"What am I supposed to do now, man? I've done any and everything to make my marriage work, sacrificing so much just to make sure we were always a family."

"When I married Kyra, I pictured it'd be like old times, like high school. We were focused on each other and nobody got in the way. Now, it's like an obstacle course. I'm trying to dodge everybody but I keep getting hit with humiliation, embarrassment, and clownery. What the hell can I do now? I've tried everything."

I'm sitting in this damn chair with my face in my hands, stressing over how to save my failed marriage. I can't even think straight anymore.

It's been days since we left her and I ain't get no calls, no texts, no letters, nothing. Safari wants to see her so bad but I refuse to be a sucker to her right now, especially with all the TV shit going on. It's all about Kyra's image now.

"Nigga, if you don't leave her alone, I'mma slap you. You know the guys and I never liked her, right?" Ryker said as he sat across from me.

That's because she turned all three of them down in high school and college. Isaiah got it the worst but we'll leave that alone.

"Look, Ryke. I ain't tryna be like my Ma and Pops, okay? That was toxic as hell and it's not in the cards for me. I know it ain't."

Divorced and miserable, treating my child like she ain't shit.

A man can't teach a girl how to be a young lady but he can teach her how she should be treated. She needs her momma and her daddy.

Plus, I'm thinking about working things out with Kyra. I want a healthy marriage but that can't happen with her putting our shit on blast.

"Who said it was? You ain't ya old mans, Tripp. Matter of fact, you the complete opposite. You are the softest man I've ever met."

"Alright, Ryke-"

"If there was a contest to see who was the softest dude in the world, you'd win over them f-"

"Aye, man. Chill with all that. I get it. I'm in touch with my feelings. So what?"

I sit back and cover my face again. This time, I'm trying not to laugh.

Ryker still ain't got no control over his own mouth. That's what he's got his wife for. Darian don't play.

"In touch with ya feelings? Bro, you can't get any closer to ya damn feelings. If you were so 'in touch with ya feelings', you'd be gone from that...woman years ago."

As I roll my eyes, he stands up and walks around with his cigar in his hands.

"Matter of fact, I don't think I can call Kyra a woman. She's more like a creature, a monster, something out of a science lab. You know how them nerds be when they got a hot girl and they so insecure so they make they own monster and shit to spy on them or set 'em up? She like Frankenstein! You'll see her come out on Halloween..."

He looks down at me as I show off my annoyed look. He stops once he catches my look and continues smoking on that cigar.

"All I'm saying is...if you so unhappy, you would've been gone. Fuck what ya mammy and pappy went through. You would've been doing shit for yourself. You walk around with ya head between ya legs whining about how pissed you are at her."

Here he go, drilling me again. No matter how many times I heavily sigh, he still keeps talking.

"Dude, cry me a damn river. Get ya head out of ya ass and dip out. That or you can stick around and play pity party of one, man. Ain't nobody got time for that shit."

His words hit hard and rub me the wrong way. I ain't that depressed.

Shit, I could be because this is all too much.

I don't even know anymore.

"Tripp, it's cool to move on. Safari's gonna be alright. She'll be happy you took her out of that space when she grows up. It's too toxic, bro."

My mind is spiraling and mixing up with my emotions. My head and my heart combating against each other.

Am I really considering divorcing Kyra right now? I can't bring myself to do that shit. She'll only pester me until we get back together anyhow. I can't leave her. I'll lose way more than she would.

Not if you get a restraining order on her ass. Maybe take her to court or something for defamation of character?

Nah, that's doing too much.

As soon as I look up, Darian steps downstairs in her light green sundress while fixing up her blonde-dipped locs.

Ryker's one blessed man because Darian's one bad ass chick. She's that ride-or-die woman rappers talk about all the time. She's a beautiful woman as well so Ryker pulled a good one.

Her manicured hands are placed softly on Ryker's shoulders as her light brown eyes study her husband's face in pure joy.

As their lips come together, I'm reminded of a time when I had that same love; that same sincere, loving smile. That same ride-or-die type of love. I'm missing those delicate kisses that warmed my skin, the electrifying fingertips that lit my fire with the slightest touch, and that beating heart that revived mine and kept the rhythm going.

The same rhythm that was interrupted, disturbed, and shut off.

Fuck. Not again.

"Tripp! You alright?" Darian calls me out of my thoughts and I get up as if I was awakened from a beautiful dream.

I just nod and rub my face as I listen to Darian speak.

"Well, Kyra asked if we can join y'all on this trip to Hawaii and I said yeah. So we'll be on vacay with y'all in a few days. Hopefully, that makes things better for you."

Ryker and I look at her lost. I forgot all about that damn trip, honestly. I don't even want to go anymore. It sounds better that Ryker's going but...it's them damn cameras and Kyra not listening to me.

"Who said we were rolling with Toxic Waste over there? Why you bookin' trips without my approval? You know I gotta work, right? Who gonna watch the kids? Darian, I swear-"

She got Ryker to shut the hell up with one finger to his temple and I crack up at the sight.

He talk about me being soft.

Darian appears to hold herself back from popping off on his ass but she continues with "What was that, boy?"

Ryker's struggle to even speak. "I'll put in my PTO first thing in the morning, babe."

"And?"

"I'll check with Piper on watching the kids."

"That's my boo. Don't fuck around and get shot, nigga. We'll see y'all in Hawaii, Tripp." Darian pats Ryker's head before walking into the kitchen gracefully.

I'm trying my hardest to hold back a laugh before Ryker looks over at me. We just sit there silently for a while until I break the silence.

"So...about me being soft?"

"Shut the fuck up and get the hell out, Tripp."

****
Ryker's back with his loud and wrong mouth! Lol

Please tell me what you think of him though. Was he wrong about Kyra or was he doing too much?

Y'all excited to see what's all about to go down on this trip? I know I am!

Thanks again for reading and I hope to see y'all this weekend! Have a good rest of your week!