THE LYIN’ KING (4 page)

"Ok, seriously." I managed to get out through my laughter. "I’m hanging up now, goodnight."

"Goodnight beautiful." he replied.

I smiled and hit the end button. Resting on my back and looking at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think about seeing him again. He's completely different than what I expected and I couldn't wait for morning to come.

Beep....Beep...Beep....Beep....! Rolling over to hit the snooze button on the alarm, I felt extremely tired. I was up all night on the phone not considering the consequences I would have to face in the morning. It's seven o’clock, maybe twenty more minutes wouldn't hurt. I considered staying in bed a little longer and what affect it would have with me getting Thias to school on time. No I should get up now, not to mention I have no idea what Arsen has planned or what I am going to wear. I hadn't been anywhere in a long time that required me to wear something other than black Dickies and a thermal. I was kind of excited; excited and exhausted. I dragged my way into Thias's room. I had to laugh, because he was halfway in and halfway out the bed; reminding me of why I had to stop him from sleeping in my bed.

"Hey man! Wake up! Time for school." I said as I tickled the bottom of his feet. He began to moan and whine as if he was too tired to move. "Come on; come on, up, up, up!!!" I yell, just to irritate him a little more. He slowly began to maneuver his way out the bed as I’m picking out his uniform for school. "When you finish getting dressed, go and brush your teeth, ok?"

"Ok Mama." he agreed.

For some reason, I have a little boost of energy; not sure where it came from. Maybe it's the anticipation of actually doing something other than work. Who knows, but I'm going to run with it today. I walk into my room towards the closet; standing there with the door opened staring as if something was going to magically put itself together and say, "Wear me! Wear me!" Man, I wonder if I should wear a dress. Probably not, it's the end of January. I'd look pretty crazy walking around in a dress in this weather. I don't think I should wear anything too fancy
. “Gosh! I hope he is not one of those guys who think going to the gym is a date; although I need to go. I just hope whatever the activity is, it doesn't require tennis shoes.”
Jeans! Jeans are universal; they could go with any activity. I go to the back of my closet to pick out a pair of my most form fitting, curvalicious jeans. Not that I'm trying to be sexy for him or anything. I would like to clean up nice today, since he's only ever seen me in work clothes. I pull out a pair of light pencil leg jeans and a tan long sleeve, v neck shirt. I'll wear my brown boots and brown leather jacket to match, I thought to myself. Thias comes running in the room.

"Mama! I'm ready!" Looking at the clothes that I just laid out on the bed, he raises his eyebrows. "Mama, you never get dressed like that to take me to school. Where you going?"

"I don't know yet Pumpkin." I said with a smile. Knowing that sometimes my son tends to want to act like my father, I changed the subject. "Baby, go get you a banana and a glass of milk. Watch some cartoons until Mommy finishes getting dressed, ok?"

"Ok Mama." He skips out the room into the kitchen.
“The bus gets here at 8.”
I thought to myself. I have enough time to shower and put a little makeup on. I jumped in the shower and hit all the "hot spots." Don't act like you've never done that! Neck, underarms, V-Box, and butt. Yes, I know. I stepped out to dry off. Standing in the mirror, I attempt to tie up my locks just to keep them out of my face for the day. A little mascara and eyeliner with rose color Matte lipstick. Hmmmm, I haven't done this in a while. It feels good to make myself pretty. Thias began to yell through the bathroom door. "Mama!!! It's seven forty-five!!!"

"I know Pumpkin!" I yell back. "I’m coming!" I hear him skip his way out of my room again. I open the door and began putting on the attire I had just picked out. After putting on my socks and boots, I slid on my leather jacket and went to the mirror to check myself out. You clean up nice, Sage. You clean up nice! Looking down at the counter full of perfume and thought,
“I want to be sweet today,”
I pick up the sweetest smelling fragrance there and began to spray. Walking out the bathroom I grab my purse, my phone and head towards the door. Thias sees me coming down the hallway and he begins to smile.

"Mama you look so beautiful. I like when you look like that."

"Is that right? You gonna give ya mama a big head boy!" We both began to laugh.

I grabbed the keys off the counter and both our umbrellas from the vase at the door. They say it's supposed to rain today. I don't particularly like standing at the bus stop on rainy days, but luckily for us it hasn't started yet. I looked down at Thias putting his book bag on. He grabs my hand as we began to walk down the stairs and to the bus stop. We literally made perfect timing. The bus pulled up as soon as we got there. As we step on the bus, I began to get butterflies in my stomach. I know I'm completely over thinking it, I overthink everything. We sat down as the bus heads to the next stop. This is going to be the longest 15 minute ride in my life.

"Mama, I spy something brown." Thias began wanting to play the I Spy game. “My jacket?" I replied.

"Why do you always guess right on the first try? It's your turn."

"It’s called Women's Intuition."

"Woman what?" he asked.

"It's what us Mama’s have. It’s nature baby. Ok so my go?"

"Yep!" "I spy something blue. I'll give you a hint, it's inside the bus."

"Mama!!!" he whined. "Everything on the bus is blue, that's not fair!"

"Well just start naming stuff Thias. You're sure to get it right sooner or later."

"But not on the first try like you!" He complained.

"Ok, Ok....I'll do something else. I spy something........green."

He places his index finger on his chin and began to look around as if that would help him think a little harder. "Oh! I know, I know!!!" he shouted.

"What is it?"

"That lady's purse!" he exclaimed, pointing at the older lady's purse sitting in the middle of the aisle.

"That’s right! You got it on the first try! See, I knew you could do it."

The bus began to slow down as we approached the stop in front of Thias’s school. "Ok my turn! Last one!" he shouted.

"Ok well let's do this one off the bus; we’re at your school." We head towards the exit and down the steps. "I spy something red, a lot red!" he said.

"Hmmmm, is it the fire hydrant?"

"Oh wow mommy! This is the first time you never got it on the first try!"

"Really?" I asked. I was kinda of disappointed in myself, this never happened when we play this game. "Well what is it then?"

"That!!!" Thias raised his arm point at the red car with the same color red rims. My heart dropped.

"It’s him." I said aloud, only meaning to keep it as an inner thought.

"That's who Mama?" As we were walking toward the parking lot, the driver door opened and Arsen stood up. "Hey!!!!" Thias began waving at Arsen. He smiled and waved back. We stopped at the car.

"Good morning Thias!” “Good morning beautiful!" Arsen acknowledged us.

"Good morning" I replied. "I'm going to take him in the school. I'll be out in a minute, ok?"

"Ok. I'll be right here." he said smiling.

We started walking toward the school as Thias turned and waved saying "Bye King!" Arsen waved back. I looked down at Thias, "Baby, his name is Arsen."

"I know Mama, but it means Strong King." I smiled and shook my head, ringing the bell to be buzzed in the front door. My stomach began to knot up again. I don't know why this man makes me so nervous. "Mama, I can walk the rest of the way." Thias assures me as we walk pass the front desk.

"You sure you don't want me to walk you to class?" I asked.

"Hey Thias!!!!" I could see a pretty girl with two puff ball ponytails running towards him. "Yeah Mama, I'm sure." he said very quickly. The little girl grabs his hand and they begin to walk down the hallway. He turns back to look at me and waved. I waved back.
“Ummmm hmmm. We are going to have to talk about her when he gets home.”

As I was turning to walk back out the front door, I could feel the butterflies getting stronger.
“I'm too old for this.” I thought to myself. I really need to "man up," or in my case "woman up."
Coming through the glass double doors, I could see Arsen standing at the passenger side door. He already had it opened, waiting for me with one hand behind his back. The closer I get to the car; I'm feeling a little more at ease.

"You ready?" he asked, pulling a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

"Oh wow! These are beautiful! Thank you!"

I said with excitement. I can't remember the last time I got flowers. Hell to be honest, I don't even know what type of flowers they are. They weren't roses. It didn't matter because they truly were beautiful and a very thoughtful gesture. Before I had known it, I wrapped my arms around his neck to give him a hug. He paused before embracing me. His arms....it was something familiar about his warm embrace. He gently grabbed my arms, pushing me softly back to look me in my eyes. He felt it too. He leans over kissing me gently on my forehead. Surprisingly, I accepted.
“I don't even know him.”
I thought. I don't know what this that I feel, but we've been here before….him and I. Snapping out of what seems to be a trance; I turn to get in the car as he gently closes the door behind me. I lean over to open his door. I hadn't realized I did, it was like an automatic reflex or something. He gets in and looks at me before starting the car.

"What?" I ask, turning up my nose.

He smiled and softly replied, "Nothing."

As we began to leave the parking lot I ask, "So where are we going?"

"You'll see."

I was ok with that response. I didn't mind not knowing. Sometimes the best moments in life are surprises. I began staring out the window, as I sometimes do while I'm on the bus; getting lost in my thoughts. We turn down the ramp to enter the interstate. Traffic was extremely backed up. Looking over at the clock, I said, "It’s about that time."

He laughed aloud replying, "Yes, the traffic is the only thing I can't stand about this city." "You mean other than the fact that it is becoming increasingly overpopulated. The ultimate moving destination for anyone looking to forget their past." I said sarcastically. Then in a quiet and sincere voice, “Reminiscing on my past.” I said. "That’s why I moved here anyway."

I could see him staring at me out the corner of my eye; he then says "You don't have to run anymore." Somehow I felt the sincerity in his voice, but I couldn’t help but push that feeling to the side with thoughts of how many times I’ve heard some of things he was saying. I just didn’t get why I felt the need to trust him, to believe his every word; I did. Maybe I was being way too vulnerable, but I didn’t want to fight it. I wanted to give in.         Pushing our way through traffic, we continued with small talk of our favorite foods, colors, and vacations we would like to take. His smile...it was so adorable. Sometimes I caught myself laughing only to stop and stare at his profile as he was driving. God, it was something about him. Something in those hazel eyes drew me in closer and closer. He began to exit the highway. I wasn’t sure where we were at and still had no clue as to where we would end up.

"I hope the sun stays out for at least the next couple of hours." he said.

"Yeah, it is kind of nice out. They did say it was going to rain......", pausing to absorb my thoughts as I just realized what he said. "Wait a minute, are we going to be outside?" "Yes, you don’t like being outside or something?" he said jokingly.

"Well I guess it depends on what we are going to be doing."

"Oh relax, you’re going to love this." he replied as we were pulling into Piedmont Park.
“So we got a little park action.”
I thought to myself. That’s cute, kind of typical for the first date; but cute nonetheless. We find parking; he grabs a handful of nickels and dimes from the center console, and gets out to feed the meter. He comes to my side to open the door, holding out his hand. This time I accept. We began walking down the sidewalk towards the grass area of the park, when his phone began to ring. He puts the earpiece from his headset in his ear, "We are on the way down now.", and then quickly ended the call. I stop in my tracks, confused. "So are we having a double date or something? Who are we meeting? What are we doing?" I began asking questions one after another, not giving him any real opportunity to answer. He turns to me and began laughing at my spoiled like behavior.

"This isn’t a date Sage, remember. I just want to show you something." Still a bit skeptical, I cross my arms and continue to stand still. He takes a couple steps back, gently unfolding my arms and holding one of my hands in the middle of both of his. Looking me directly in my eyes as if he were putting me under his spell he said, "Sage? Trust me." Again, in that moment I felt weak, and without my conscious permission my legs began to move. We continue walking onto the grass as we came to the top of a slight hill.

There was a plaid blanket laid out perfectly, with a basket and rose petals. Directly behind the blanket were two easels with blank canvases and stools. There stood a little Asian lady with a white painter’s jacket and hat to match holding two pallet cheese trays in both hands, grinning from ear to ear. In shock, I dropped my purse and ran to canvases; running my fingers down, feeling the material.

"Textured canvas, these have to be like 48...."