Cocktail Dreams

Chapter 15- Spicy Reunion

The night before Taraji's flight back to Los Angeles, we were on FaceTime as usual, but the conversation had taken a sour turn since I told her I wouldn't be in California when she landed. She was visibly upset, her pout practically leaping through the screen. I hated seeing her like this, but the surprise I had planned would make it all worth it. At least, I hoped it would.

After a moment of tense silence, Taraji sighed heavily, her expression guarded. "You know what, Fantasia? I'll talk to you whenever you get back. Good night, Fantasia," she said flatly, her tone clipped. She moved to end the call, and my stomach dropped.

"Uh-uh, you better not hang up this phone," I said quickly, my voice firm. "I get that you're upset, but you don't have to do that. Don't shut me out."

Her eyes flashed, and she set her phone down with a little too much force, crossing her arms. "I'm not shutting you out, Fantasia. I just don't feel like dragging this conversation on any longer. You made your choice, and I'm just... over it."

I couldn't help the small huff that escaped me. "Taraji, come on. You're acting like I chose to leave you hanging. This wasn't exactly my decision."

"Well, it sure feels like one," she shot back, her voice sharpening. "You've known for weeks when I'd be coming back. I've been working my ass off for this tour, Fantasia. I haven't seen you in two weeks, and now you're telling me I won't even get to see you tomorrow? Forgive me for being a little upset."

"And I've apologized already!" I said, my frustration bubbling over. "I know you've been working hard, and you're tired, but you're acting like I just blew you off for fun or something."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "It's not just about that, Fantasia. My crew's been acting weird in the group chat all week, ignoring my messages or giving me dry responses. And now this? It's like I'm being iced out, and I don't know why."

Hearing that stung, but I couldn't explain without spoiling the surprise. Her crew was in on the plan, but their behavior was clearly hitting a nerve. "Taraji, I'm sure it's not personal," I tried to say, softening my tone. "Maybe they're just busy—"

"Busy?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "We're supposed to be a family. How do you get too busy to answer a simple message? And now you're making excuses for them?"

"I'm not making excuses," I said, my frustration starting to match hers. "I'm just trying to get you to calm down for a second."

She glared at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Calm down? Don't patronize me, Fantasia. I'm upset because everything feels off, and instead of understanding that, you're acting like I'm the problem."

I rubbed my temples, trying to keep my tone even. "I'm not saying you're the problem, but you're not even giving me a chance to explain myself. It's like every time I try to talk, you just want to shut the door in my face."

"Well, maybe I should!" she snapped, her voice trembling. "Because I don't even feel like you're on my side right now."

That hit me hard, and my own walls went up. "Taraji, I've been nothing but on your side since the day we met," I said, my tone cooler than I intended. "But you can't just lash out at me every time things don't go your way."

Her jaw dropped, and she just stared at me for a second, stunned. Then she scoffed, shaking her head. "You know what? Maybe we should just end this conversation before it gets worse. Because right now, I can't even look at you."

"Fine," I said, the word biting even though my chest ached. "But don't think for a second that I don't care about you, Taraji. Because I do. A lot more than you realize."