Reinvention: Sequel to The Married Life

Stone Cold

{Colin's POV}

"So, how do you wanna tell the kids?" I ask.

"Hell, I don't know. I mean I guess I should just come out and say it..." She clears her throat. "Kids, I don't have HIV anymore"

"Shit, that's works."

"Let's go tell them."

"Wait a minute..." I gently grab her arm and pull her back. "So what about us?"

"What about us?"

"I don't know. Is there an...us?"

She steps closer and brings me down closer to her and gives me a kiss, that turns into something deeper. Feeling something we both haven't felt on so long. She nervously bites down on her lip as she pulls away.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah...I guess it does." She walks into the living room and I follow her.

I grab the remote and mute the TV and grab the attention of all of them.

"Ummm are we in trouble?" CeCe asks.

"No. I just have some, news that I think is important." Demi says. They sit up and give her their full attention. "So over the past few months, I underwent treatment for my...condition"

"I thought you were already getting treatment for it?"

"Yeah, but that was to keep the effects under control. This was something different. To cure it."

"And..."

"And it worked. I just got off the phone with the Doctor that I've been working with, and it's gone."

"That's great." CeCe says.

"Yeah mom. Now you and daddy can get back together." Cayleigh chimes in.

"We're gonna take things slow." She says and I give her that "yeah, right" look.

"Well, I'm just glad that y'all are gonna be together. So can we move back to the big house?"

"We will soon. Maybe in the next couple weeks." She says.

"Good....now can y'all turn the volume up...we were watching tv..."

I unmute the tv and toss the remote to one of them.

"So...can you do me a favor?" She asks.

"What's up?"

"Go to the store and get a few things for dinner tomorrow?"

"You wait till now to wanna go to the store...you know it's gone be packed."

"Pweaaseee."

"Fine Demetria. I'll go."

"Thank you." She gives me a pat on my butt as I walk to the room to get my shoes.

"Heeeey. Watch it." I got to the room and get my shoes out the closet and as I bend down to pick up my shoes, I notice a clear CD case sticking out of the bag that's next to my shoes. I pull it out and it has a CD in it that has the words "Hidden Gems" on it. I take it and hide it in my coat. I leave, get to the store, make my way through the crowd of last minute shoppers and get everything That was on the list that Demi text me.

On my way back, I pop in the CD to take a listen.

Stone cold, stone cold

You see me standing, but I'm dying on the floor

Stone cold, stone cold

Maybe if I don't cry, I won't feel anymore

Stone cold, baby

God knows I tried to feel

Happy for you

Know that I am, even if I

Can't understand, I'll take the pain

Give me the truth, me and my heart

We'll make it through

If happy is her, I'm happy for you

Listening to the lyrics and the way it sounds coming through her voice, I can tell she felt every single lyric. I can only imagine how she felt while recording it.

I pull up into the driveway, and sit there. I've listened to this song a few times back to back. I turn it off and send her a text and tell her to come outside.

I see the porch light turn on and look that way and watch her make her way to the car.

"Everything okay?" She asks settling into her seat.

"Everything's fine. I just wanted to talk to you." I take the CD case out of the arm rest. "I found this in your closet...and decided to give it a listen." She tenses up. "Is it..Stone Cold?"

"Yeah..."

"It's really good. It uhhh made me feel some type of way to be honest."

"You weren't suppose to hear it. No one was."

"Why not? It's good."

"It was just suppose to be me getting things off my chest. That's all."

"I really hate that you felt that way...you say you were happy, but deep down, I know it was killing you."

"It was my own fault anyway." She says quickly wiping away a tear.

"I know you're probably pissed I went through your stuff...well actually, it was just sticking out and I grabbed it."

She chuckles. "No, it's fine. I'm not mad."

"But just know you never have to feel that way again. You're mine and it's gonna stay that way. I don't care about or want any other woman but you. I love you." I lean over and she meets me half way for a kiss.

We bring in the groceries and put them away. After a day of watching movies the kids crash in the spots that were sitting in and Demi and I make our way to the bedroom. Stripping down to our underwear and Demi throws on one of my old 49er shirts that I didn't even know she had. We get in bed and turn on the tv. Not the ideal makeup sex type of night, but I don't think we were both yearning for that. We mostly just wanted to hold each other and be close. These are some of the best moments I share with her.

"Take a picture with me." I say.

"Is this going on social media?"

"Yup."

"Ew babe. No. I look horrible."

"No you don't, stop. Now smile." After snapping the picture I post it with a simple caption.

"Happy is her😍🙏🏽"