Luck of Love

by Aleman, Tiffany

  Nodding I answer in a whisper, “Juan Martinez.”

  Helping me up off the floor, I reach down picking my phone up, thanking God it’s in a case. Just as Derrick comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist another message comes through. My body goes rigid with fear when I feel Derrick stiffen behind me.

  Unknown: They can’t protect you…and when you go to look outside, I’ll be gone…but I’m never that far away…

  Derrick yanks the phone from my hands as a wave of nausea hits me. I take off in a sprint to the bathroom, falling to my knees barely making it in time to expell the contents in my stomach. My hands clutch the porcelain for support as dry heaves wreck me. Finally catching my breath, I lean back against the wall pulling my legs up and tucking my knees under my chin. Cradling my face in my hands, silent tears stream down my face while I sit here wondering why now. Mentally I scream, fuck! Why won’t he just leave me alone?

  I flinch when a cold wet washcloth lies across the back of my neck. Stooping down in front me, Derrick lifts my hands from my face and whispers, “Shh…it’s okay babe. I’m going to take care of this.”

  All I can do is nod. It’s been ten fucking years. No one can take care of this. No one can save me if I can’t even save myself. Lifting me up off the floor, I wrap my arms around Derrick’s neck as he carries me to my room. Placing me softly on the bed, Derrick climbs in next to me. Burying my face in his chest, I’m thankful for him being here. Gently he clutches me to him as he binds his arms around me. Kissing my temple and rubbing my back he murmurs, “Let’s get some rest babe. I think you’ll feel better once you get some sleep.” I kiss him softly breathing a sigh of relief because for once, I truly do feel safe.

  Walking towards my gate, I’d just made it through airport security when my phone rang. Derrick.

  “Hey what’s up man?” I answer trying to keep my tone as even as possible.

  Ever since I found out that Blake was seeing him, I’ve done everything I can think of to take my mind off her.

  “What the fuck man? I’ve been calling and calling you.” He replies in a hushed tone. Immediately, I know something’s up.

  “Look Derrick man I’m sorry. I’ve been working non-stop on this case and prepping for trial,” taking a deep breath I add, “Now I’m at the airport about to catch a red-eye home for Thanksgiving. What’s going on?”

  “Some shit’s gone down with my girl, and I need you to do me a favor. Can you check out a guy named Juan Martinez for me? He lives in Golden Beach, Florida.”

  What the fuck? What is he talking about some shit went down with Blake? Sucking a deep breath in, I try to calm my nerves before I give myself away.

  “Yeah, let me see what I can do. If you don’t mind me asking, what is going on? I mean, so I know what I’m looking for.”

  I can hear the muffled sound of him talking to her while his hand covers the receiver. “Shh…babe it’s okay. I’m just going to step out, that way I don’t keep you awake. I love you too.” Jealousy and envy aren’t emotions that I’m accustomed to, but right now, those are the only emotions that surge through me. My knuckles ache from the grip I have on my phone, knowing he’s the one consoling her and not me. Pain spears my heart from barely hearing her voice.

  “All right, sorry about that. Let me give you the short version. Juan Martinez is Blake’s ex-Spanish teacher. He stalked her from the seventh grade until she graduated from high school. She received two texts tonight from an unknown number that said he’s been watching her, that we can’t protect her, that he’s never that far away, and that he’ll see her again soon. I don’t know what to do. I called hoping you would be able to get a hold of that private investigator you know and have him check up on this situation. I’ll pay; I don’t care how much it costs me.”

  Holy shit, that’s not what I was expecting him to say. I can’t believe that this Juan Martinez guy is accosting Blake. Shit, I’ll pull out an arsenal of people to protect Blake. I don’t even need to second-guess my response.

  “Damn Derrick, I don’t even know what to say, but yeah I’ll call him up and let you know. I know you wouldn’t ask for my help if you didn’t think it was necessary. And about the payment, don’t worry about it, it’s on me.”

  I can hear him breathe a sigh of relief. “Thanks man. I seriously owe you one. You know I never thought I’d say this, but I fuckin’ love this girl. I’ll kill him if he comes near her.”

  “It’s all good; let me get off here so I can board my flight. I’ll call you in a couple of days to let you know what’s going on. And just so you know, I won’t let anyone hurt her either,” I say reassuring myself more than him.

  “Thanks man,” he replies. I know he’s worried, but I won’t let Blake down. I may not be the one to hold her and make her feel protected, but I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe, even if it’s from behind the scenes.

  “Yeah, later,” I reply disconnecting the call. Dropping the phone back in my pocket, I take a seat outside my gate. Resting my elbows on my knees, I cradle my head in my hands raking my fingers through my hair. I can’t believe that Derrick just told me he loves Blake and that someone’s stalking her. Putting a stop to those thoughts, I reach for my phone just as my flight announcement comes over the public address system.

  Boarding the plane, I scroll through my contacts landing on Bradley Mitchell. We graduated from law school together. Within a couple years, he decided the lawyer thing wasn’t for him and joined the Army instead. I talked to him about a year ago after he was discharged from the military. We talked about a few of his deployments, and his time in the Special Forces. Now, he’s a private investigator based out of North Carolina. He told me that if I ever needed anything to give him a call, and that’s what I intend to do. Dialing his number, he answers on the first ring.

  “Rambo, what’s up man?” I can’t help but laugh at the nickname he gave me in college.

  “Not much, and actually I should be calling you Rambo, Mr. Ex-special forces. How is it going there in North Carolina?” I reply laughing.

  “It’s good. So what’s going on?”

  “Well, I actually called because I need a favor. Would you check out a guy from Golden Beach, Florida by the name of Juan Martinez? He used to be a teacher, he still might be. He taught Spanish at the middle and high school levels there. I need a detailed report on him, and if you could stake him out for a few days I would certainly appreciate it.”

  “Alright, I know you wouldn’t be asking me to do this if it wasn’t something serious, but you know it’s going to cost you. I mean for airfare, lodging and a rental car,” he replies.

  “That’s fine. You still have my e-mail right?” I ask taking my seat.

  “Yeah.”

  “Just e-mail the expenses along with your banking info and I’ll get the funds deposited into your account. I’ll check my email when I land in Colorado,” I say preparing for takeoff.

  “Consider it done,” he replies.

  I hang up just as the flight attendant comes over the loud speaker asking everyone to stow his or her cell phones and other electronics. Leaning my head back against the headrest, if there’s one thing I know about Brad; it’s that he doesn’t like to fail. Why anyone would want to stalk Blake is beyond me, but then again I knew something was different about her. She doesn’t like people getting too close to her, and she always seemed so closed off, except with Dean. Maybe if I’d pushed her to open up I’d be the one there with her right now; but I’ll be there for her now, even if she just doesn’t know it.

  I’ve drowned myself in my work. My co-workers have commented on my sullen mood. Blake’s called a couple of times to check on me, but I didn’t answer. I’ve let all of her calls go to voicemail. I know if I hear her voice then I’ll break. I won’t care if she’s with my best friend. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her that I’m the one she should be with, but Derrick is the last person that I want to hurt. I know she’s said that we could be friends,
but I know just as well as she does, we can’t.

  I’ve done everything I can think of to get this woman out of my system. I’ve gotten shit-faced drunk, gone to strip clubs, hell I’ve even slept with a few women just to get Blake off my mind.

  Getting drunk didn’t help, because I’d been the only one on the receiving end of that hangover. Normally, I would’ve called up Derrick and talked to him about all this shit, but how can I do that when out of all people I need to talk to him about is the girl he’s seeing. I went to the strip club thinking that might help, but I couldn’t stop myself from comparing the stripper’s fake tits to Blake’s. A grin tugs at my lips as I think about her perfectly shaped… Don’t go there Landon.

  My head teeters side to side when the wheels hit the pavement causing the plane to bounce up and down on the tarmac snapping me awake. Yawning, my hands lift above my head stretching. Checking my phone for any missed calls I notice there’s a missed text.

  Derrick: I just wanted to say thanks again for helping me out with this shit. Also, if you have time Blake’s birthday is on the twelfth of December and I’m doing something for her at the casino. I’d like for you to come, that way, you guys can meet.

  Me: I’ll think about it

  Derrick: What the fuck dude?! I haven’t seen you in ages and I want you to meet her, you’ll like her she’s cool as shit I promise you. Quit being a pussy, you better make it.

  Fuck my life! I think to myself as I throw my head back against the headrest. If only he knew what had happened, he wouldn’t want her to be around me ever again. Thinking back about a conversation I had with my mom when I decided to come home for Thanksgiving makes me really consider accepting his invitation.

  I was sitting at home drinking a beer and watching the Steelers beat the shit out of the Cowboys during the fourth quarter of the game, when my mom called. She’d asked me what my plans were for Thanksgiving, and that she missed her boys. My mom said that it had been too long since Derrick and I had been home, two years too long. I told her that I’d talk to Derrick about it, but wasn’t sure he was going to come. He was finally involved with someone; that he was finally in love. My mother the smart woman she is, could hear the melancholy behind my admission. She knew right away that something was wrong. That’s when I finally broke down and told her everything. From the day that I’d met Blake, to when I discovered she was dating Derrick, to how I’ve been avoiding them both.

  She felt bad for me of course; she loves me because I’m her son, but she loves Derrick too. She agreed that what I did was the right thing to do. That letting Blake go to save my friendship, to let Derrick be happy, was what made me a good man. My mom told me that I needed to call Blake and tell her why I left the way I did, and why I’ve been ignoring her calls. She said that I needed to tell Derrick the truth about everything and that she was sure that he’d understand. What my mother said next is what stuck with me. She said that I needed to be there for Derrick. If I intended to continue to be a part of his life, I needed to accept the fact that he was with Blake. I was going to have be around them together as a couple at some point.

  Me: Hey, I’ll be there

  Derrick: Great

  Standing up from my seat, I walk down the corridor of the plane putting my phone away. I can’t believe I’m actually going to go to her party. I hope this doesn’t blow up in my face.

  Stepping out of the Range Rover, I hand Derrick the two pies that I made for Thanksgiving. Shutting the door behind me, yellow, purple and orange mums in ceramic pots line the steps up to the front porch of Dean’s parents house. White brick wraps around the Colonial Style home. Blue shutters adorn the front windows. Walking up to the front door, the light gray wooden steps creak beneath our feet. Two white wooden rocking chairs sit on the right side of the dark gray front door.

  Reaching the front door, I lean over to press the doorbell when the door swings wide open. With a smile spreading across Dean’s face, I step through giving him a hug. “Happy Thanksgiving,” I say smiling back.

  I had to give myself a pep talk this morning while Derrick and I took a shower. I’d told myself that I wasn’t going to let the text messages from last night get to me. Actually, Derrick helped me forget about everything this morning. He pounced on me when he saw me coming back from the bathroom. Even now, I can still feel his hands gliding down my ribs and slipping beneath the elastic of my shorts. I can still see the wicked grin he wore when he found that I’d had no panties on. In a frenzy, he ripped my clothes off and was two fingers deep in me by the time I was able to catch my breath. I moaned and writhed underneath him as his miraculous fingers brought me to the brink. Just as I was about to tip over the edge, his fingers were replaced with his thick hard shaft. With one quick thrust, I was sliding up the sheets as a loud cry escaped me echoing throughout my room. He didn’t hold anything back when he flipped me over on my knees. All of our inhibitions were lost when I screamed for him to fuck me harder. His relentlessness had me gasping for air. I finally tipped over the edge when his hand came down slapping my ass. Dropping onto my stomach, spent and sated, Derrick fell with me whispering how amazing I was and how much he loved me.

  Shaking my head, I try to push the memories of this morning to the back of my mind. Not the time or the place Blake.

  Squeezing me back Dean says, “Happy Thanksgiving. Come on in, my mom’s been dying to see you.”

  Looking up at Dean, I watch him look to Derrick and nod towards the pies that I brought, “Hey Derrick, glad you could make it. You want me to take those from you?”

  Stepping out of Dean’s hold, I walk over to Derrick’s side when he answers Dean, while handing him the pies, “Here you go, and thanks for inviting me.”

  “Don’t worry about it. My mom loves Blake and wouldn’t hear of it if you didn’t come,” he replies. Standing back from the door, “Come on in.”

  As we stand there with Dean, his mom comes barreling through the foyer with her short brown hair styled into a bob, shimmering chocolate brown eyes, and wide smile greeting us. “Oh my God, Blake, you look fantastic. We’re so happy that you could make it,” she says cheerfully pulling me into a hug. Whispering in my ear she asks, “Is this him?”

  Nodding, I pull back with a smile and say in a hushed tone, “Yes,” reaching for Derrick’s hand, I pull him to me and say, “Derrick this is Kate, Dean’s mom. Kate this is Derrick.”

  Arching an eyebrow and grinning she says playfully, “Well isn’t he just delicious.” I burst into a fit of laughter watching Derrick’s face turn a crimson red. Pulling him into a hug she says, “It’s so great to meet you. We’re so glad that you could make it.”

  I can tell he’s uncomfortable by Kate’s forwardness when he gently pats her on the back and replies, “Thank you for inviting me. You have a lovely home.”

  Waving her hand in dismissal at his formality, she releases him from his hug following Dean into the kitchen. Looking back over his shoulder while sitting the pies I made on the counter, Dean says, “Derrick, there’s football on in the living room.”

  Wrapping his arm around my waist, Derrick looks at me with pleading eyes lowering his mouth to my ear asking, “Do you mind babe?”

  Shaking my head, “No, go ahead, go do the guy thing,” I say chuckling shoving him out of the kitchen.

  Laughing, he kisses my temple saying, “I love you.”

  Watching him and Dean walk away, my head cocks to the side as I stare at Derrick’s sexy ass flexing in his jeans striding out of the kitchen. A towel hitting me in the arm pulls me back to the moment. Turning back to look at a laughing Kate, she says, “I don’t blame you for looking, just don’t look so obvious doing it.”

  “I can’t help it,” I reply grinning while shrugging my shoulders.

  “You really love him don’t you?”

  “What do you mean?” I ask because her question catches me off guard.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way Blake, I love you like you’re my own, but you tend to kee
p yourself really guarded. I mean we’ve known you for three years already, and it took you at least a year to be comfortable around us. You must love him because I’ve never seen you like this, smiling and happy.” She answers mixing butter into the mashed potatoes.

  Settling on the stool in front of the bar in the kitchen, I pick at my nails answering her. “Yeah I do, I really love him. I love you guys too and I’m so sorry that I seamed closed off to you all. I didn’t intend to be like that, I’ve just been like this for so long. Old habits are hard to break I guess.” Shrugging my shoulders I add, “Dean and I had a long talk about some things, and I’m working on it. Trust me; I’ve been trying really hard.”

  Looking up at her, I see one small tear roll down her cheek. Putting down the bowl of mashed potatoes and wiping her hands on a towel, she walks around the bar and wraps me in her warmth hugging me to her. Whispering in my ear she says, “I don’t know what happened to you, but whatever it was, it’s not your fault. I love you and I’m here for you if you ever need anyone to talk to. From what I’ve seen so far,” pulling back and looking me in the eyes she continues, “I can tell that man loves and adores you too.”

  “You think so?” I ask with hope in my voice.

  Walking back around the counter, she continues her assault on the mashed potatoes and says, “Of course. Are you kidding me? I know I’ve just met him and all, but I know love when I see it, and the way he looks at you like you’re the only thing holding him to the Earth, honey that’s love.”

  I can’t argue with that. A small piece of me still wonders why he’s with me, why anyone would want to be with me. However, if there’s one thing I know about Kate, it’s that she’s usually dead on about these things.

  “I hope so,” I reply.

  Patting my hand she says, “I know so. Now, how’s school been going? How’s the bar?”