THE LYIN’ KING (9 page)

My heart and my mind have been battling it out for days now. I didn't know what not to question. It just seemed that lately there were some things in his life that were not adding up. Why didn't he tell me he went to prison, for murder of all things? Why didn't he tell me he was adopted? What about his mother's house? That has to be close to a three hundred thousand dollar house. How was he able to afford to buy that cash as a construction worker? Why have I never actually seen where he works? Or lives, for that matter? Everything was perfect before, I just want to go back to not knowing. We are leaving for our trip to the cabins tonight. Maybe I'll bring it up then. I watch him as he walked out the store toward the car. He stood by the driver door for a second, trying to end a call before he got in the car. Finally, he opens the back door and tossed a couple of bags on the seat. I keep my eyes straight ahead as he positions himself in the front seat. Our conversation has been light for a few days. I could feel him looking at me, but I didn't budge. He sits back in his seat and rests his hands in his lap.

“Baby girl, what's on your mind?”
“If I really let out everything that was sitting on my mind, we’d both be in trouble.”
I thought to myself. “Nothing.” I replied, keeping my conversation with him short. He leaned forward starting up and car and began driving. Silence. No music, no talking, and this time it wasn't because we were nervous from just meeting each other. No. It was the type of silence that could break mirrors. I wanted to talk about it; but I didn't want to hear the lies that I knew I would receive. I love him. How could I trust him with my life one day, and question everything in his life the next? I took someone's life to save his, to save ours; and I still don't fully understand why. Who is this man I've been giving myself too? He pulled in the parking lot of my apartment. I reached for the door, and he locks them. I unlocked my door and quickly got out, not giving him the opportunity to lock it again. I stomped my way upstairs and slamming the door behind me. He knew what was wrong, but he still acts as though nothing changed. As I sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard I could hear the front door open and close. He began walking down the hallway slowly, like a creeper. He stood at the door with both hands down in his pants pockets.

“Are you ready to talk about it now? I want to enjoy this trip with my family tonight. I don't want us taking any unfinished business with us.” he said. I continued to look straight ahead. I mean, what did he expect me to say? We were not having normal couple problems here. I KILLED someone. Someone that was trying to kill him! And if that isn't enough, I find out that he is the King of secrets, when all I wanted was him to be the King of my heart. He is acting like this is something that can be fixed in one day. “Ask me anything Sage.” he continued, walking further into the room closing the door behind him. “Ask me anything and I will tell you the truth.” He sat down on the bed and began taking off my shoes; throwing them on the floor and massaging my feet. I crossed both arms, staring at him. He thinks he’s slick. He thinks he could just pamper me with his strong hands, and I will give up that easily. I’m not playing these games with him. I closed my eyes, leaning my head against my bed. I love his hands; the way he touches me. I opened my eyes; feeling myself growing weaken to his spell, I snatched my foot away. “Fine!” I snapped. “I have a few questions. Five to be exact; and if I feel in any way that you are lying to me, you can cancel this trip Arsen; and this relationship.”

He seemed unbothered by my threats. As if he could take on this challenge and win. I wasn't playing with him though. I can walk away from this. I can walk away from him.

“Where do you live?” I asked.

“Me and my brothers have a house in Decatur. I never took you there because I’ve been a little embarrassed, and there is no privacy.” I raised my eyebrows. It seems believable. I began to loosen up a bit.

“The man that you killed….why did you owe him money?”

“I technically didn't owe him money.” he responded without hesitation. “We were partners. We sold dope together. One night we went to make a drop and we got robbed. He felt like I set it up because the dudes who did it were from my old neighborhood; and they shot him and not me.” He looked down at my feet, picking it up again to attempt another massage. I let him. “He wanted me to prove that I didn't set it up by killing them. I couldn't do it. They were young boys; stupid, out making mistakes. I knew their mothers. I couldn't, so he felt like I was disloyal. Before I knew it, he put a hit out. People respected me. They wouldn't do it. So he did it. I killed him not only because I was angry, but I knew he would get off. His brother was lead detective.”

He continued to massage my feet. I started to feel bad questioning him. Making him replay this nightmare over to satisfy my insecurities. Listening to him, the weight of pulling that trigger began to lift from my shoulders. I did what I had to, to protect us. This man would have killed me to with no hesitation.

“Next question?” he asked.

I didn't want to ask anymore question. I believed him. I trusted him again, just that quickly. “Do you know…...?” I looked up and our eyes connected. They had so much pain in them. So much hurt.

“Do I know what?” he asked.

“Do you know that I don’t care about your past? You don't have to keep anything from me Arsen. I love you. I love us. I never want to lose you.”

“I know Sage.”

He laid my foot on the bed and got up to sit next to me. He leaned in a softly kissed my lips, while holding the side of my face. “I have one more question.” I whispered, barely touching his lips with mine.

“Yes, love?”

“Do you love me?”

He leaned back to get a better view of my face, pulling my dreads back behind my ears. “I’ve loved you, since the moment I met you. I'll never let anything happen to you or Thias.”

The front door opened and closed once more. This time it was Shelly and Thias. Shelly walks down the hallway and stands at my room door.

“Are y’all ready or what?! Can we say CABINS!!!!!” she exclaimed, excited to be taking this trip with us. Arsen looked at me to see if he had passed the test and if we were still taking this trip together as a couple.

“Girl! Our bags are packed! We were here waiting on y'all!” I said standing up grabbing a suitcase. “Oh! Shelly, Arsens brothers are going to meet us down there. I hope you don't mind?”

“Girl No! I was looking to get some action this weekend.” she laughed. I just shook my head.

“I thought you were, you know?” Arsen ask Shelly.

She crossed her arms giving him the side eye. “So what? A girl can't do both?” she asked.

He smiled, shaking his head. “You do whatever makes you happy; but my brothers are savages.” he laughed. “Come on y’all, let’s hit the road.”

We all grabbed a bag and headed for the door. Thias was already there waiting with his roller suitcase. Arsen threw all the bags in the trunk as we settled into the car. Shelly and Thias were knocked out by the time we got on the highway. I had my legs stretched out on the dashboard, one hand cuffing Arsen’s. I was sure to stay up and keep him company as he was driving. We laughed and talked the entire ride. There was no pressure. No elephant. No questions. That night was no longer a factor. It was like our little secret.

We pulled up to the cabin, parking beside one of Arsen’s brother cars; they left a few hours before us. I reached to the backseat to wake Shelly and Thias, as Arsen grabbed the bags out the trunk.

“We’re here! Wake ya butts up!” I said nudging both of them on the knee. They slowly began to wake up. Thias’s eyes lit up when he saw Malachi walking towards the car to greet Arsen.  He quickly unfastened his seatbelt and jumped out the car.

“We got here quick.” I laughed. “Says the broad who slept the whole ride.”

Shelly tapped me on the head playfully. “Oh, shut up! I wasn't about to stay up and be the third wheel with you two love birds.” she said mocking Arsen and I. We both got out the car to head inside. It was still daylight; late evening as the sun was setting. The view was beautiful. I almost wished I had bought my canvas; this would have been a perfect moment to capture. I stood on the deck of the porch admiring the sunset. I could hear everyone bustling around inside. Suddenly, Shelly startled me as she ran on the porch tapping my shoulder. She seemed extremely smitten. I rolled my eyes at her cheesy cat grin.

“What is it?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Turn around.” she said grabbing my shoulders to face me toward the kitchen windows.

Arsen and his brothers were all standing in the kitchen. You could literally see everything from where we were standing. The windows of the kitchen stretched from ceiling to floor. It was absolutely beautiful. She was pointing in Malachi's direction. “Who is that?” she asked.

“Who, Malachi?” I smiled turning back around to finish enjoying my view. “He’s the middle brother. You like him?”

“I don't know about liking him Sage.” she responded with a laugh. “But I sure wouldn't mind climbing that mountain for a night.”

We both began to laugh. Shelly was definitely a free spirit, she didn't hold much back when it came to discussing her sexuality. She is a genuine person though. Her and I go way back and been through a lot together. She is really the only other person in this world that I trust. Malachi came out on the porch, disrupting Shelly and I’s girl talk session.

“Ladies, me and the boys about to make our seafood special, y’all down?” he asked mostly looking in Shelly direction.

I smiled to myself thinking he has no idea how “down” Shelly is right now. He held out one hand to Shelly. She placed her hand in his; before walking off she looked back at me and smiled. I followed them inside, but not before taking one last look at the sunset.

I sat at the island in the kitchen beside Shelly. All three men had on aprons. They were fumbling around with the pots and pans, arguing about who was going to cook what. It was quite adorable. I could see Shelly and Malachi catching each other’s eye every now and then. I hadn't noticed Thias and Serenity in the living room playing the Wii. I looked back at them and smiled. This was all too perfect. I haven't felt this peaceful in a long time. Finally, Arsen snatched the apron off.

“Man y’all can have this!” he shouted, laughing at his brothers. Jerod picked up the apron and threw it at him.

“Sage, I don't know why Ace trying to act. His ass can't cook no way! Trying to show out!”

“Whatever.” Arsen said smiling reaching for my hand. “My baby knows what I can do!” I took his hand and he led me upstairs to one of the oversized bedrooms. It was an amazing set up. There were rose petals on the floor and bed. And the bathroom had a glass wall with a view directly into the bedroom. He led me out onto the balcony, holding me from behind. We stood there a few moments in silence. With his arms wrapped around my waist he leaned in to kiss my neck.

“I love you Sage; but one day, you're going to have to learn to live without me. I won't always be here, but I promise I'll never leave your side.”

I turned around to face him, my arms resting on his shoulders. There was a cool breeze flowing between us. The sun had already set, leaving us to stand under the light of the stars….Perfection.

“I love you Arsen. I never want to know what it feels like to live without you.” I replied softly, leaning in to kiss his lips.

Suddenly, gunshots broke the silence in that perfect moment, shattering the air, piercing through space one after another. Arsen grabbed my arm throwing me over the threshold of the balcony door back into the room. “Stay down!!!!” he yelled taking a gun from his right pocket and shooting in the direction of the bullets. For a few seconds they continued to exchange fire; both trying desperately to hit their mark. I couldn't think, confusion clouded my mind. I got up to run downstairs. I had to make sure Thias was ok. By the time I had reached the bottom the shots ceased. I began to cry, frantically looking for Thias. Shelly, Serenity, and Thias were all hiding behind the couch. I ran over to them checking for marks or signs of injury. Malachi and Jerod ran back through the front door as Arsen was running down the stairs.

“Did you get him?” Arsen asked Malachi and Jerod, as the two attempted to catch their breath.

“Yeah. We got him.”

“How many were there?”

“One for now. I think we should get them out of here while the road is clear.” Jerod responded.

“Shit!” Arsen exclaimed sitting down on the stairs. That had been the first time I had ever heard him curse.

I got up walking towards him and raised my hand, landing it across the side of his face.

“You promised you would never put me in danger! Look at my son!!!” I yelled pointing towards Thias who was crying as Shelly held him. He stood up. I backed away scared that he would actually try to hit me back. He reached for both of my arms. “Baby...I'm sorry….I” he began.

“You what?!” I yelled. “You’re a liar? You’re keeping things from me? You’re putting my son’s life in danger? You’re what!? Damnit!”

Furious, I snatched away from him to comfort Thias. He didn't respond. “We have to go, Ace.” Jerod urges him to make a move.

“Who knew we were here?” he asked confused.

“Nobody but Lillian; the only explanation is that we were being followed.” said Malachi. “You call your mother, Lillian?” I asked looking at Malachi. He looks at Arsen, picking up the bags that we didn't even get to unpack.