Him. (6)
I yawned as I rubbed my eyes. I looked over to see Chadwick was still sleeping. I smiled as I put my hands over my face. I can’t believe I slept with him. I wasn’t regretting it but I did feel bad. Maybe I did do it out of anger. I sighed as I gently eased out of the bed and put my clothes on. It would be lovely to lay around with him all day but I had things to do. I picked up my purse off the floor and my phone fell out. He raised up and yawned as I picked it up off of the floor. He looked at me and smiled as he leaned his head to the side.
“You don’t want breakfast?”
I started zipping my dress as he walked over to me. He grabbed my waist as I smiled. I grazed his arm as I looked down and noticed it had a scar on it. I rubbed it as I looked at him.
“I was a troubled kid, got into a fight once and the guy cut me. I was bleeding real bad but I won the fight”
He kissed my cheek as I finished putting my clothes back on. “Well I’ll let you go but you better come back” I smiled as I slid my shoes on. “I will” I kissed him and walked out of the room. I jogged to my car and turned my phone back on.
Steven MSG: I’m sorry okay??? How many times are you gonna run out on me when you get mad? (12:30 am)
Steven MSG: are you with someone else? (1:00 am)
Steven MSG: baby please I’m sorry (2:00 am)
Steven MSG: I’m about to file a missing person report (7:00 am)
Steven: 22 missed calls
Mileena MSG: giiiirl, you gotta give me the tea at work bc your husband is freaking tf out!
I went to my call log and dialed Steven. I let it ring out for 2 seconds before I decided to hang up. I needed to come up with a lie on the way home. I looked at the time and my eyes widened. It was almost 10:30, not only was I out all night but I was late as hell for work. I started my car as I dropped my phone. I leaned down to pick it up and knock on my window caused me to hit my head under the steering wheel. I groaned and looked up to see a white woman smiling as she held a small dog in her hands. I rolled my eyes without her noticing as I sat my phone in my lap. I let my window down as her smile stretched across her face.
“You Mr. Chad’s wife ain’t ya?”
She cut me off in the middle of my explanation as she continued talking.
“Ya know I was wondering when I would get to see what you look like. I was starting to think the man was gay or something because you would never come around.”
Now I was intrigued, Chadwick never mentioned a wife to me. If he did have one, I couldn’t get mad because I was married myself. I let the woman continue her storytime. I might as well ask questions since she thinks I’m his wife for some reason.
“Oh, honey we thought you didn’t like us. Every time we asked about ya, he would say you were sick from the chemo. I’m glad your cancer is gone”
I gave a stretched smile and nodded my head, deciding to play along.
“Yea. I’m glad I’m alive”
“God is good ain’t he?…how’s your son?”
“Yea, the boy that lived with yall. Is he alright?”
“Yea he’s…fine and…growing?”
She nodded her head as Chadwick walked out the front door while putting on a shirt. She smiled at him as he approached my truck.
“Chad! How are ya this morning?”
“I’m fine Cynthia…why are you in my yard?”
She pointed to me with an “O” expression.
“Me and your wife was catching up-”
“She’s not my wife and you need to finish your walk.”
She turned to me as I gave a small smile. She put her hand over her mouth and gave a nervous laugh.
“Oh dear, I am so sorry honey I-”
“Goodbye, Cynthia. And don’t come in my yard again…ever”
She nodded her head and hurriedly walked off as he looked on. He rolled his eyes as he turned to me. He leaned into the car to kiss me but I turned my head.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a wife?”
“That lady thought I was your wife and you have a kid too?”
He chuckled and shook his head.
“Cynthia’s a cokehead. She makes up stories to be nosey and tries to get information out of people so she can have gossip to spread at the next Christmas party. She has a weird fascination with me…she asks every woman that comes out of my house the same questions…I don’t have a wife or kids”
“What do you mean every woman? So you’re a whore and a liar?”
I shook my head as I rolled my window back up. He tried to talk to me as I pulled out of the driveway. I watched him in my rearview mirror as I drove down the road. He just stood to the side swinging his arms back and forth. I smirked to myself as I put my shades on. I wasn’t upset at all, I just wanted him to chase me. I could care less if he had a wife. I had a husband, so I guess things were 50/50.
I made it home and jumped out of my truck. I was now extra late and I still had to go see Daniel at the hospital. I rushed into the house as quietly as possible. Steven was nowhere in sight and I sighed in relief. I was so happy I didn’t have to explain why I was coming home after a night out. I got dressed and headed out, not even bothering to wash up. I was already late as is and I’m sure my boss was livid. I walked past the threshold and seen a pair of white converse with red stains on them. I frowned as I picked one up by the back heel with my finger. What is this? I mumbled. “I was wondering when you were coming home”. I jumped and dropped the shoe as I looked over to see Steven standing there. He was drying his hair with a towel while he was wrapped in a robe. I clutched my chest as he rubbed his hair.
“Look, I’m sorry about last night…I was an asshole”
I pulled my purse up on my shoulder as I folded my arms.
“You’re forgiven….where did those shoes come from?”
He looked down and pointed. I nodded my head as he picked them up.
“Oh, I had these in the garage. I wasted ketchup on them or some…juice. I don’t know. They’ve been sitting in there for so long, I decided to pull them out and clean them up.”
I nodded my head as I sighed.
“Well, I’m gonna go…I’ll catch you later”
“Catch me later? What are we roommates?”
“No, but it damn sure feels like”
“I’m trying Nisha but how’s this marriage gonna work if you leave in the middle of the night and where did you go anyway?”
“I called and she told me she hadn’t seen you”
“Yea at that time…before that I was driving around trying to get my head clear”
He nodded his head as he twisted the band on his finger.
“I would love to sit here and describe to you my night of passionate lovemaking with another man but I’m late”
He looked up at me as I twisted the doorknob.
He did a nervous laugh as I shook my head. Of course, it wasn’t a joke but I just liked fucking with him. I smirked as I walked out the door and to my car. I made it for work in 10 minutes only because I took a shortcut. I ran into the building and to the elevator. I ran into my office and right past Mileena.
I slowed down as I clutched my paperwork. She stood up at her desk as I caught my breath. She smiled as she playfully eased over to me.
“Sooo…where did you go last night Ms. Thing?”
I blew a breath of air out as I looked at the ceiling and dropped my head back down to look at her. She smiled at me as I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Follow…I have a lot to tell you”
We walked into my office and closed the door. I broke down the whole night to her. From the dinner to the argument, to the meeting and finally the sex. She just looked at me in disbelief as she sat in front of the chair in front of me. I looked out the window at the city as she laughed.
“What are you gonna do now? Leave Steven?”
I looked at the ring on my finger and shook my head as I turned around. I sat down in my chair and shrugged my shoulders.
“I don’t know…I think this is a fling and it probably won’t ever happen again.”
“Shit I want it to happen again if he puts it down like that sweetheart”
I snorted as I fixed a stack of papers on my desk. “You need help” She laughed as someone knocked on the door. “Come in” I yelled. My boss walked through with roses in his hand. I smiled and stood up as he looked at me.
“Well Mr. Darcy, I’m flattered but I’m married”
“Oh please, Someone sent these to you but-”
He turned and looked at Mileena.
“-Someone was not sitting at their desk…like they’re supposed to be”
Mileena sighed and stood up as she gave a salute. She walked out as he turned to me.
“You were an hour and 30 minutes late this morning…you alright? This is not like you”
“Uh yeah I’m fine, I just overslept”
“Mmhm, anyway, along with these flowers. I got some new evidence for you.”
He slapped the files down on the desk as he sat the roses down. I smiled as I looked at them. I read the tag as he looked at me.
-I just wanted you to know that this isn’t over, Chad
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and I looked up.
I picked up the files and flipped through them. It was new pictures I hadn’t seen before and new suspects. I sat down as Mr. Darcy started talking.
“How soon do you think you can talk to daniel?”
I shook my head as I closed the files.
“Karen fired me, she told me to stay away from Daniel”
“Well, I don’t have time to hear it. Go talk to him. I need something new before the 2nd trial starts”
I sighed as he walked out the door, closing it with damn near a slam. This had to be the most stressful case I’ve ever dealt with. I pulled the bouquet towards me and smiled. What if I did leave Steven? Would I be happier? All the possibilities ran through my head if I took that plunge.
My heels made an annoying noise as they scraped across the hospital floor. I didn’t even wanna know what I was even coming to discuss with Daniel but I don’t wanna overwhelm him. I made it to his room and looked in the small window. He was sitting up, watching tv. I knocked and he looked over. He motioned for me to come in. I gave a small smile as I eased through the door.
He held his throat as he parted his lips to talk.
His voice was raspy and rough. It was almost painful to even listen to. I sat down in the chair beside the bed as he shifted.
“You…you didn’t do this to yourself…did you?”
“No Ms. T, you know I didn't”
“It was the man you were telling me about wasn’t it?”
He just dropped his head as I pulled out some photos from the crime scene. I sat at the end of the bed and slid them to him.
“Sorry I didn’t believe you at first…I know there’s no way you could’ve done this…at least not alone.”
He didn’t look up as he slowly grabbed the pictures. He just stared at them as I twisted my ring finger. It was an intense silence. It made me very uncomfortable.
“He had white shoes on…I remember because I said to myself, why would a murderer wear white shoes? That’s stupid”
“Did you tell detective Liam this?”
“No…everyone but you think I’m crazy”
“Can you remember anything else? A voice? The way he walked?”
“As of right now…things come and go…I can’t give you anything new but bare with me, I’m trying”
I nodded my head as he slid the pictures back to me.
“You know you never talk about your dad…what happened to him?”
“He left…my mom was gonna take him back a couple of days before…I hadn’t heard from him since I got arrested…”
“It’s alright, he’s scum anyway”
There was a pause and a shift in the mood before I spoke again.
“Can you tell me what happened the night you were assaulted?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t remember much because my medication causes me to have blackouts. All I know is I woke up here with IVs hooked up to me and me on suicide watch.”
“Does anyone other than you know how to get into your apartment?”
“I made sure I was heavily guarded. Someone has to have a passcode to the building to get in…He has his ways. He won’t stop until there are no witnesses, which in this case… it’s me.”
“You’re gonna be fine. I promise you I will catch him”
He nodded his head as he gave me a small smile.
“Even if you dont…thanks for trying”
I smiled as I stood up and grabbed the photos.
“Get some rest, I’ll be back later”
He nodded and laid back down as I exited the room. I made it back to my car and processed this new piece of information. White shoes? How ironic Steven had dirty white shoes…with red stains. I chuckled and shook my head. Steven doesn’t have anything to do with this but it is strange. My phone rang and Chadwick’s name popped up on the screen. I smiled and answered it on the car radio as I pulled out of the parking lot.
“You’re very rude…let me say that first. Second, would you like to go out again this Friday?”
“Yea Yea…but I like you…A lot”
I blushed as I playfully rolled my eyes.
“Fine but I pick the place.”
“Deal. Wear something sexy”
He started laughing as I blushed even harder.
“Janitor clothes it is, see you Friday”
I hung up before he could respond. Maybe this little fling is the excitement I needed in my boring little life. I made it to my home and walked in. Steven was watching Tv as I kicked my shoes off. I might as well entertain him since he’s here, I can’t be a bitch the entire time. I sat down on the couch next to him as he looked over and smiled at me. I looked straight ahead as he leaned over and propped his head upon me.
I nodded my head. I wanted to question him about the shoes but like I said it might’ve been just a coincidence.
“How do you feel about my case with Daniel?”
“I think its sad…especially since I went to school with his mom.”
I looked at him as he looked at the Tv.
“Oh yea, Rayan. We kinda had a thing my junior year…very sweet and quiet.”
“It was something I never brought up because it was just a high school thing and not to mention, she’s a murder victim…I didn’t wanna be counted as a suspect”
He shrugged his shoulders as he folded his arms.
“Just because of the fact I knew her…cops like to point fingers”
“Why would you be concerned with that though?”
“Let’s just change the subject. I shouldn’t have said anything”
“Those shoes…why do they have red stains on them?”
“I told you its just juice or some shit. Nisha please, I’m trying to watch the News”
“Only old men watch the news.”
“Only single women stay out all night and ignore their husbands…”
I sighed as we both watched the Tv. Now I was more than intrigued to see what the fuck was going on in my home and in the outside world.
