Stone's Diary: Kairo

Chapter 8.) Lust

Thick, grey clouds loomed above the city, the constant low-pitched bellow of thunder heightened the brutal howling of the wind. The rain was drumming against the roof and windows, trash cans were falling over, as the tropical storm ran its course through the city. Hurricane season was still present and although Virginians never had to live through one, they always received the harsh wind and rain it carried. Being that they were closer to the ocean, most roads often flooded, especially in small neighborhoods.

It was 3 in the afternoon, Renae sat in her parked car with her emergency lights on. She was doing some shopping before the storm had hit and got caught right in the center of it. Thinking it would be smart to take the backroads home, she got caught right in a flood. Unable to back out, she had to pull over to the curb.

There were a few accidents on the highway, and the tow service she used said that they were forty minutes from her destination. Not really knowing how much longer she could wait, being that she had frozen items in her trunk, Renae called Dajon but he was stuck at his office. Ary was stuck in traffic coming from work and trying to get home. She called Kairo and he told her he'd be there, that was fifteen minutes ago.

Unable to see through the rain beating against her windows, Renae huffed, cutting the heat up. Glancing at the time again, she picked her phone up ready to call Kairo back until someone knocked on the window. Lowering it slightly, the heavy rain came right in but that didn't faze her as she stared confusedly at King. Standing there with an umbrella that was about to get seized in the wind, he motioned for her to unlock the door.

Doing just that, King pulled the door open and the wind swung it open. "You straight?" He asked.

"Yeah... I just couldn't drive," she motioned towards the flooded roads.

"Junior told me... come up," he said and she frowned. "Unless you want your shoes soaked," he nodded towards the high waters.

Debating, Renae cut the engine and grabbed her purse before letting him lift her. Rushing to his truck, King helped her get situated in the passenger seat before taking a few trips to gather the groceries. Locking her doors, he tossed the keys to her and slid into the driver's seat.

"What you tryna do?" He asked, staring at her car.

"I can have it towed home," she said.

"A'ight," turning on his blinker, he checked his mirror before easing onto the road.

Glancing over at her for a moment, he reached over and cut the heat on, "You could've called me."

Renae stared out the window as she tried to wipe the water from her face, "Wasn't a good idea."

King smirked, "'Cause of yo boyfriend?"

"King," she exhaled.

"I'm playing, it ain't my business," he held his hand up.

Remaining quiet, Renae folded her arms and closed her eyes trying to warm up.

"Here," King stopped at the light then reached in the back and grabbed his hoodie.

"I'm ok," she murmured.

"Nae," he declared.

"Thanks," she took it from him and put it on.

As he drove, King stole glances of her frequently. He missed her. He could still feel her within him and hoped that she could still feel him. He's tried to apologize plenty of times before but things often escalated. He had realized that he never understood how much he had hurt her because, at the time, he felt as if she deserved it. It was true that hurt people, hurt people and since she had hurt him and their daughter, he wanted to repay her.