by Tiana Laveen
He pulled out his phone and found several photos he’d taken with Sahara.
“Here. Look.” Nico took the phone and swiped his finger on the screen to check out the pictures.
“You… you gotta be kiddin’ me,” his brother finally said, a sleazy smirk smeared on his face. “Does Mom know about this?! She couldn’t know.”
“What? Does Mom know what? That I’m dating someone?”
“Oh shit! She doesn’t, does she?! I can tell by how you’re looking at me! Mom and Dad are going to shit bricks! Fuck!”
“Why do you say that?” He knew… just wanted to hear the son of a bitch utter the damn words…
“I had no idea man that you were into that! She’s Black, and they are gonna lose their fucking minds!” Nico burst out laughing so hard, Vangelis feared the man may drop his phone. He snatched it out of his grip and slipped it back in his pocket.
“Yup. She’s Black. So fucking what. We haven’t been seeing each other terribly long, but long enough. I really care about her, too, Nico. She’s different from the others.”
“Tell me about her.”
“Her name is Sahara. She’s a pediatrician. Smart, too… Gorgeous. Classy. She went to UCLA for college. Top of ’er class.”
…And unlike your situation, you stupid motherfucker, she sucks my fucking dick when we screw, and she does it very well I might add so watch your mouth.
“Okay, okay, laughs aside at the thought of our parents faces if they knew, she’s beautiful, Van. You always get the gorgeous women.”
“Thank you.” Vangelis poured himself a glass of water. “She’s beautiful on the inside too. That’s what matters at the end of the day.”
“I have a question, Van… the million dollar one.”
“Yeah?” He turned to face him, knowing exactly what the man was going to say.
“How are you going to break this to them though? Or are you keeping it to yourself? You’re kinda secretive about your private life, just like we just talked about. I mean, you and I both know our parents are not exactly progressive. And Mom is… Shit, this might even be worse than when they find out I fucked around on Amara.” He chuckled.
“Just like the same advice I gave you today.” He shrugged. “I’m going to have to tell them, at least eventually… and I will. I refuse to live my life for someone else. Of course I care what Mom and Dad think to some extent—that’s family, man. But I can’t make big life decisions based on our parents’ feelings, Nico. That’s silly… and not my style. This is someone who has the potential to be in my life forever. This is important to me… it’s serious. I really have feelings for this lady, Nico. She’s the type of woman I’ve been waiting for, and I’ll be damned if I let someone else, even Mom, as much as I love her, ruin this chance for me. I need to see where this goes, and nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to stop me…”
CHAPTER NINE
21 Questions
“You didn’t say you were wearing diamonds, too.”
He gathered her in a hearty embrace and layered her cheek with kisses as they waited for the valet. The upscale charity event, if he said so himself, had been a success. He’d danced, laughed, and made a few contacts that might prove beneficial in the future. Everyone had been professional, elegant, and full of enthusiasm. The dinner, too, had been superb, catered by a company his best friend had used for his wedding. But most notable of all, he got to hear his lady stand up and speak so eloquently about child protection, a topic near and dear to her heart.
“Diamond necklace, matching earrings… you are a show off, aren’t you, pretty lady?” He smiled at her as he thumbed through the loose curls that blew in the breeze, framing the sides of her lovely face. Her curly brown hair was piled high atop her head, making her look regal. Like a queen.
“This old thing?” Sahara said casually as she placed her hand on her small waist, showcasing her diamond belt, which looked quite magnificent against the silky, dark green material of her gown. He glanced down at her chest, loving that she was showing just a smidgen of cleavage—nothing over the top or too revealing. “And let me tell you…” She ran her fingers against his tie. “This tie right here is gorgeous. You have excellent taste, Dr. Alexopoulos, especially when I asked you to come at the last minute.”
His BMW was brought around and he quickly tipped the guy but before he opened the passenger door. After she planted a kiss on the tip of his nose, he helped her inside and soon they were back on the road, out in the world.
“It’s rather late so I’ll get you home, baby. It’s been a long night.”
“But your house is closer…”
As he merged into traffic, he shot her a look, and a smirk, too.
“So, what are you suggesting? You want to stay the night?” he said with a raised brow.
He surely hoped so. She looked so wonderful in her dress he’d gotten a bit worked up that evening, so he definitely wouldn’t mind letting off some steam in the form of some sexual healing…
“Well, I do have an early morning but I would like to stay over. It’ll be easier. You can take me home in the morning. That way, I can shower and get changed and go to work. We’ll just get up earlier than usual is all. Is that okay?”
“That’s perfectly fine with me.” He turned on his music—Khruangbin’s, ‘Friday Morning.’ Sahara slipped her soft hand in his as he drove and they enjoyed each other’s company without having to say a word. His mind, though, worked overtime. He was thinking all sorts of things… sorting them out, making them work, making everything fit.
Her cellphone rang, bringing him out of his deliberations. As he hit the highway, he discreetly observed her removing her hand from his, pulling out her phone, and glancing at the screen. Slipping it back into her purse, she entwined her fingers with his again. In that moment, he experienced something he seldom felt—pure, unadulterated jealousy.
Who’d called her? Another man? He swallowed as his thoughts made him uncomfortable, stealing away his peace of mind. He prided himself on his confidence and not giving way to fantasies and notions that held no concrete proof, responses built purely out of emotion. Yet here he was, in the thick of it; the green-eyed monster had struck him on the head. He badly wanted to ask her about her caller, but it was none of his business, especially since he’d been rather nonspecific about the parameters of their relationship.
You have no right to be jealous. You can’t have it both ways. Do you want exclusivity? If so, how will she know if you don’t say so? You can’t expect her to read your mind.
That moment sealed it for him. He’d been thinking about it for quite some time, so he’d make his move now, sooner rather than later.
He turned up the music a bit and forced a smile, anything to curb the possessiveness that wouldn’t go away. It festered in his gut like a rotten lunch that was hellbent on repeating. The thought of someone else between her thighs made his damn heart thump in the worst way. He went insane imagining a man’s tongue curling against her moist fruit that rested between two of the warmest, loveliest thighs he’d ever had the pleasure to touch. His gut stirred and cramped as he took it a step farther—some phantom man slipping his dick inside her, fucking what was rightfully his!
Am I in love with her? What is this about? I mean, I know I care for the woman very much. Do I think about her the majority of the day? I’d have to say yes, I do. Do I get excited when she calls and texts me? Absolutely. When we make love, do I feel like I am in another world? Most definitely. I’ve never felt this way and so fast before, certainly not about a woman. We just click.
He grabbed the steering wheel a bit tighter, irritated about what had come to be. The facts were clear… he was falling in love. There was no safety net for him; what had begun as an attraction and a need to assist had turned quickly into an intellectual understanding and courtship. And now, his heart had disobeyed him and taken off with all of his sacred common sense.
“I didn’t want this to happen,” he mumbled.
&n
bsp; “Huh? What? Want what to happen?” she asked.
“Nothing, just thinking about something… Uh, are you hungry?”
He switched lanes.
“Now why would I be hungry after we just ate?” She laughed and regarded him with a raised brow. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, never better!” He showed all of his teeth now, no doubt looking like some damn puppet at a dental fare—something used to help kids be gleeful to brush their chompers. Sahara grunted and gave him the side eye, then resituated herself. Soon, they were at his house, and he was up and opening her door.
“Chivalry is not dead! Alert the press!” she joked.
“Fake news…” he teased, causing her to chuckle. He then reached for her hand and helped her out of the car.
“You’re such a gentleman, Vangelis.”
“Mmm hmm.” He nodded, still feeling a bit out of sorts. “Let’s not go through the garage, I was doing some lawn work yesterday and have stuff in the way in there. I would hate for you to trip and fall.”
“I’d sue you and knowing my luck, it would be the other leg to get tore up… then I’d really be a mess!” She giggled.
“Well, I won’t let that happen. We’ll just go through the front door. I planned to put together a new storage system I had bought earlier in the week in order to put everything away a little neater, but then you—”
“Said I was going to this event and made you come along.”
“Yeah…” He smiled stiffly.
After all, it was her fault his garage was in shambles, but somehow, he was okay with it.
“You do realize that I’ve never been to your home before, Van?” she announced as they walked up the stone path. He removed the key from his pocket and slid it inside the lock.
“I honestly hadn’t thought about that until you just said something.”
“Not once have you ever invited me over and for as long as we’ve been dating, I found that odd. I thought you might be hiding a wife or a dead body in here! I also find it strange that all I had to do was ask, and now,” she threw up her hands, “we’re here.”
“Why is that strange? I definitely wasn’t trying to keep you away. I like being at your place… never really thought much about it.”
They walked inside and after turning off the alarm system, he switched on the front foyer light.
“Oh… my… God. Vangelis, your home is beautiful!”
“Thank you. Please make yourself at home, okay? Kick your shoes off, relax. Let me get you something to drink, baby.”
He undid his tie as he hastened to his kitchen. However, no footsteps sounded behind him. He paused and turned to see Sahara looking around in wonder. Why did his home make people do that? Even his own mother would pause and stare, still. To him, it was just a nice abode, and very clean as most of his furniture and décor were in earth tones and white. He didn’t like mess or clutter. Everything had its place and he had a love for art, especially large oil paintings that depicted historical events.
“I can’t get over how this place looks! No, I take that back… it suits you. I wish I could say I was surprised but when I really think about it, I’m not.” She chuckled as she eventually made her way towards him. “You’re very meticulous, Vangelis… of course your home would be much the same. Goodness, I thought I had a nice house. Now you make me uncomfortable to ever even have you back over.”
“Oh, stop it.” He smiled as he reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of white wine. “Your house is beautiful. It fits well with your personality, and it’s a space that makes you comfortable. I enjoy being over there.” And he meant that.
She slid onto a white bar stool, the same one Nico had sat in earlier. The thought of his brother being so broken up and distraught entered his brain again.
Poor Nico… not getting any head now his marriage is probably dead… That rhymed. I didn’t mean for it to rhyme. Now it sounds all silly! This is serious, and here I am mentally rapping about my brother’s marital demise. What a surprise. Time sure flies. Pies and Cookies. A little bit of nookie. What is wrong with me tonight?!
“What’s wrong?” she asked. He filled two wine glasses to the rims and pushed the absurdity of his homemade limericks out of his head. Handing her one of the flutes, he looked into her eyes.
Should I say something? I mean, this is personal family stuff. Pace is important to me. I don’t rush things… am I rushing anything with her by revealing this? I can’t imagine how. I don’t believe so.
“Well, my brother Nico is having some marital issues is all. He stopped by earlier today, right after I got back from the store with my tie and we discussed it. It’s just a shame is all. I mean…” He leaned against the counter and took a sip from his glass. “I really love my sister-in-law, but I obviously love my brother, too. He was wrong though… but he’s hurting right now and I don’t want to make it worse.”
“Well, what happened? What’s going on?” He took a deep breath and sighed.
“He had an affair that led to a domino effect of bad luck. Long story short, he ended up losing his job because of it and the woman he did this with is so upset about him calling it quits with her that she’s threatened to contact my sister-in-law and spill the beans. It’s just a mess.” He took another sip of his wine. “Honestly, it took everything within me to not curse him out. I kept those thoughts to myself this time around. That’s my usual method with him when he goes and does something stupid, but I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Lately, I’ve changed… I think you’ve been a good influence on me, you know?”
“Really? Well, that’s good.” She smiled… such a pretty smile indeed.
“Yeah, it is good… you know, that whole thing you told me about thinking about the people I am talking to, not how I’d want to be spoken to… Everyone is different. I personally don’t have an issue being told the truth, even if it would be considered mean, I suppose. Yeah, no one wants to be ridiculed or criticized, but I think it just doesn’t bother me the same way as it does some others. I’d rather someone tell me they hate me than pretend, ya know? Tell me I suck in bed, that I’m a lousy doctor, I want to hear that versus the alternative. Lies. I find it a relief actually. Lies really bother me… even ones to spare my feelings. I’ve always been that way.”
She nodded.
“Well, that’s admirable. I can’t say that I’m the same way though. I would not classify myself as overly sensitive, either, but I am in tune with hurt… with feelings, the prickly things that make me shy away.” She cocked her head to the side and smiled a bit brighter. “So, since you didn’t curse your brother out, what advice did you give him instead?”
“I told him to take his ass home and tell his wife everything from start to finish. There’s nothing worse than having something looming over your head like that. Besides, she should hear it from him first. Things like this never stay hidden in the dark anyway. The truth eventually comes out, one way or another.”
“I totally agree. It’s better to just bite the bullet.”
“You know what’s really messed up?”
“What?” She took another sip of her wine and began to spin back and forth in her seat. She looked cute…
“He’s a good guy, Sahara. I know it doesn’t sound like it, but he is. He just made a grave mistake. We all fuck up, it’s life. Come to find out, he’s been having problems with his wife for a while now. This isn’t the first time trouble has hit their wedded waters.”
“That’s not unusual. I’ve heard that before. Did he tell you why he did it?”
“Let’s just say many men would not have been able to stick around.” He took the final sip of his wine, rinsed the glass, and set it in the sink. “In any case, I don’t want his marriage to end and I don’t believe he wants it to, either. I want him to be happy though, so ya know, it is what it is.” He sighed as he walked over to her, took her empty glass, and rinsed it as well. Meanwhile, his mind drifted…
He’s miserable in his
marriage. See? I thought he was happy… maybe Nico just shouldn’t be married. I think a lot of people shouldn’t be. I’m not against marriage, I just want it to happen when and if I feel it’s a good time. I don’t want to be rushed into anything… Nico, what the hell, man? Why am I even thinking about this right now? Oh yeah, I know why… because Sahara and I have different views about this very subject matter. It hasn’t caused any issues though, at least not yet, so why should I be worried about this?
You know the answer to this question, Van… because when you tell her how you feel about her and that you want a commitment, her mind will go there, just like all the others. Shit.
He grabbed his white dish towel and dried off the glasses, then set them down on a drying rack to ensure they didn’t get any spots, streaks, or smears.
“Want to play a game of twenty-one questions?” she asked.
He slowly turned in her direction with a smirk on his face. He wasn’t surprised when it matched her own.
“Yeah, I’ll play.” He walked back over to the island, pulled out a bar stool across from hers, and sat down. Crossing his arms over his chest, he winked at her, causing her to blush. “Who’s starting? You or me?”
“Well, we can just—”
“Ladies first. You go.” He cocked his head to the side and waited.
“All right. Now, keep in mind, we’ve discussed some of these I’m sure, but you can ask a question you already know the answer to by now if it’s just for clarification.” He nodded in understanding. “Pool or beach?”
“Pool.”
“Why?”
“Asking why counts against your 21. You’d be down to 19.”
“That’s fine.”
“Okay. Pool because it’s more hygienic. The chemicals help kill harmful bacteria.”
“People piss in pools and it is a smaller area, meaning your chances of contamination if anyone has vomited, urinated, or defecated on themselves are higher.”
