a man she used to be in love with, a troubled man she wanted to spend forever with once upon a time, the man she shared a child with, was here telling her he was out. Out of the club, something she wanted for years for him because she knew that club wasn’t his purpose. He didn’t see it then but he saw it now. Solay’s faced a lot when it came to the club, with Angel’s disappearing for days at a time making her believe one of those days he wouldn’t come home to her, quality time being cancelled so he could be more dedicated to that club instead, cleaning up his wounds due to all sorts of danger he was involved in, he fucked those bartending bitches behind her back while some of those men smiled in her face knowing his dirt, to having a false sense of protection that led to being tied up, beat on so bad and left alone in a burning building years ago—which she just finished paying off a hospital bill for.

All of those instances let Solay know that The Mayans weren’t some saints by any means but Solay knew Angel loved that brotherhood once upon a time. He was slowly changing and morphing into something else—maybe something better—over these last couple of years but Solay figured that’s what happens when on-going lost comes your way. Gives you a bit of a wake up call and proud wasnt the word she would ever use (everyone that he lost still mattered to her as well) but it was about damn time.

It’s just unfournate how it all played out and there was so much to weigh out here. Solay knew she and Xavier would probably be harassed despite Angel being officially out of the Mayans. The war doesn’t just end and given what state Angel was in—numb yet determined, sitting in her living room clenching onto Maverick, Solay knew this war would just brew many more.

She would be affiliated no matter what and so would their son and so would Mavy—if not more thanks to who his mother is or was. This would always be Angel’s doing and she wasn’t blaming him, that wouldn’t get her anywhere she realized but it was a fact. She was with Angel right when the club was just an idea, a one night stand which later turned serious not long after he got patched in, back when he and Coco just moved into the Azure apartment complexes. The Mayans ripped through Angel, that much she could tell and many in her position would jump at the chance to shout at him, “I told your ass!”

Except Solay closed her eyes and took a deep inhale, rolling the tension out of her shoulders before she met Angel’s stare.

“Tell me all of it but take it easy when it comes to…Ezekiel.” She tells Angel, feeling a twing in her own chest at the thought of the brother she couldn’t save.

Angel held his ex-wife’s stare and inhaled a shaky breath, “…alright.”

Life in the desert was not something Solay thought she would ever be part of. She immediately thought of dry skin 24/7 when she had combo skin. Yes there were deserts back home but at least there was a downtown area that wasn’t far from her home. This transition was certainly just that. She’s in the kitchen in a daze, the southwest home is quiet in her mind as she’s drying the last dish. Her eyes are set on the two square windows by the dining table off to the side of the strangely shaped kitchen, back pressed into the kitchen sink.

It’s a early Monday afternoon, September just hit the calendar and she’s lost track of time. A hand catches her off guard as they tug on the belt hoops of her Jean skirt, making her gaze turn down to her seven year old who’s peering up at her with her mirrored doe-shaped eyes and his father’s nose.

“We’re back from the pool, mommy!” Xavier signs as Solay smiles sweetly at him, hand going around his shoulders to squeeze him to her hips.

She didn’t even pick up on him entering the sliding doors by the dining room, her mind elsewhere.

Labor Day came around much quicker than expected and they had their little celebration that Sunday but Xavier seemed to love the water and couldn’t get enough. Which means Angel was on duty for taking him and Maverick to the pool out back while Solay did a few minor things for work online and cleaned up the lunch angel ordered.

Solay signs, “Did you have fun?”

“Always!” Xavier laughs with a nod of his head.

“Good, let’s get you cleaned up.”

The boy groans as Solay gives him a stern look while he spins on his damp heels before stomping out the kitchen and headed towards his room.

Solay lightly laughs with a shake of her head.

“Xavy pouting about clean up time again?”

“Yeah the usual,” solay shrugs as the man makes his way over to her while she reaches to brush a wet strand of a two year old Maverick’s hair back, “everything go alright out there?”

Angel bends to put Maverick on his feet, the little man taking off on his chubby feet to find his big brother, “yeah, why wouldn’t it be? It’s hot as shit out there though. Isn’t autumn supposed to be here by now?”

“We just touched September,” Solay states kind of ignoring the question he asked back, “and you’re the one who picked Arizona, not me.”

Angel lifts his chin, “you could have talked me out of it though.”

“You don’t listen to nobody but your own big ass head.”

Angel shrugged as he leaned his elbows back on the dark wooded island that was rolled and locked in place on a angle in the kitchen, “seriously though, I’ve seen you in here looking like you’re off in space and shit. You sure you’re alright?”

Ever since Solay made the decision to be here with Angel, Maverick, and Xavier, Angel always made it his task to question how she was holding up. Like it was devastating or like she had regrets being here but that’s not truly how she felt. She wasn’t sure how she felt, Solay couldn’t really explain it. She just knows she feels something unsettling often. After Angel told her the truth back in her old stucco home in Santo Padre, she knew getting the hell out of dodge was also the best option.

They weren’t together but they found a new therapist and communicated much better. Angel worked two jobs, first considering a semi-truck driving job but declined once he knew how much hours he would have to put in and how long he would be away from his family. He was persistent on turning over a new leaf. Of course he still had scraps of his own money and Luisa’s blood money but he promised Solay that he wouldn’t use that money when it came to renting their home. He could do whatever he wanted with it but not when it came to their new home or Xavier. So he worked as a custodian at a middle school full-time and a delivery driver on Friday and most Saturday nights.

Solay signed over the building to her second in command at her shop to continue running her business in Santo Padre and if she wished to turn it into her own, she could. Solay was expecting and waiting for the day that would happen. Her main focus was running her e-commerce shop for her beauty line which continued to be successful and having her products distributed in over seven spas in the major cities of Arizona. She was still doing well and adapted to the new setting although her family was very vocal on this big leap.

Her dad still wasn’t vibing with Angel like that after all these years and knew from the jump that he continued to get his daughter into some mess. It really wasn’t like that but a father always knows and he had no problem booking flights with his ex wife, Solay’s mother to vacation in this hot ass desert right at their house. Her big sister on the other hand? She made it routine to talk to Solay and her nephew, Xavier almost every day.

In a way having Solay’s family around a few times out of the year kinda made him forget missing his own. Almost. Even when he was got in disagreements with Solay’s opinionated father. He could laugh about it once he dropped them off at the airport and brush off the touch of overbearingness because that’s just how Solay’s family was.

He was still down to go to the end of the earth with her as he eyed her in a new light now. Part of him expected Solay to just kick him out that night and keep him away from Xavier. Instead he gave her the littlest bit of time to decide, on his terms and even though everything seemed to be moving rapidly to him, he understood that Solay didn’t operate like that. Things could be drippy when this type of news was delivered and felt overwhelming. She had to sit with all the information Angel gave her, then analyze it all and take Xavier into account before moving forward.

Maybe this was just what they needed, a change of scenery, away from the Mayans and what that town brought into their lives. It wasn’t perfect by any means but life was much more slow-paced now. Initially this is what Solay wanted, a soft girl era but there was always this haunting feeling that shifted from her chest down to her gut.

“Do I?” She asked, snapping out of it.

Angel started tossing a plum up into the air, “don’t know if you notice but you just did it again. Felt like twelve hours later that you answered me.”

“I’m fine.”

“Do you mean it though?”

“What?”

“You’d tell me if something is wrong right? If you don’t want to do this anymore—

“Shush. It’s not ideal but it works for now.”

Angel dipped his head at this. He was very much aware that Solay could run off into the night if she truly wanted to but she was also invested in beating the odds. She wanted a stable home for their son. It made sense to Angel and knew it didn’t to anybody else and sure it was rocky at first with Xavier having trouble adjusting to the new environment—which kicked mama bear Solay in play, who had no issue telling administrators to be more accommodating to those with special needs (there was a serious lack of specific hearing impaired schools in small towns like this and santo padre but at least back home there was one educator that was also an interpreter) —Angel had to hide the chairs let’s just say that and Angel also had no issue telling the kid that picked on Xavy that he’d “fuck him up,” which the kid repeated but his own parents didn’t believe that surprisingly.

Probably because the wife and her husband had their eyes on angel. Solay was completely convinced that they were swingers but Angel laughed it off until his ass got squeezed by one of them at a third meeting.

“Alright then…wanna talk about that date with the firefighter?”

Solay scowled, “it wasn’t a date.”

“You went to a cooking class together this time around and a escape room before that, which he had a advantage to considering his job by the way. I’d say it’s a date, why are you being so weird about it?” Angel’s tossing the fruit up in the air but frowning over at the woman.

Solay scratches at her scalp above her scarf in irritation before moving to leave the kitchen and entered the living room that’s right next to it, “i’m not being weird about it. I just don’t think I need to talk to you about it.”

“Why not? I’m not feelin’ no type of way about it if that’s what you’re thinking. are we not besties now?” Angel followed after Solay who flicked the reruns of a talk-show off.

Solay scoffed as she looked over at angel in disbelief, “we’re roomies at best.”

“Exactly, besties.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“I think it would help Edgar sleep better at night if you just admit yall are going on dates.” Angel teased as he leaned towards Solay who gave him the hand on her way by.

“That’s not even his name!”

Angel called out to her, “I know it starts with an E though. I gotta be close.”

“Eddie.” Solay told him, “Short for Edmundo and that’s all I’m gonna say about him to you.”

“Edmundo? Awl shit, you got a type!”

“Shut the hell—I’m gonna tend to the kids.”

“Yeah uh huh, you can get away from this conversation now but I’ll just ease drop some more when you’re gossiping about ‘im when you’re on the phone with big sis.” Angel commented as Solay rolled her eyes and made her exit.

If you asked solay she would say Angel’s the one being weird about this. It’s been two years since they left and Angel was keen on seeing solay get back out there and find her perfect match or whatever. He seemed to be more for it than Solay herself. She wasn’t really searching when Eddie came along in a bar (with a few others) she was having dinner solo in and she definitely brought it up to their therapist, who said it was Angel’s way of trying to make up for the unhappiness he brought her.

Still that was more weird than them living in a house together raising their sons in Solay’s eyes. A more normal reaction would be Angel grilling the casual dates Solay went on but now he was ready to hear how it was going and when he would meet them. Solay’s only been on two dates with Eddie and he was a complete gentleman, had a excellent job, a bit dorky and nervous? which gave Solay the indication that he did like her a little bit when he stumbled over his words asking her out for the first time but knew how to keep a conversation going, it was easy flowing. Almost too easy and Solay wasn’t used to easy.

At all.

She’s helping an annoyed Xavier with a Luke-temp bath, putting her thoughts on mute after hearing Angel tend to Maverick in Xavier’s room, coming up with all sorts of sound effects as if they were pilots (she thinks) since Maverick seemed to enjoy airplanes.

“Mom,” Xavier gets Solay’s attention again, sticking his finger into her nostril.

She flinched back making the boy laugh in her expense while she shook her head at him with a disapproving smile. He’s pointing behind her at the counter and Solay turns as she sits on the closed lid, reaching for her vibrating phone, which shows its her old employee calling her.

“Hey Idil, I know you’re not working on the holiday?” Solay greets after putting the call on speaker.

There’s loud shuffling on the line, which makes solay furrow her brows a bit as she turns back to the phone, “Idil?”

“Sup, so. You miss me?”

Solay pauses as she picks up on the familiar voice, “…Cane…what’re you doing?”

“Business. That’s all I’m good for right?”

Things didn’t end the best with Cane as to be expected when Solay told him what she planned on doing. Which included putting the house on the market, packing up half of her things, having some of it shipped out, leaving a small portion to sell with the house, discussing the way her business would be ran in Idil’s hands abruptly, and most importantly leaving Cane behind. She learned all about him showing up to Angel’s house with his little brother Dru, threatening him to stay away from Solay and to see how they can get in on Ez’s supply of heroin to move a percentage of the product in New York. Cane heard about the new president from word of mouth on the streets but he was the first to actually take the trip and do something about it.

Solay came into sight and he got a little distracted but when cane learned her background, he was close enough to get that connect but he also found fun in getting on Angel’s nerves. Which left Solay to question if any of it was real, she was tired of men taking for her weak when she opened up her heart to them which is why she was a little emotionally cut off—so she thought but she was always passionate or sensitive—depends who you ask.

“What do you want?”

Cane huffed, “how you know I ain’t just supporting a black owned business? What if I want to keep my skin looking like a Hershey’s kiss?”

“I don’t have time for this.”

“Yeah but you had enough time to fuck off with Antonio banderas and kick me to the curb though.”

“You sound pressed.”

“Nah, I handle shit.”

“And what do you mean by that?” Solay’s eyes were in slits now, “you know what? Don’t answer that. I don’t want anything else to do with your bullshit.”

“Why not? We had a good time together don’t you think?”

“I’d Rather not reminisce about the past.”

“See, I find that hard to believe. You in that clay box ass house with a nobody raising his kids, one of those kids that’s a product of him not being loyal to you. Not loving you. Like you ain’t shit to him, he treated you like you were temporary. Which is something I would have never done to you but you’re too blinded by him for whatever reason. Sounds like you ran right back to the past because you’re scared of something real.”

Solay cackles as Cane voices his thoughts to her, like he just read her. “Scared, maybe? Real? That’s unlikely with you. You didn’t step into what we had as a forever type of thing, it was all lies on your part too. All the red flags were right in front of my face and I don’t know how you don’t get that you’re no better, Cane. I know one things for sure, I wasn’t ever afraid to lose you, so stay the fuck off my line.”

With that she ended the call and only imagined he was probably screwing somebody in the shop now if he wasn’t running product through it. Idil couldn’t be that fooled or backstabbing right? She knew how cane operated and it’s been silent for two years now, not hearing from him and her accepting that most of it was probably not genuine was just Cane trying to get ahead.

Solay was over these men trying to get the best of her when she felt like didn’t deserve this. She was knocked off her path moving to Arizona but perhaps this was part of her healing. At least that’s one way she tried to look at it, putting boundaries up and vowing that she didn’t see being in a romantic relationship again with Angel Reyes. What she saw was: she needed to move on from all the hurt, find happiness behind the success and continue being a good mom to Xavier.

Solay was done with the drama.

“Soso, everything good?” Angel called from behind the door.

Solay had her eyes trained on Xavier, her hand resting on his coarse damp hair. She calls back out to Angel, “yup, all good. Hey, what do you think about taking the RV out for a ride a little later? Go sight seeing.”

“Fucken finally!” Angel cheered from behind the door while a small smile appeared on her lips, “I’m driving though.”

That’s right, Angel made the purchase of a RV for the hell of it last summer while Solay looked at it as a possible exit plan. Did Angel know that? No but she planned on telling him at some point. Did she need to jump ship just yet now that it’s been brought to her attention that cane was still keeping tabs on her? Maybe so but for now she just wanted to enjoy this holiday.

She’s on autopilot as she’s getting Xavier dressed into some lounge clothes that would be suitable for their outing later. After finishing twirling his coils, she sends him off to run to where Maverick and Angel are horsing around—easily joining in on their fun. Solay stands in the doorway, arms lightly folded as she watches them bond with each other, like a family should.

This time it felt like it was time to stop catering to everyone else’s needs always first yet that could be dangerous if you didn’t have balance but Solay was ready for something more. No one was going to get in the way of that, she vowed. She deserved to have genuine joy that didn’t end with her crying herself to sleep at night. That didn’t mean to find that in someone else because you’ll be dependent on that person always and that’s not something she wanted to do anymore, be dependent on anyone else for love, this she learned in therapy but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the company of a certain firefighter if she got out of her own way.

She should text Eddie back.

A lot can happen in two years and her attitude shifted being in the same space as Angel again. It wasn’t necessarily intentional in the beginning it’s just that it was always something with him. Now it didn’t feel like she was simply tolerating him anymore, no it wasn’t all sparkles and sunshine either in this present time but the bad moods stopped being constant. Solay’s mind was always on the move and being someplace else away from her main family, gave her the chance to really sit with her emotions and that brought up a lot some days.

She had to learn that her life wasn’t some play in a dream land or that she was out in the audience watching, like this was euphoria or anything along those lines.

This was actually her life and as she watched a tatted shirtless Angel settle into his newfound life with his boys, warm smiles and head thrown back while he silently laughed as he interacted with both boys in harmony, Solay let a smile of her own split onto her face.

It’s after 3PM when the family of four make their way out into the Arizonan heat that’s good at sending people to do a quick face plant. Solay’s checked the weather every hour before they deemed that now was a good time to go out, the temperature only went down four degrees which absolutely didn’t feel like much as she held Maverick’s little hand and Angel led the way while Xavier ran from his side and up ahead.

Forgetting something in the house, she tells Angel as he’s standing at the dining table inside the cool RV while the boys sit side by side.

“C’mon so!” Angel groaned, “We’re just going on a thirty minute drive and coming straight back, you tryin’ to take the whole house?”

Solay raises a finger in the air as she’s going down the steps, “better to be prepared than not to be if we get stranded.”

“Don’t put that kinda energy out there, cariño.”

“I’m just saying.”

“You’re starting to sound like your mother.”

“Run that by me again?”

“Nothing. Go head.” Angel fanned his ring covered hand at the arched brow Solay sent his way.

He then snickered down at the boys who watched their interaction as he spoke and signed, “Joking,” to Xavier and Maverick.

The heat blew across her skin as she peered down at her phone, house keys swinging on her finger until she stopped in her tracks, looking up and over at the two young figures standing before her.

“You must be Tariq and…”

“Oh, I’m Brayden!” The blond boy on his right beamed with a hand pressed to his chest in greeting, making the taller of the two cut his eyes at him.

Brayden shrugged innocently at the look Tariq sent him while Solay let out a sigh and placed her phone into the back pocket of her Jean skirt.

“You don’t seem surprised to see us.” Tariq noted while Solay held out her hands.

“Not really, when you get older it’s always something. So…what’s the plan here boys?” Solay moved her hand to press against her forehead, blocking out the scorching sunrays.

The two share a look with each other while Solay awaited for them to spit it out. They were here for a reason and Solay was open to hearing them out since they came all this way after all but it’s not like she wanted to be wrapped up in their bullshit either.

They just met and she really owed them nothing.

“Do you know a Don? Don Carter.” Tariq starts and he picks up on the expression on Solay’s face.

She doesn’t say anything but Tariq picked up the expression on her face much faster than Brayden could register it.

“He’s this detective who’s wife got killed years ago and he was never able to solve the case. We have proof that shows Cane pulled the trigger that killed her and we need your help to get him out the way or else our asses are done for.” Brayden added.

Solay answered, “Detective Don Carter is my cousin.”

“I knew it.” Tariq smiled as if this solved his problem, “if we hand him the truth and you lure Cane back here, we can either take him out or Don can do whatever he needs to: throw his ass in jail or take him out himself. Whoever gets to him first besides you.”

Brayden brushed off his shoulders before the teens gave each other dap, “Yeah, team work baby!”

Solay shushed them, making the smiles wipe right off their faces, “what makes you think I want to be involved with Cane again? I’ve moved on, whatever else he’s got going on doesn’t have a thing to do with me if you haven’t noticed.”

“That’s not true though,” Tariq frowned, “you know he’s obsessed with you more than he’s on my shit and that’s saying a lot. He’s gonna disrupt whatever you got going on until he wins.”

‘What exactly does he think he’s going to win?’ Solay thought to herself as she tilts her head to the side at the teen’s words, Tariq would know that side of Cane since that’s not the side she got to see but he did fool her before.

“So the plan is: you want me to trap him for your sake? Which again, doesn’t have anything to do with me.”

“Yours too. He did you dirty, right? Aren’t you sick of him because I sure am.” Brayden asks, making Solay cross her arms.

“That’s my cousin’s business not mine.” Solay almost sasses, “I’m on a clean slate this time, I’m just trying to be a mother and be a legal business owner, no more dealing with men that have bad shit attached to them. take that shit to Don and leave me out of it. I heard he moved out to New york.”

“Well…” Brayden sucks air between his teeth with a wince.

Tariq states, “we can’t go back to the city just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Cane’s stupid ass, the rest of the tejada’s, and Effie set me up that’s why!” Tariq was heated, rightfully so.

“I tried to take him out but I guess that wasn’t enough to be fatal,” Brayden is apologetic but Tariq just dips his head in thanks, a silent understanding passing between the two boys.

“Wait…you shot Cane? He just called—nope.” Solay begins walking by the boys, done with the conversation while shuffling her keys as she heads back to the house, kicking up dirt while she went.

The boys were pleading as they followed after the older woman but she was not trying to hear anymore.

“Hey!” Angel called out to the trio, making both Tariq and Brayden whip around to face the mustache wearing man who stood on the steps of the RV, shotgun aimed right in their direction.

“Shit, shit! Don’t shoot us man, we really come in peace!”

“Shut up, Brayden.”

“Angel,” Solay calls from the path of the doorway and gives him a shake of her head to tell him not to pull that trigger.

Solay takes her eyes off Angel and says to the boys, “wait here, preferably away from my ex-husband’s eyesight.”

“No problem! You got it!” Brayden disappears, hiding behind the southwest exterior while Tariq holds Angel’s stare who turns them into slits, “what’re you doing, riq? Didn’t you say he’s in a motorcycle club? those motherfuckers get rowdy.”

“Nah, he was. Then he disappeared. He might be our answer too.”

The door slams shut behind them, making the teens turn back to Solay who’s locking up the home while carrying what appears to be a trinket box. She meets their stare as she steps down onto the dirt and nods her head, “follow me.”

“Not if you’re gonna have that guy kill us!”

“Nobody’s dying,” Solay says over her shoulder as she leads the way back to Angel, “my kids are inside the RV.”

Brayden let’s out a whistle of relief as Solay steps up to Angel, reaching up to lower the gun down, her eyes saying something which gets him to put the safety on lock.

“This is Tariq and Brayden,” Solay let’s Angel know as they make their way into the RV, making the man let out a groan of annoyance.

“Our kids are here and it’s a holiday, why are you two pulling up now?”

Tariq presses his elbows into his knees after taking a seat on the couch parallel to where the two kids sit, “To get rid of your remaining problem: Cane Tejada.”

“Oh…the fucken bed bug.” Angel rubs at his face in irritation while Brayden snorts at the insult.

Solay cut her eyes at him, motioning to their kids, leaving the man to hold his hands up in surrender and then sticks his tongue out at Maverick who looks his way. Solay places the headphones onto the toddler’s ears and gently rubs Xavier’s shoulders, although he’s too involved in his tablet to care about the new guests.

Tariq and Brayden give the same rundown they just gave Solay and Angel listens carefully. He rubs at his face in thought over this, on one instance this could go in their favor but on the other hand it could also go very wrong. It became knowledge to Angel that Cane was still keeping tabs on them and that didn’t sit right with him. This means they never knew what he would do or when he would do it, he was always unpredictable like that and the last thing Angel wanted was Cane messing up what he and Solay came so far to have together.

This was the first time Angel got to really start over and he knew from the beginning that Cane was not the one for Solay. Standing here now just proves that.

“We know a guy that can probably help you guys more than we can,” Angel says after a moment, his eyes meeting Solay’s as she nods her head also thinking the same thing.

Solay doesn’t say more as Angel moves to the driver seat, leaving her to tap and motion for Xavier to slide over before she reaches over to hold Maverick in the safety of her arms.

Brayden’s more antsy than Tariq is, who seems to have this calm but cautious demeanor analyzing everything around them just in case they needed to flee from the RV. His guard was secretly up but he did his research, he found out what Cane’s plan was coming out to California but wouldn’t realize how this would backfire on him.

Tariq didn’t care to know the full details on Cane’s fraudulent relationship with the braided woman but he could see the appeal in Solay. With the way she moved on her own, with Angel and interacted with the kids, there was power in her soothing aura. Tariq could tell that she was over it though and that she’s also been through some shit but if she wanted to fully dead the situation, she would even if that meant she didn’t have to get her hands dirty herself.

The drive from the desert into the Mountain View and ramps was not what Tariq was really used to on a daily but the ride was long enough. Angel’s soon pulling up on the side of the road before shutting the engine off.

“We’re here,” Angel says through the rear view mirror before unbuckling his seatbelt.

Solay looks in his direction before turning to the two boys, “before you ask, there’s a pay phone up ahead and you’re going to take this number and let him know that Majesty and Sunny sent you.”

Tariq takes the slip of paper from Solay who rocks Maverick on her lap, “How do we know you’re not setting us up?”

“You don’t.” Angel calls out while Solay blinks.

She shrugs, “that’s not the life we live anymore but if it’s to get the bad off our backs…hopefully this will be worth it.”

“Are you sure this guy will help us?”

“His ass is always into something despite the fact that he should be dead with the rest but I know he’s been itching to get into it. To get his hands on something again…he’s a dumbass just like you two.” Angel fills the two in while they share a look, unsure but knew they didn’t have much else to lose.

They didn’t have many on their side right now.

Solay chipped in as she rests her chin on top of Mavy’s dark hair, “And just like you used to be.”

“That’s before I became a dad.”

Solay hummed in disbelief.

“Alright before i became a better one!”

Tariq got to his feet now while the pair smiled at each other from across the vehicle, “aight thanks for looking out.”

“Sure…but promise me this will be the last time we see you.”

Brayden glanced at Tariq who stood by the stairs, “as long as this guy comes through.”

Solay tunes that response out.

“Uh wait, how do we know it’s him?” Brayden asks as Tariq heads towards the door but also pauses on the last step.

“…he goes by Guero.” Angel says as Tariq repeats the name with a nod of his head before pushing the door open.

Once both boys are off the RV and shut the door closed, Angel starts the engine again and pulls off leaving the boys behind to their own disarray.

Solay turns with one arm to pull Xavier to rest against her chest, her attention turning to the blur of trees lingering in the now partly cloudy sky, lost in the silence that she welcomes again while Angel briefly glances at the sight of her in the rear view, just wondering what’s going on inside of that head of her’s.

He hoped it was tranquility just like he was searching for within himself.

ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *ੈ ╭──╯ . . . *

Continue along with my September anthology prompts here.

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