The Marriage That Didn't Stay in Vegas (BWWM Romance) (5 page)

              Xavier’s sisters had finally started addressing me as "her" or "hey" but nothing more.  I think all of the brothers and brothers-in-law accepted me. I couldn’t keep all the kids straight though.  There were so many of them. Xavier said they were the "truckload gang." 

              On Friday night, Xavier wanted to take me for a drive alone.  I packed us a blanket and some water.  I wasn’t sure where this ride would take us and what state we would be in on our way back.  We drove for at least thirty minutes and I rode right up under him in his pickup just like the people in the movies.  I kissed and nuzzled at him the whole drive.

              “Now stop it. You know when you start messing with my ear that’s it!” Xavier warned me.

              “Pull over then,”  I told him.

              “Not yet. I want to show you something.” Xavier told me. 

              I calmed down a little but not that much.  We pulled into a town, and there were city lights and people everywhere.  They were walking and laughing. 

              “Where are we?”

              “Tex Tip.”

              “Oh.” That meant absolutely nothing to me. 

              “It’s the closest town city life we have.”

              “It’s really nice. Look at all the shops.”

              “We may not have the big name department stores you’re used to, but we have the means of getting them.”  

              He drove down to a corner lot and cut the truck off.  He got out and didn’t even bother taking the keys or locking the door.  I thought this was the strangest thing, but I stayed quiet.  I slid out behind him and we linked hands immediately. He gave me a kiss. I kissed him back, giving him a little tongue.

              “Mrs. Luther, if you don’t stop, I’m going to throw you down in the truck.”

              “Um, do you promise?”  I teased.

              “Come on, my little nympho.”

              I giggled and we went to the empty shop on the corner.   Xavier pulled a key out of his pocket to open the door.  He held the door open for me and I walked in while still holding his hand.  I held it a little tighter because the room was so dark.                He leaned over and switched on a light quickly.  “I’m sorry, baby.”

              I pulled him closer to me and looked the shop over.  “What is it?”

              “Whose is it?”

              “What?”

              “I know it doesn’t look like a whole lot right now, but baby, picture racks and racks of clothes you like.  And, I was thinking that you should have two registers over there and we’ll have to build the dressing rooms… But, the storage in the back is huge and there’s an office plus two bathrooms.”

              “Xavier, was it this?”

              “Your boutique.”

              I continued to look the room over. Then, it finally registered.  He wanted me to stay and he knew that I always wanted a boutique of my own.  I felt like he was trying to trap me because he wanted me to have a whole truckload of kids.  He wanted me to be his little lady, who hung on his every single word. That just wasn’t going to happen. 

              I tried to unhook our hands, but Xavier wouldn’t let me go.

              “Phoebes?” He looked terrified as hell of me, and I knew I had to get out of there before I crumpled. 

              “We had an agreement,” I said.

              “What?”

              “You told me you’d sign the papers when your family left. Are you trying to renegotiate with me?”  Xavier gave me one of the guiltiest looks I had ever seen. 

              I turned away from and stomped away. 

              “Phoebe, baby, please don’t run from me.” He ran to me and wrapped his arms around me, but I jerked out of his grip. 

              “Stop it!” I spat through my teeth. 

              I folded my arms tightly around me as I paced back and forth across the hardwood floor.

              “Phoebes, let’s just go home, and we’ll discuss this later.” 

              “You know what? That’s the best idea you’ve had all week.  I need to go home.”

              “Wait, what do you mean?”

              “You know exactly what I mean!”

              “Phoebe, you’re not leaving me!”

              I said nothing to him as I stared out of the front window.            

              “Baby, just forget about Boutique. I was doing it for you. I thought you--"

              I walked past him, out the front door, and stomped over to the truck.  I opened the passenger door, got in and slammed the door shut. I leaned my body all the way up against the door so I could be all the way on the passenger’s side.  I knew I was being childish, but I didn’t give a damn right now. There would be no more sitting up under him anymore.  I stared straight ahead. That’s when I noticed that there were twinkly lights above the shop. The sign read
Phoebe’s Corner.
  I cringed and turned my head, putting my attention on the passenger’s window. 

              He slowly locked up the store and hopped into the truck. We rode back in complete silence.  When we made it to the beginning of his road, he pulled over. 

              “Phoebe, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel, umm, however you're feeling.”

              I opened the truck door and got out.

              “Phoebe! Where are you going?”

              “I’m staying at the resort tonight. Have someone bring me my things tomorrow.”

              “Baby, please don’t do this!”

              I kept walking back towards the resort on the corner.  He got back in his truck and turned it around.

              “Baby, get on in the truck now. It’s dark out here.  Let’s just go home and get in bed. We can make love all night and morning.  We can fix this, Phoebes.”               He followed me all the way to the resort, begging and pleading with me, but I never budged.  Once I got through the front doors, I heard tire squealing and gravel flying. 

Chapter 5

Meow Meow

              I woke the next morning to a tapping at the door.  I rolled over in the same clothes I had on last night.  I stumbled to the door and looked out the peephole.  I refreshed my ponytail and tried to rub in the tear streaks from my face.  I opened the door.

              “Good morning,” Mini greeted me.

              “Good morning.”

              “May I come in?” She asked. 

              “Yes, ma’am.” I moved back so she could enter. 

              She sat down at the little table and I sat across from her. 

              She looked me over before giving me a small smile. “You look just about the same as he does.” She set her keys down on the table and intertwined her fingers.  “I told him he pushed you too hard.  Of course, he doesn’t understand because he’s a man and that would be too much like right if he did.”

              I leaned over on the table and crossed my arms under my chest.  She reached for my hands.  I held them out and she took both of them in hers.  She bent over and kissed the top of my ring finger.  When she looked up at me, tears were falling from her now pink eyes.

              “He’s never loved anyone like how he loves you.  I was so scared for him for years. He’s dated and dated, but he never found that special one.  And, my God, he found such a beautiful woman inside and out in the filthy streets of Vegas.  You know when he told me he wanted to build his clientele base, I tried to stray him away from Vegas.  But, he said he had a feeling about it, and now I know that feeling was you.”

              “I can’t do this with him,” I sobbed.

              “Honey, I know you're scared, and he’s terrified of you as well.  I believe you two are meant to be, but maybe you need more time to soak it all in.  You’re both hanging by a thread and you both need a little healing.  Don’t give up on him, Phoebe. I’ve taught him all that I can.  I know I have to let him go and be a man, but he’s my favorite, my baby.  No matter if you leave today or tomorrow. Don’t sign those papers yet.  You guys still need time.”

              I nodded.

              She kissed the top of my hand again before releasing me.   She stood from the chair and walked past me, heading for the door. 

              “Phoebe, could you do me a favor?” 

              I looked over at her without answering.

              “Please don’t leave without giving him a proper goodbye.” I nodded as she opened the door. “I’ll be downstairs. Take all the time you need.”

              I went into the bathroom, scrubbed my face, and brushed my teeth.  I went downstairs to check out.  Pauline and Ben looked sad and told me that they hoped to see me again.  I gave them both smiles and told then I would recommend their resort to all my friends.

              I went outside. Mini was in a big red pickup.  I jumped in and we headed for the farm.  When we pulled up, Sonic and Boom, both came running up to us.

              “Why are they named Sonic and Boom?”

              “Xavier was big into this cartoon where this guy used to say Sonic Boom to get his special powers or something like that.”

              I nodded as Sonic fell out in front of me, as he liked to do.  “Oh, get up, you big faker,” I scolded him. 

              He whined and howled until I rubbed his belly good.

              “You’ve got him spoiled,” Mini told me.

              “I know. He’s a big ole baby.”

              Just then, Boom, who had never come up to me before, wandered over and licked the inside of my palm.  I patted him on the head, and he stayed right by my side. 

              I walked into the front of the house. All of the men was in the front room, well, all of them except for Xavier.  They all watched me silently and didn’t make eye contact with anyone.

              I walked through the house, headed straight upstairs, walked in the room, and it looked like a bomb had just hit.  There was shit everywhere.  I rushed over to the armoire and packed as fast as I could. I didn’t believe Xavier would ever put hands on me, but from the looks of this room, I wasn’t sure.  I heard a commotion from downstairs and that made me start packing even faster. 

              Someone was running up the stairs with loud heavy thuds and my heart stopped. Someone was angry. I ran behind the closet door and hid when the footsteps got closer to the room. 

              Xavier started yelling my name. “Phoebe!”

              I cringed and wrapped my arms around myself.  Xavier burst through the bedroom door. I heard what sounded like other footsteps behind him, but he slammed the door shut in front of them. Whoever it was, started beating and pounding on the door at once. 

              “Open the door, bro!”

              “Xavier, open this door right now!” I heard Mini say.

              I was too afraid to say anything because he didn’t know I was standing behind the closet door. He walked slowly to the two bags on the floor that I had been filling up.  I took two quick steps towards the door and I had just touched the doorknob when he swung around.  He looked at me with a confused face, and I froze.

              “Are you leaving me?” he asked me in the softest tone I’ve ever heard from him.

              “Xavier, we already talked about this.”

              “But we’ve--” He broke off.

              “You know I have to go.”

              “Because your Uncle says so.”

              “Don’t do that.”

              “What? Don’t do what? Tell the truth!  Well, here’s a little fucking truth for you, wife of mine.” He stomped over to me and yanked me by both of my shoulders. “You made me fall in love with you. I let my guard down with you. I fucking married you and then, I gave you something no one on Earth had ever gotten from me… you treated me like shit.  You don’t care anything about me. I don’t like the sober girl you’re portraying. I want the shit-faced drunk one back.  She let me see the real her and she didn’t have all these walls up.” He shook the shit out of me and shoved me away from him. 

              I went to the door and frantically tried to open it. 

              “Oh, no the hell you don’t. Get your shit. Get all your fucking shit out of my house!” He pulled me over to my bags  

              I just dropped to the floor and cried into my hands.

              “Phoebe! Open the door, Honey.” Hearing Mini’s voice just made me cry harder. 

              Xavier was throwing my clothes and jewelry at me. He kept ranting and spat out horrible things about me. 

              “Clara the key now!” I heard Mini yelling.

              “You’re going to be by your fucking self for the rest of your miserable life!  You came alive when you met me, and you know it.  All of your friends say you’re a wishy-washy, stuck-up bitch!  And, I should have known that I didn’t have a chance. They said you lose all interest in a man as soon as you sleep with them.  I should have just left you all hot and bothered.  Maybe you would have begged me to stay.  And, what are you rushing home for? You have no one but that fucking cat and she doesn’t even like you. Where are your friends?  You haven’t talked to any of them since you been here!” 

              I sat there in silence and listened to everything he was saying.  He was still in his ranting and raving stage, pacing the bedroom, looking like a crazed lunatic.

              I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around slowly.  Clara and Mini stood there reaching for me.  I placed my hand in theirs, and they helped me up.  Xavier was throwing shit everywhere.  He went into the bathroom and started emptying the draws in the cabinets.  They slowly walked downstairs with me and everyone watched us.  All the brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters, and sisters-in-law gawked at me leaving the house. 

              “What about her stuff?” Clara asked Mini.

              “I don’t want it,” I whispered. 

              They nodded and we walked through the quiet house. 

              “What the fuck!” I heard Xavier yelling from upstairs. 

              “Help her into the truck and then lock the doors,” Mini told Clara. 

              Mini released my forearm and headed back into the house.  Clara got me to the truck and I was getting in when Xavier caught me. 

              “Wait!” he breathed hard.  His chest was going up and down and up and down so hard. 

              I slid the princess cut ring off my special finger and handed it to him.  I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

              “Goodbye,” I said, as I saw the tears welling up in his eyes.    

              “What are you going to do?” he asked me in a calmer voice. 

              “Go home and get ready for work Monday.”

              “What am I supposed to do?” He whispered in that sweet tone from before.  I reached my hand to him touching the side of his face. 

              “You’re going to do the same.” He pulled me to him and pressed his forehead against mine, and I let him.

              “Can I drive you?”

              “No.”

              “Did you love me?”

              “I still love you.”

              “Baby, don’t leave me.”

              I kissed his lips and he kissed me back.

              “I gotta go.”

              He backed up a little. I pulled the door shut.  Three of the guys put my bags in the bed of the truck.  Mini opened the driver’s side and handed me my purse. 

              “You just go on and leave then. This boy gave you everything he had and you just crumpled it all up.  I hope you cry yourself to sleep at night. I hope you suffer badly for this,” Xan Sr. yelled out to me. 

              “Xan Sr.!” Mini called out to him. 

              Everyone watched us now. Staffers watched from the sides of the house, and all the family stood in the front yard.  I could hear the children playing in the backyard. 

“I don’t believe this. Boy, you ain’t do nothing? Your wife is leaving you!” Xan Sr. yelled to Xavier.

“Let them be, Daddy.” I heard one of my brother-in-laws call out to him. 
              “You hush. You just hush up and let me mourn for my son’s heart,” Xavier’s father spit out. 

Mini got in the driver’s seat and we drove away from the big farm.

**

              When I finally made it home that evening, I went over to Caress’ to pick up Meow Meow.  She met me outside in the driveway.

              “Hey, Caress, I came to pick up the little monster.” I sighed.

              “Honey, James wouldn’t let me call you and bother you, but poor little Meow Meow passed away two days ago.”

              That was the final straw. I dropped to my knees and let everything out of me.  I screamed and cried for hours.  I ended up on Caress' couch that day, the next, and the next.  Uncle James told Caress that if I didn’t show up for work by Tuesday that he was going to come to get me himself. 

              I went home that night and threw all of Meow Meow's little trinkets away.  I couldn’t help but think she probably died of a broken heart.  I was a horrible owner and she knew it. 

              My mailbox was full on the house phone. I didn’t know where my cell phone was.  When I got to work the next morning, Caress told me my mailbox was full and that she’d been taking messages for me.  I apologized to her for the inconvenience and she told me it was nothing.  She had given me my messages before I went into my office. Most of the messages were from Addison and Daphne. I just wasn’t in the mood to talk to either one of them.  I had one from my mother and I gave her a call back.

              “Hello,” she answered.

              “Hi Mom.”

              “Well, I haven’t heard from you in a while and I thought I should call and check on my child.”

              “How are you guys?”

              “Why don’t you come and see?”

              “I sure will, this weekend.”

              “Good. How are you weathering?” she asked.

              “Oh, it’s always foggy in San Francisco.”

              “I meant you.”

              “I’ll heal. I always do.”

              “You seem to be doing a lot of that lately.”

              I just held the phone, not really knowing what else to say at the moment. 
              “Alrighty, so we’ll see you this weekend, right?  You need some sun in your life,” my mother probed. 

              She would use any excuse to get me to Los Angeles with her and dad.

              “Right.”

              “See you then.”

              “See you.”

              My phone buzzed and Caress' voice came through the speaker.