by Tiana Laveen
Obviously, he does have balls… I am sure you saw them in the dic pic just now…
“Leonard, give me my phone and leave! I cannot believe how you’re behaving!”
“Stay outta this, Sahara.” His eyes narrowed on her. “This is between me and him!”
“You’re acting overbearing, Leonard. You’re not her father and Sahara can date who she wishes. We’ve both had enough. Now if you want to talk about this calmly, like adults, I can do that but—”
“This is amazing! You really see nothing wrong with this, huh?! You got no conscience whatsofuckinever!”
“Leonard, if I were in your shoes I may feel upset, too; I don’t know for sure, but I imagine I may have some concerns—all I can tell you is that I actually love your sister, and I’m not going to apologize for loving her. I’m sorry you’re upset, though. That was never my intention.”
“Don’t be sorry, mothafucka. Be careful!”
“Leonard!” Sahara chastised, refusing to stand back and allow her brother to toss a veiled threat.
“Let me tell you somethin’, man. Fuck you, all right? Fuck ya mama, fuck ya dad, fuck ya sister and brothers, too! Fuck ya best friend, fuck ya dog, ya, house, ya car, and the draws on yo’ funky ass! Fuck everybody in your goddamn Greek family tree! The only thing I want Greek in my house is yogurt, and even that shit is questionable.”
“Thank you, Leonard. That was very thoughtful of you… worthy to be written inside of a Hallmark greeting card. I don’t have a sister though but if I did, I would let her know how much you care.”
“Keep gettin’ smart, you son of a bitch… talkin’ all that shit over the mothafuckin’ phone. Dr. Vangelis runnin’ ’round here fuckin’ people’s sisters ’nd shit, everybody! You supposed to be practicing medicine! I bet you couldn’t wait, huh? ’Spose to be lookin’ at her leg and instead was trying to get her in bed. You ain’t shit! And I am reporting yo’ ass ASAP!”
Leonard tossed her phone on the couch, grabbed his car keys, headed out the door and slammed it behind him. Sahara picked up the phone, her nerves completely shot.
“Van, are you there?!”
“…Yes. Well, this is a fine mess, now isn’t it?”
“I’m sorry about my brother. I’m sure he’ll cool down soon.”
“Are you okay, though? I imagine you’re a little shaken up right now. Would you like for me to come over?”
“No, no… it’s fine. Look, I have a terrible headache right now, no doubt brought on by the stress of this evening. I’m going to go on to bed and call you in the morning. Is that okay?”
“Of course, just make sure that you do. I want to ensure you’re okay.”
“I promise I will. And I will also be contacting Leonard telling him to not try and get you into any trouble. No one needs that shit right now.”
“I’m not worried about it. Now yeah, he could cause problems but I tried to cover my ass the best I could and I meant what I said to him. I’m not sorry about falling in love with you.” She smiled at his words. “Let me ask you something though. What made you decide to tell him tonight?”
“I didn’t… you did.”
“I did? No I didn’t.”
“Yeah you did… he saw your, uh, snake photo you sent tonight…”
“Oh. Shit. He had your phone?!”
“Well, kinda. It was lying beside him and I was out of the room. He can’t get into my phone but when someone sends a pic or message, the pic will show or the first sentence or two of the text and anyone can see that. He must’ve seen your name and the photo and then he flew into a rage.”
Her sweetheart sighed on the other end.
“So I am responsible for this?” He chuckled dismally. “The first time I get brazen, my very first dick pic to a woman, and this is what happens!”
She burst out laughing as she turned off the television and made her way up the stairs.
“If it’s any solace, the lighting was very nice, great angle, and it was a sight to behold!” she teased, nervously chuckling and attempting in vain to make herself feel better.
“Thank you.” He laughed. “I tried. Well, anyway, get some sleep. I love you, baby. Talk to you in the morning.”
“I love you, too.” She disconnected the call. Just then she realized Leonard had sent a text message while she was on the phone. She slumped down on her bed and read it.
Sahara, 2 nite I learned a lot about u and none of it was good. You and that Greek piece of shit are right. No, I’m not Dad. You think I should stay out of your business. But funny how when everything implodes on yo ass after another bitch ass motherfucker uses you or don’t treat u right, it’s me that makes shit right again. I’m sick of this. When this blows up in your face too, you’ll expect me to be there, a shoulder to cry on. Since you want to remind me about how adult and grown you are, then be grown enough to not need your big brother to pick up the pieces any more. Some of us didn’t ask 4 our heart to be broken. Others seem to run towards the flames. Don’t call me & I won’t call you. I ain’t got shit else to say…
She lowered her head and shook it. Fighting tears as if she were in the tenth round of a boxing match, she got in the bed and pulled the sheets up to her neck. Her mind raced as she tasted traces of mom’s food on her tongue, missed her lover’s kiss and craved her brother’s loud, obnoxious laughter…
She never knew that sometimes there was a penalty to face for happiness. And what a heavy price it was to pay…
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Miso Horny and Miso Lonely…
Vangelis neared Jamul off Highway 94. It was nearly ten at night and there was a brutal bite in the frigid air. Nevertheless, the cool wind soothed him just fine as he maneuvered his motorcycle around the winding road. Although some of the road was barely illuminated, he knew this path like the dips and curves of his sweetheart’s ass.
Sporting a black leather jacket, jeans and boots, he was ready for the weather and then some. He tightened his hands, clad in black leather gloves, around the handlebars as he maneuvered another curve, this one sharper than the last. It had been a while since he’d taken his bike out, but when Nico had called with desperation in his tone and apologies pouring forth like wine during their infamous and abundant family celebrations, he’d consented to meet him for a bike ride—something they used to do all the time before the great BBQ blowup.
In the distance, he finally made out his brother on his Yamaha FJR1300ES, parked off to the side of the road. The bike had awesome ergonomics and torque but he believed it paled in comparison to his custom Iron 883 Sportster Harley-Davidson. He’d so much as told him so in the past.
“Hey, buddy.” Nico smiled as he extended his arm and they slapped hands. Vangelis removed his helmet and placed it at his side. “Glad you could make it. So, we’re heading all the way out to Dulzura, right?”
“Yeah, we can.”
They placed their helmets back on.
The two made their way onto the road, receiving much needed therapy from the night air, the adrenaline rush of being on their hogs and the pure enjoyment of when metal hits the road. When they approached Dulzura, they pulled over in the barren parking lot of the Barrett Junction and Café off Campo Road. The place was closed as usual at this time of night, but he’d been a time or two for a great fish and chips lunch with a couple of colleagues and friends. Nico removed his helmet and shook his hair out as he gleamed at the man before him.
“That was good… you’re better than me now.”
Vangelis removed his helmet too. “Always been a better rider than you.” He smirked at his little brother… his favorite brother, dare he admit it. Perhaps that was why what went down hurt so bad… “I taught you everything you know. The apprentice rarely surpasses the master,” he joked. “Never forget that.”
“How can I with our mom constantly in my ear about you?” Nico grinned, but Vangelis was now convinced that those words came with a healthy dose of pain. Mom had an unfortunate knack of comparing him
to the rest, driving a wedge between them at times. It was one of many reasons why he hated when she called him Angel; she had no idea what a demon he could truly be, though he didn’t have the heart to tell her. “Do you wanna head down to that one bar since Barrett is closed?” Nico hitched his thumb towards the place. “I forgot that they lock up really early.”
“We can talk right here if it’s all right with you. I like this cool air and being outside is nice. I’ve got some water if you’re thirsty.”
They turned their motorcycles off and parked them, then Vangelis reached in his satchel and tossed his brother a small bottle of water, keeping one for himself. After they both took a few sips in silence, Nico ran his fingers through his black waves.
“My wife wants a divorce. She said I humiliated her.”
“I’m sorry.” Vangelis sucked his teeth, composing himself. His heart was breaking for the man, as well as his sister-in-law and their children. Not sure what to say, he took his time gathering his thoughts.
“Yeah, I’m sorry too, but it’s probably for the best. Anyway, I moved out. Getting ready to get my own spot but I’m crashing with Mom and Dad right now.” He sighed. “I told her to please not keep my kids away from me… that I’d fight her about that in court. She said she wouldn’t. That’s my greatest fear, ya know? How the girls will be impacted by this.”
Vangelis nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry. I know I said that already, but I really am, Nico. I wish you and Amara could have worked this out. Has she officially filed yet?”
“No, but she said she is.”
“Well, she hasn’t, so there’s still hope.” He didn’t miss the way his brother’s eyes hooded and averted his gaze. Nico took a slow sip of his water and looked back at him.
“I think we just need to cut our losses. I’m ready to just move on… tired of not having the relationship I really wanted. We shoulda never been married. It’s not her fault—we’re just two very different people is all. I love her so much that I just want her to be happy. After things cool down, hopefully she and I can at least be friends. Our children need that more than we do and at the end of the day, they are the ones that matter most in this.”
Vangelis moved closer to his brother and slapped his back, then brought the man in for a hug. He could have sworn the man shuddered… so filled with emotion. Nico was far more dramatic and demonstrative than he. Vangelis envied him for that sometimes.
“I start a new job by the way… pharmacist over at Ridgeway. More money and better hours, too.”
“Oh man, that’s great! See? At least something good came outta this.”
“Yeah… it did.” They were quiet for a spell. “Now, uh, I want to apologize to you again for telling Mom and Dad about your girlfriend. That was a shitty, cowardly thing to do. I’m also sorry for yellin’ at you on the phone last time we talked. I was just frustrated with you, but that didn’t make it right.”
“Yeah.” Vangelis grimaced. He took another sip of his water before twisting the cap back onto the bottle. “It was a shitty thing for you to tell Mom and Dad. But uh, I’ve had some time to calm down and I forgive you. As far as you yelling at me on the phone…” He shrugged. “It was brutal, not gonna lie, but you said a few things that were true so I can’t really argue with that. Also, just to clear something up, I cheated on Harmony but she cheated on me with my friend Tyler. Remember him?”
Nico gasped. “Shit! Really?! No wonder he just disappeared into thin air! I had no idea.”
“Yeah, so her hands weren’t clean either. Just want to make sure you have the entire story since apparently, she left that part out. I’m over it though; it is what it is and as far as the beef you and I had, let’s just move on, okay? It’s water under the bridge.”
“Good… good.” Nico nodded and took a breath of relief. “I want you to come over to Mom and Dad’s for dinner soon, Vangelis. Mom has been really upset.”
“I honestly don’t give a shit about Mom being upset about who I am seeing, Nico. That’s been the whole problem. She wants us to be men, but wants to rule our lives at the same time. I know she means well but shit, enough is enough. I’m surprised she thinks so highly of me when I am the only one out of all of us who repeatedly refuses to do what she says. This woman has tried to set me up with so many Greek women from church she’s probably asked the entire female single congregation. It’s ridiculous.”
“No, I mean, well yeah, you’re right but what I am saying is that she has been really upset about you and her not talking, Van. She cried, man. She misses you.”
Vangelis’s face warmed as his heart thumped in his chest. For some odd reason, he’d never even considered their mother being upset because of the recent damage to their relationship. He watched the occasional car passing by on the road for a bit then faced his brother once more.
“Oh… I see. Well, she’s a grown woman. She’s always free to call me. She has the number. Last time we talked, she was asking about some medication she needed to take. She didn’t say much else.” He shrugged.
“That was probably just an excuse to hear your voice, Vangelis… She coulda asked her doctor or me about those pills. But she didn’t. She’s been moping, acting strange. If I didn’t live there now I probably wouldn’t have known. She’s depressed.”
“Well, racists sometimes get down in the dumps.” He huffed.
“Come on, Angel! That’s not fair. You know Mom’s not racist.”
“Do I? No, I don’t, Nico. She has said some things, okay? I’ve heard her. No, it was not malicious stuff but it was based in ignorance… like believing Black people steal more than Whites, shit like that. Oh, I almost forgot one detail about the last time we spoke. She did ask me for an apology… so, uh, I think that blows your theory out the water. She still thinks she’s right about everything and I just don’t have time for that. I’m living my life with or without her blessing. I can’t be oppressed by her or anyone else. I refuse to be.”
“But you’re just like her…” Vangelis’ face tensed as he glared at his brother. He bit back his words, the curses he wished to utter. “I’m serious. Take away Mom’s cattiness—you both are very judgmental but mean well, you both are really smart and you know it. I mean, Mom’s intelligence astounds me sometimes, and so does yours.”
He was right. Mom was extremely intelligent and it had always baffled Vangelis why she never went to college.
“Neither of you can admit wrongdoing unless pushed up against the wall and you both are extreme perfectionists and clean freaks. You both like to completely take over things, you’re organized and workaholics. You both are really good people, too, but unless someone is able to get close to you, I mean, really close to you, they will never know that you’ve got a really big heart and are extremely caring. Basically, you both act tougher than you are. That stone face is just that, a façade. You care. If I put an apron on you right now and curlers in your hair, you’d be Mom. We’ve all said it behind your back.” He chuckled. “Even Dad has said it. You’re the male version of Mom, only quieter. I think that is why she loves you most of all. You’re not a motormouth like her, but everything else is on the money.”
The realization of the truth of his brother’s words hit him like a ton of bricks.
“Oh, no. This is not good.” They both looked at each other and burst out laughing, only his laughter was partially doused in disbelief and despair. “I don’t really follow astrology closely, but Mom and I are both Virgos. Maybe that has something to do with it.”
His brother shrugged and finished off his water. “It may. I wouldn’t doubt it. Anyway, so, uh, will you come to dinner so we can squash this mess?”
“Yeah, I’ll come. Mom has to invite me though, okay?”
“Oh, come on, man! Vangelis, please put your pride aside and just come on over! Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
Vangelis sighed and grabbed his helmet with both hands. He hopped back on his bike and Nico did the same.
; “All right…” He revved the big, bad machine up. “I’ll come over, but I am not promising to be nice…”
“So, you’ll be by later tonight?” he asked his sweetheart over the phone.
Butt naked, Vangelis leaned against his kitchen counter. The sun shined through the window, so beautiful, like a postcard. He ran his hand against his semi-erect cock as he spoke to Sahara, falling into a daydream of twisted sheets and writhing bodies. Just the sound of her voice lately got him revved up. He couldn’t keep his hands off her; they made love practically each time they saw each other now, and that was usually several times a week.
“Yeah, just have to run a couple of errands today, stop by my parents, and I’ll be over.”
“Okay, good. You, uh, speak to Leonard yet?”
“No. He hasn’t called, come over or anything. It really hurts.”
Vangelis sighed. “I know… I’m sorry. This is all of my fault. I should have told him early on. Maybe that would have prevented this.”
“I am not sure it would have. I think he would’ve been pissed had we only been dating twenty-four hours honestly, Van, and it’s not your fault anyway. Leonard is the one that is acting childish right now. I mean, I know it’s because he cares – but I have never treated him like this when he has dated a woman in the past that I didn’t like.”
“Yeah, I understand that.” Vangelis shook his head. “He and my mother are too much involved in other people’s business… geesh. He called the office from my understanding the other day and asked for his records to be transferred to another doctor’s office. The guy he is moving to is a quack by the way. I’m serious. Dr. Nilsson is one of the worst natural doctors in all of San Diego. He has no idea what the fuck he is doing and he doesn’t do any study research or anything. I also heard he is abrasive with patients. It’s a shame. I really enjoyed your brother as a patient and he has gotten so much healthier under my care.” He crossed his arms and ankles. “Not to brag or anything, but it’s true.”
