Chapter 21

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Capricorn
Chapter 21

NOT Compatible With Capricorn
* Gemini
* Leo
* (In conclusion: just stay friends...if you can...)

*

While Craig was dealing with an ex, Adena was on her way to dealing with her ex as well. Well not exactly, in a perfect world, she wanted to come back to an empty apartment so she can get her things and make a swift getaway. But that was hard to do when she was tipsy and really not taking anything seriously, the drinks, especially the Patron helped out with that.

When the Uber pulled up to her apartment building, her heart started beating a mile a minute. What if he was home? What if he was upset with her? What if his mom was there? What if he wasn't home? Did that mean he was out with his new whore? Finally free from the shackles that she never knew he was trapped in? She took a deep breath and thanked the Uber driver and got out of the car. 

Here goes nothing.

But she had a feeling it was going to be anything but nothing. She walked into the apartment building and many emotions took hold of her. She remembered when she and Taye found this apartment building. They were excited newlyweds ready to officially start their life together in a place that they can call home. Just the two of them. She remembered walking into the apartment and immediately knowing this was the one. It was perfect. Almost too good to be true. It was in their budget though still pretty expensive, this is New York we're talking about. It wasn't a far commute from where they both worked and the area was pretty nice. They said yes immediately.

Just like she said yes immediately when Taye got down on one knee and proposed. 

The elevator bell dinged and the doors opened. She took a deep breath, walked in, and pressed their floor number. Or what used to be theirs. What were they going to do about the apartment? They couldn't break the lease. They only had a couple of months left on it. She'd rather not move since she still had her job...wait...right? She shook her head. Don't bother thinking about it. Walk in, get what you need, and walk out. 

The elevator dinged again and the doors opened. She walked down the hallway and soon she was in front of their front door. She put her keys into the lock, trying to unlock it as quietly as she could. But to no avail, remember the squeaky noise from the other night? It still was there. She winced and stopped moving. However, nothing happened. She sighed and opened the door and closed it as quietly as she could. She was greeted with the same mess from when the last time she was here. There was a pile of mail on the foyer table, larger than it was before. Would she have to get her mail forwarded? Will he? How long has this mail been sitting here? 

She didn't feel quite as inebriated or chipper as she did before, which she expected. But the reality was certainly putting her in check right now. The past few days felt like her life was on hold but the bills piling up on the table reminded her that she still had responsibilities. Her father said everything was temporary, except for bills. Bills last forever and you will have to pay them until you leave this earth and you'll still pay for some even after you're laid to rest.

Snap out of it Adena!

She shook herself out of her reality check and self-loathing and tiptoed to the bedroom, which also wasn't successful with the high-heeled boots she had bought today. Now realizing she was wearing them also reminded her of how her feet were starting to hurt. She never got to break these babies in and her poor feet were paying for it. The apartment was quiet. No one was in the living room, the kitchen, or the dining area. The fireplace wasn't even on nor were any other appliances or devices. 

Taye wasn't there. 

She should have known, he probably used the free time to spread more of their business and see that little whore of his after landing himself in jail. She came here worried and feeling sorry for him but that instantly faded. She walked into the bedroom and it was empty as well. Wow. But she couldn't waste any time. She had to get out of there. She got a duffel bag out of the closet and started piling various clothes into it.

Then suddenly a door opened behind her, she turned around with a start and jumped a little. It was Taye, he was in the bathroom the whole time. "Shit, you scared me," Adena said with a laugh and went back to packing. Well, so much for him not seeing her.

And he was home. Alone?

Shockingly enough, once Taye saw her he went over to her quickly and hugged her close, "Don't ever do that again! You hear me!?" he growled. He was upset but he was very relieved. She was finally back. Kim had just texted him saying that Missy got a hold of her but it didn't really set his mind at ease because he still didn't know where she was. 

But she was here now.

"Get off me!" she said to him and pushed him away. "You have no right to tell me what to do."

"We have been worried about you! Everyone has! How irresponsible can you be!?" he asked her.

"How irresponsible can you be?" she said to him, "You cheated and got caught, remember?"

"Dena, we aren't talking about that-" he said and then stopped, "What are you doing?" he asked as he now saw the duffel bag almost full of clothes.

"I'm getting some clothes. I ran out" Adena said noticing him look at the bag in confusion. 

"How do you run out of clothes? Just wash the ones you have at Kim's" Taye said, feeling confused. Adena just shrugged, then accidentally let out a huge burp and then started to laugh. "Are you drunk?"

"Nope," she said, "And I'm not staying at Kim's. I'm staying somewhere else."

"Where are you staying?" he asked her. It was the question that was on everyone's minds. Where the hell did she go?

"None of your business-"

"It is my business!-"

"No, it's not. My life should not be a concern of yours! It's none of your concern anymore. You demonstrated that so well when you cheated on me!" she shouted at him.

"Dena, it's 4 am...I don't have the strength to fight-"

"Then leave me alone!" she said to him, she zipped up the bag and walked into the bathroom to get some toiletries. Taye looked at the bag, he then walked over and unzipped it. It was stuffed full of clothes. Adena didn't pack haphazardly like this. She had a whole system whenever she packed.

"Adena, please just tell me wh-"

"Don't beg, ok?" she said from the bathroom. "You didn't respect my wishes as far as keeping this marriage together and being faithful. So I shouldn't have to respect anything you have to say. You told my parents before I could and I don't know what they are thinking-"

"You would if you would simply call them! They are worried about you. They want you to come home."

"Thanks for the message. Make sure to ask me first before you spread around every sin you have done!"

"That would have happened if you would have answered your phone," he said to her angrily. "I have been looking all over for you. I even went to Donatella's and she told me she let you go. The bitch is lying right?"

"Don't call her that" Adena said as she walked out of the bathroom. "And yes I heard about your little visit from Missy, she also told me about your visit to jail??? Don't you realize you have a record now?? How irresponsible can you be?"

"More responsible than you. I could have disappeared off the face of this earth just like you and ignored everyone but no. I spent it looking for you. Worrying about you."

"Oh now you want to do the bare minimum and act like a husband," Adena said and there was a long pause after she said that. Both of them were shocked that she had said that out loud. 

"Just tell me who you are staying with. Donatella? Lloyd?"

"I gotta go," she said as she walked over to the duffel bag he opened and threw a few more things in it. 

"No, you're gonna stay and we're gonna talk about this. All night if we have to."

"I'm busy. I gotta get back. It's 4 am as you said" she replied as she picked up the bag but he grabbed a hold of the other strap. "Let go."

"No."

"Taye stop acting like a child and let go!" she said as she tried to yank the bag from him but unfortunately he had a tight grip.

"I can confidently say I am not the child this time-"

"Then let go! Gimme!!!" she said as she continued to yank on the other strap. She started to yank harder and harder and she was annoyed that he wouldn't let her go and he was annoyed that she was yanking his bad arm. The same arm that was really sore from going overboard at the gym the other day.

"Adena stop it-"

"LET! GO!" she said. She grabbed the strap with both hands and yanked really hard. He was surprised at her strength but he had no time for it because she damn near almost tore his arm out of his socket. "LET GO!"

"You know what? Fine, have it your way."

And he let go. Just like she asked. However, she was yanking the bag away from him with all her might at the same time and when he let go she went flying back and the back of her shoulder hit the nightstand before she fell to the floor.

Realizing what he had done, he rushed to her. "Are you ok? Are you ok? Adena, I'm sorry. I didn't think you were going to yank so hard. Are you hurt? Are you-"

He was interrupted by another burp and then Adena burst out laughing. He looked at her in shock. He couldn't remember the last time she had drank this much and got this sloppy.

"Seriously Adena?" he chuckled as he helped her up. He helped her sit down on the bed. "How's your shoulder? You need some ice?" he asked her and she shook her head. He looked at her as she sat there, her hair was in her face, her eyes glassy, her face a little clammy but as always, no matter how down and out or on top of the world she felt, she always looked like a damn supermodel. "Look Adena, you're obviously drunk. Just come to bed and sleep it off. Ok? We can talk about this tomorrow."

"No I should go," she said as she got up quickly, a little too quick because she swayed a little and almost fell again. He grabbed onto her and held her so she wouldn't fall. "Ok, I meant to do that."

"Sure you did," Taye said as he smirked at her. This little drunk charade was actually kinda cute and kinda funny. He couldn't really stay mad at her because he prayed that if she came back to him that he wouldn't start a fight and instead just be happy she was alive and try to work things out. 

He prayed the whole time he sat in that jail cell, seeing that vision board Adena made really threw him for a loop. He was so preoccupied and worrying about Adena he didn't realize how much time had passed and how long he was in there. When they said he was released, his first thought was, Already? His mom chewed him out as soon as he got in the car, having to bail her son out of jail and all. The Capricorn's called her and she was shocked that she had to hear about her son's infidelity and possible divorce from someone other than him. 

"I didn't raise you to be like your damn father. Are you serious Taye? You've been sleeping around? I don't care what Adena has done, that is not how you handle problems in your marriage! Just like your damn daddy. Has she cheated?" she had asked him and he shook his head no. "Of course not, I didn't think so. Because if she did, it's fair game but now that you've done it, it's fair game for her. Is that what you want? You wanna be stuck in a loveless marriage with someone who runs around on you out of spite because you fucked up first? You have basically told her that she can see whoever she wants now. Is that how you really feel? You really want to see Adena leave you for someone else because you wanna be stupid and couldn't keep your dick in your pants??" Again he shook his head no. "Ok, and her parents said you haven't seen her in almost a week. She could have met someone already in that amount of time. Do not underestimate a woman scorned, a woman brokenhearted. Men can smell it and will scoop her right up and may give her twice as much as you ever could. Cuz see Adena ain't some hoodrat. She could be the next Michelle Obama. You wanna turn on the tv and see your wife become the first lady with her new man as President while you're at home, sitting on the couch, scratching your ass??" He shook his head no again. "Ok, well get your shit together and fix it. Don't be like your damn daddy. FIND YOUR WIFE AND FIX IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE."

His mother's words echoed all around him and as he held his drunk and unbalanced wife close to him, he looked deeply into her dark brown eyes. The same eyes that captivated him 4 years ago. Before he knew it, he pulled her closer to him and kissed her. Softly. Damn, he missed her. He missed his wife. He really missed her. Forget all the petty fights, the name-calling, and the humiliation. His mother was right, he didn't want to turn the tv on one day or walk down the street and see Adena happy and in love with someone else. He didn't know why that never occurred to him. Maybe because he was used to her waiting up for him. Now she wasn't. His time was up and he had to fix this now. And kissing her like his life depended on it was the only thing he could think of to start.

He felt Adena's body tense and freeze up and then in a shocking turn of events, he felt her lips respond and kiss him back. That's all he needed. Her kiss put him into overdrive, he picked her up and then laid her down on the bed. Their bed. He got on top of her and continued to kiss her. God, he missed her. 

But as soon as it happened, it ended just as soon too.

"I can't" Adena gasped as she gently pushed him away from her and sat up. "I can't."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just...I've really missed you, Dena. I'm so sorry for everything-"

"I gotta go," she said and abruptly got up. She sobered up quickly. What the hell just happened? What the hell did she let him do? 

"Go where??" Taye asked incredulously as he watched her pick up the duffel bag. "Adena, I'm your husband. Who are you staying with?"

"Again and like I said it's none of your business," she said as she walked toward the bedroom door. She couldn't believe she almost fell for it. Did he really think a few sorry's and a few soft kisses were going to fix this? She hated it and didn't want to admit it but it may be passed fixing. She honestly didn't know yet. That's why she had to get away. She couldn't think clearly with him around, especially if he was going to play mind games like this. No, she was not his plaything. No, he couldn't get off the hook just because "he missed her." He really needed to think about what he's done and she wasn't going to hold his hand and help him with this mess he caused. He was on his own. She then stopped and turned around and made sure her message was clear. "Just know that he's way cuter than you," she said with a smug smile and walked out.

"Who's he? Who are you staying with!?" Taye yelled after her. She walked quickly to the front door and laughed at herself for having such balls to say something like that. She loved leaving him in the dust without really telling him a thing. Now he knew how it felt.

She got on the elevator and continued to laugh out loud, especially when the doors closed just in time so Taye couldn't rush on after her.

*

Capricorn's spouses should remember never to try to make them conform to his or her ideas of how things should be done.

*

Craig sat in the same spot where his ex had left him, staring at the floor, when the door opened and Adena swooped in. "I'm hungry" she announced. She had a duffel bag over her shoulder. He got up and stood in front of her.

"Adena, are you ok?" he asked her.

"Yeah, where can I put this?" she asked him, as she took the duffel bag off her shoulder and held it up.


"In my room," he said but stayed where he was so she couldn't move. "Adena, don't lie to me."

"I'm not the liar," she said adamantly.

"Who is?" he asked her.

"He is..." she said sadly and then started to cry. He held her close to him, and as he did so, he took the bag from her and put it on the ground. She held onto him tightly and wrapped her arms around him.

"Shhh...it's ok," he said to her as he held her. He knew this was hard on her and seeing her ex in the state that she was in didn't make it any better. He knew he should've gone with her but he knew that would've made the situation much worse.

She then pulled away quickly. "Oh don't worry. I'm fine" she said as she wiped her tears. She picked up the bag and went into his room and shut the door.

All he could do was sigh and sit on the couch. A few minutes later she walked out wearing an oversized black and blue striped silk shirt that buttoned up, it looked like there should have been pants that went with it, but she wasn't wearing them.

"I'm sorry. I forgot the pants at my...well my old place. I can change if you want" she said.

"No, you're fine, as long as you're comfortable." He couldn't help but survey her body. She had nice legs. They were long and toned and had a dark caramel color to them. Wait, scratch that, she had sexy legs.

She sat down next to him on the couch and said, "I'm sorry. You barely know me but I feel like I got you in the middle of my mess."

"No...you're fine. I'm just happy that you are ok. I'm kinda honored that you think that my place of all places is the best hideaway spot" Craig said to her.

"You can kick me out whenever you want," she said to him. Deep down though, she hoped he wouldn't.

"I don't want to. I like your company" he said. "Ron's always gone so I'm here all by myself."

"What does he do all day?"

"He's an intern at the hospital so he pulls 48-hour shifts."


"Wow," she said and then burped. She covered her mouth and laughed.

"Are you still drunk?" he asked with a laugh.

"Maybe," she said and laughed, "No. I kind of sobered up. I don't know why I'm laughing," she said.

"It doesn't matter. You need a laugh right now, you need to be happy" he said to her.

"What makes you happy?" she asked him.

He thought about it for a bit, "Music...dancing...Djing...a good party...being with friends...making new ones..."

"I was expecting you to say 'women' at some point there," she told him.

"Oh yeah, women are amazing, and being in love with the right one is true happiness. At least that's what they say."

"Being in love" Adena repeated, thinking about the total mind fuck Taye had just put her in, "Yeah...it's supposed to make you happy. I'd rather not deal with it."

"Oh don't tell me that you are gonna be one of those girls that swear off love because of one asshole."

"Maybe..."

"Why would you give him that satisfaction?" he asked her, "I mean he may be off with someone else while you brush off guys that could be good for you. You aren't giving us a chance and letting him win."

"Us? So you're a good guy?" she asked him with a smirk.

"Yeah I would like to think so," he said.

She nodded, "You are...you are a good guy."

"Thanks," he said as he looked at her and gave her a soft smile. He had a beautiful smile.

"I guess you're right...but...God...it's so stressful to find someone else. I have issues, he just fucked everything up."

"Maybe he has but don't let us have to pay for what he did," Craig said. "Don't give him that power over you. You're not fucked up and there's nothing wrong with

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