Beck

by Toye Lawson Brown

  He laughed. “Okay, I call a truce. By the way, you have a pretty name. It fits you.”

  “And Pavlov is Russian, right?” I asked. “What about Beck? That’s not Russian at all. Sounds like a soap opera character who is mysterious, dark, and sexy.”

  He blushed. “Pavlov is very much Russian. My father was born there. My mother’s family is from Scandinavia, but most of them migrated to Chicago way before she was born. My name is from both their origins.”

  “Do you speak Russian?”

  “My mother only speaks English. I know a little Russian. Not enough to carry on a conversation, though.”

  “Fascinating. I’ve always wanted to learn another language. It’s amazing to be able to do that and go places, and not rely on translators.” I leaned in and whispered, “You cannot trust if they are saying what was told to them.”

  Beck laughed. His voice was deep and sexy. And the way his Adam’s apple bobbed was an invitation to press my lips against it. Of course, I wouldn’t do it.

  “I’ve been to Russia once; can’t say I’d be in a hurry to go back,” he said. He finished the whole sandwich then picked up the cookie and took a big bite.

  Done with half of my sandwich, I picked up half the cookie and bit into the soft treat. As I watched Beck devour his, the urge to brush the crumbs off his shirt hit me.

  What was wrong with me? I had Eddie to fill my lonely nights. Not that he had made an effort to fill those nights. However, getting him to spend the night with me without Beck on my heels would be difficult.

  “So did you leave a broken heart in Chicago when you moved here?” I asked.

  His eyes darkened under my gaze after a flicker of pain flashed across them. He took a sip of the smoothie. “Let’s just say she got over me quick. I just learned she’s getting married in a few months.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry. Yeah, it sucks now, but in the long run, you’re better off not having your emotions played like a fiddle.”

  “All I can do is wish her well,” he said curtly.

  My cell phone buzzed just in time to break the tension. It was Eddie sending me a text message. Quickly, I swiped the phone open and read the short text.

  Meet me tonight at nine. I left the key under the mat in case you beat me there.

  I held in my smile, holding the phone close to my chest. I had to get rid of Beck for the evening, but how?

  “I have a date tonight at my boyfriend’s house. You won’t need to go with me there.”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ms. Parker; I’m wherever you are. I’ll wait in the car, but I cannot leave you alone.”

  “Seriously? Okay, but I don’t know how long I’ll be. I haven’t seen him in months.”

  “Where you doing the long-distance relationship thing when you lived in New York?”

  I nodded. “Yup. His job kept him here and he couldn’t always fly out for a visit. Since I’ve been back, work has been our enemy. We haven’t been able to connect in a long time.”

  He looked at me like I was crazy. It had to sound crazy to an outsider. How could we be in the same city and not see each other for months? I had no explanation. Eddie was a busy man and fit me in when he could, and I wasn’t always available.

  I should’ve saved us the headache and ended it for good, but I couldn’t let him go.

  I exhaled. “It’s really not necessary for you to wait outside. I’ll be perfectly safe with Eddie. He’ll protect me.”

  He stood up, stacking our plates. “I’m sure he will, but I’m going. End of discussion.”

  “You do understand we haven’t seen each other in months,” I said with emphasis.

  “Yes. I understand. It still doesn’t change my position.”

  Rolling my eyes, I followed him into the house. “Okay. I’m really sorry the relationship you had didn’t pan out. There is nothing worse than knowing the person you love treated you like crap. Eddie and I don’t have that type of relationship. What we have is real. I need to be with him tonight. Can’t you cut me a little slack?”

  He put a hand on his hip. Through his T-shirt, his biceps bulged, thick veins mapping arms that were sprinkled with light black hair. His broad chest tapered to a narrow waist. He wasn’t overly muscular but had a lean, athletic build. And probably stood about six feet.

  Eddie was different. Smooth, dark chocolate skin, very muscular, extremely tall at six feet, four inches. He had shaved his head bald the last time I’d seen him. He said it was easier to shave it off than deal with his thinning hair. At thirty, he had lost a lot of it.

  I thought he looked handsome, he reminded me of a young Michael Jordan.

  Beck’s eyes narrowed. “Do you really think I have nothing better to do than destroy your relationship because mine didn’t work out?” He shook his head. “You got another think coming if that’s where you’re going.”

  He put the dishes in the dishwasher, and I went upstairs to my bedroom to avoid arguing with him. I had a few hours to think of a story to give Eddie.

  Chapter Five

  Beck

  Later that evening, I sat on the steps in the foyer, waiting for the prima donna to finish dressing and come down the staircase for her date with Mr. Trustworthy. That shit was sure to backfire. She hadn’t seen this dude in months and expected him to remain faithful to her?

  Yeah, right. I’d seen that same scenario too many times in my role as a police officer. Situations such as hers sent me on a lot of domestic violence calls. Women who couldn’t account for their man’s whereabouts should assume he was cheating. Because more often than not, he was.

  I had yet to put my finger on what it was about daughters that had rich daddies. They were educated, friendly, and sweet, and they believed every man they met was a prince, and would never hurt them.

  Abbie was just like Joanie.

  Maybe not as bad as Joanie. That bitch’s true colors were too hard to overlook. I was just a defiant slap in the face to her father. She’d turned the table and used my insecurity against me. Her father didn’t like me, didn’t like the fact that my father was from Russia. Shit, that should’ve given me a checkmark in his column, considering he was a Trump supporter… I won’t go there. People are entitled to their political views regardless of my feelings.

  He even congratulated me for what happened that night. Said it was well deserved. I despised the man. I hated everything he believed in, and he pushed that trash on his kids.

  My problem with Joanie was that I only saw her good qualities and chose to focus on those. I felt if I got her away from his bad influence, she could see people for who they really were, and not what her father had taught her to believe.

  I found out the hard way that you can’t change a person. I fell in love with her because of the image she portrayed to me. Sweet, kind-hearted, sexy. I wanted to marry her, have babies, and grow old together. I had to ask myself harsh questions since Joanie was gone for good. Would I'd been willing to overlook her many bad qualities just to keep her in my life? That answer was no. Whatever is hidden in the dark comes to light, eventually.

  My goal as a cop was to help people and keep the peace. I wanted to start a camp for boys and girls that didn’t have the same privileges as those with money. I wasn’t just focusing on white kids. There were plenty of minorities in Chicago that were wealthy, and there were plenty of white and minority children that went to bed hungry.

  My phone was in my hand. I swiped open FriendsConnect and viewed the newest post from Joanie.

  It was hard to believe this was the same woman I’d last slept with and given my heart to. I scrubbed a hand down my face as if to wipe off the hurt and fucking pain shooting through my body. She was smiling and wrapped in the arms of the waifish man she would soon share vows with.

  Funny—when I’d approached the subject of marriage, she was quick to say we weren’t ready for that. We had been dating for two years. Most women were thinking about that next step, unless they weren’t that vested in the relation
ship, after six months.

  Yup, I was the joke she’d flaunted in her father’s face. No trust funds were waiting for me. I couldn’t take her on exotic vacations, not on a cop’s salary. Her way of life was above mine in a way I would never reach.

  I hadn’t been on the force long enough to gain any stripes. As an ambitious patrol officer, I’d intended to make significant strides in my career to move up the ladder quickly. Joanie was impatient and was a mover and a shaker in Chicago. She was an interior designer and thought about making a move to New York or California to expand her operation to cater to the rich and famous. But that night happened, tearing me apart, tearing us apart.

  I pushed those thoughts away. It was time to close out another chapter in my fucking past.

  I hit the call button on the app, since Joanie had changed her number to avoid any contact with me. Like many people who used social media to promote their business, Joanie had a contact number listed.

  The phone rang, and I waited to hear her voice. What would I actually say to the woman I hadn’t spoken to in a year?

  “Hello.”

  The cotton-soft tone of her voice instantly melted my heart. My mouth went dry. I tightened the grip of the phone, so I wouldn’t dare drop it.

  “Hello,” she repeated. “Is anyone there?”

  “Joanie, it’s me, Beck. Don’t hang up,” I said.

  There was a pause, then she said, “Oh God, Beck. How are you? It’s been a long time.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long time. I’m calling to congratulate you on your engagement.”

  “You saw my page? Beck, I’m sorry you had to find out that way, but it’s for the best.”

  “Really? How do you figure? Because when we were together, I thought we were moving toward a future together.”

  “That was all you. If you recall, I said it was too soon to talk marriage. You had to notice I was withdrawing from you. You spent too much time with those poor kids and neglected me.”

  My hand perspired from the hard grip I had on the phone; she’d never mentioned any of this to me. I couldn’t wait to hear more of her lies.

  “So did you get with your fiancé to occupy your lonely nights? I mean, you are claiming I neglected you.”

  Another long pause. Joanie did that when she had to gather her words. “Frances was never a stranger. Our families have been connected since we were practically babies. When he moved to Chicago, we picked up where we left off, only deeper feelings developed. And I didn’t cheat on you. Frances and I kept it platonic until I needed comfort.”

  Joanie plunged the knife straight into my heart. “When was that, Joanie?”

  “After you couldn’t get over that stupid incident, and left Chicago and me.”

  I fumed as if she could feel my wrath through the phone. “Wow. I should be jumping for joy. I dodged a bullet with you. Good luck with your upcoming nuptials.”

  “Beck, please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. It happened, and I don’t really need to explain myself. You aren’t in Chicago.”

  “I’m not. Anyhow, I’m sure your father is happier than a fly on shit you’re marrying a respectable man.”

  “He isn’t unhappy. However, I won’t stir that pot. These are new beginnings, Beck. I hope you’re adjusting to your new life wherever you are, and know I wish you the best. You are a great man, and any woman would be lucky to have you.”

  Strange she didn’t ask where I was, but that was typical of a person who didn’t give a fuck. Why had it taken me so long to realize she’d never cared about me? Because wealthy people didn’t care who they stomped on.

  I lied, not wanting her to know how badly she had cut me, how much she disgusted me. I guessed all it took was time away from her to reflect on what we had and who she really was.

  “I am doing well and moving on with my life, just like you are.” I heard movement on the steps behind me. “I have to go; my date is finally ready.” I said it low enough that Abbie couldn’t hear me—or I hoped she didn’t.

  “Okay. It was good hearing from you and clearing the air once and for all. Beck, take care.”

  “Yeah, you too.”

  I had more to say, but Joanie was gone that fast. No hint of jealousy in her voice, just a rush to get me off the phone. Closing the book on our relationship. I put the phone away and stood as Abbie descended the stairs.

  My heart thumped. Abbie wore a mini denim skirt and an off-the-shoulder red blouse. Her mass of dark curls fell to her shoulders and framed her face. Her brown skin glowed against the gold jewelry around her neck. She didn’t wear a lot of makeup, just enough to bring out the dark brown of her eyes and highlight her gorgeous high cheekbones.

  But it was her legs that took my breath away. Bare, sleek, and sexy. On her feet were strappy sandals that showed off her painted red toes, with heels so high that I didn’t know how she walked down the stairs without falling.

  I took a step back as she reached me. Her painted red lips parted to reveal beautiful white teeth. “Do I look okay?”

  Shit, I couldn’t find my tongue. Oh, it was hanging out of my opened mouth. I shut it and nodded. “Um, yeah.”

  Abbie wasn’t as tall as Joanie. Before the heels, I had estimated her height to be around five feet, four. The heels gave her more inches, allowing her eyes to meet mine.

  “I’m ready to go. Last chance for you to stay here,” she said.

  No fucking way was I staying behind. If my conversation with Joanie had done anything, it had heightened my fears that the man Abbie had dressed to kill for would do nothing but hurt her tonight.

  I hoped I was wrong. These feelings of dread and despair were not good. With no one to talk to get my ass back in shape, I suffered alone. I could’ve stayed in Chicago and hidden among my family, but I had brought them enough bad press. Leaving was the best I could do for them.

  Abbie had a family to talk to if shit went south with this guy. I wasn’t needed for my shoulder. My job was to protect her body, not a broken heart.

  “No way,” I replied. “I’ll wait in the car as planned. Just come out when you’re ready.”

  *****

  On the drive over to the boyfriend’s house, I noticed Abbie checked her phone a lot. The frown on her face deepened. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Wondering why Eddie hasn’t texted me back yet. He’s probably still at work. That’s why he told me where he left the key.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably it,” I replied.

  I pulled the car into the driveway of a ranch-style home. It needed a little TLC but was okay compared to some of the houses around it. Many of the homes were well taken care of, with landscaped lawns, and plenty of trees and flowers in the yards. I had never been to this side of town.

  Eddie lived in Bedford Heights. It appeared to be home to mostly working-class African Americans. There were plenty of shops and restaurants around, and a lot of traffic.

  Abbie was quick to jump from the car and search for the key. I shut off the car and stood in front of it as she unlocked the door and went inside. It was dusk now, the sun making its final descent, turning the sky dark.

  I got back in the car and pulled out of the driveway to park on the street. The neighbors would wonder who I was if I stood outside the vehicle. A white man in a predominantly black neighborhood stood out. At least, in some parts of the South Side of Chicago, it did.

  The car windows were tinted a dark black. No one could see me, but the sleek black sedan would bring attention if I sat too long. I would have to move periodically, depending on how long Abbie took. A strange car idling in one spot made people antsy and call the police. I had a legitimate reason for being here, but the neighbors didn’t need to know.

  The lights came on in the living room. Maybe Eddie was there and not answering the phone because he’d been preparing for Abbie’s arrival. An image began to brew in my head of his hands reacquainting themselves with her body. I had to shake it out. I settled back in the seat to get com
fortable. It would be a long night.

  Chapter Six

  Abbie

  Eddie’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but that wasn’t unusual. He’d park it in the garage to keep his pride and joy safe from the elements and the curious eyes of thieves. The neighborhood was nice, but not immune to crime.

  I tested the knob, and the door was locked. After digging under the mat for the key, I unlocked the door to get into his house. It was dark; no light came from any of the rooms. His house was small, and standing in the living room, I could hear if he were in the shower or another part of the house.

  I turned on the light so Beck would know I was okay and not barge in on us. As I made way to the bedroom in the back of the house, I noticed the door was closed.

  A smile curled my lips. I touched the doorknob but stopped. Turning my ear closer to the wood, I thought I heard a soft moan.

  No? It can’t be. My heart raced, perspiration beaded on my forehead. I swallowed hard as I wavered between turning around and leaving, or opening the door and facing what was going on inside Eddie’s bedroom.

  Slowly I opened the door. I froze, as I could not tear my eyes from the nightmare unfolding in front of me. Emotions slapped me from every which way as waves of pain and betrayal tore through me.

  I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the man I’d loved with all my heart, the man I’d hoped to marry one day. He was engaged in sex with a woman, on his bed, her plump white ass in the air, Eddie bent over her as he rocked into her from behind.

  Somehow, maybe by the push of the ghost of good sense, I was at the foot of his bed. His head was back, his eyes closed, and his face was one of pure ecstasy as he drove into the thick woman who appeared to enjoy what he was doing.

  My heart shattered into pieces. With each of Eddie’s thrusts, I felt the walls closing in on me. I could hear them, see them, and smell their sex in the air.

  Each slap of their skin, each grunt and moan tore through me like a knife. I closed my eyes, begging for this not to be real, hoping this was a mistake and I had walked into the wrong house.