Free Indeed

by Bailey West

  “Explain? Fuck you Kerem. Go die!”

  I was losing my battle with Keeva. We used to wrestle a lot as kids, and I always got the best of her, but she’d grown stronger. Probably from lifting and moving those kids around all day.

  “Samuel, please take him out of here,” I strained.

  “Come on, man,” Samuel said while walking out of the room with Kerem.

  “He cheated on me, Vee! I told you. I could feel something was wrong for a while. He fucked some dirty, disgusting bitch and didn’t have the decency to hide the shit from me.”

  “Maybe he was just texting her.”

  “No, he fucked her. I saw it in the text messages. She said something about wanting to feel him again. She said how much she enjoyed it.”

  “Do you think it’s just someone trying to cause a problem?”

  “He admitted it! He said it happened once and it was a mistake. I don’t care if it was a mistake or not. Do you know how many dicks I’ve seen, outside of porn, like in real life? One! His! That’s it. I’ve never even considered sleeping with someone else. How could he do this to me? To us?”

  She broke down and started crying. I pulled her close to me and let her cry until she stopped. I didn’t know what to say. I never thought my brother would cheat on my sister. I didn’t think he had it in him. I thought he was so in love.

  Samuel

  “I’m so glad I changed the lock on the gun cabinet,” Kerem said while pacing the floor. “I mean it’s something I do at least once a year for safety reasons, and I always tell Key when I do, but this time I hadn’t gotten around to telling her yet.”

  He stopped pacing to look down the hall toward their bedroom, then started pacing again. “I have no doubt she would have murdered me as soon as she read my phone.”

  “Read your phone? What did your phone say?”

  “Man, it was some text messages from a chick I made a mistake with.”

  “What does mean?”

  I can’t stand it when people speak in riddles.

  “I slept with someone else.”

  “Slept with?”

  I knew what he meant, but I wanted him to admit it.

  “I had sex with another woman.”

  “Is that something you do often?”

  “What?” He scrunched his face like he was offended. I didn’t know the mechanics of their relationship, so I had to ask. “No, it’s never happened before now.”

  “Are you planning on leaving your family for her?”

  “Man, what? No, I love my wife. It was an accident.”

  “You slipped on a banana peel, and as you tumbled forward your dick accidentally penetrated her?”

  “I know it sounds stupid, but I didn’t intend for it to go this far. I put myself in a situation I thought I could handle and I couldn’t. After it happened, I told her it could never happen again, but she keeps texting me. I’ve been ignoring them and deleting them, but I hadn’t deleted them before Key saw them. I just want to tell Key I’m sorry but she keeps trying to take my life.”

  “I have zero sympathy for a man in a committed relationship that can’t control his dick. Zero. You have created a situation that she may not be able to recover from. I guess none of that entered your mind when you were “sleeping with” that other woman?”

  “I didn’t think past the moment. It was impulsive and dumb.”

  “Try life-altering. Impulsive is eating two pieces of cake when you should’ve only eaten one. Stepping out on your Queen is life-altering.”

  “El, man I don’t need a lecture.”

  “Nigga obviously you do! You shoulda found someone to talk to before you took steps to destroy your family, my G. Averie and I haven’t been together in two weeks, and we had to stop our plans to come here to rescue you. You’re going to hear about it whether you like it or not. That’s what’s wrong with us as men. We don’t tell each other the truth. We ignore the dumb crap that the man next to us does. That’s not going to fly with me. You messed up. You had her threatening your life with a weapon in her hand. Do you know how quickly that could have gone left? Now she is back there broken and confused because of you.”

  “That wasn’t my intention.”

  “You didn’t have any intentions when you fucked that broad and that’s the problem. As a man, everything you do should be intentional; deliberate, calculated. You know that but you thought you could shit in a paper bag and the smell wouldn’t seep through.”

  Kerem pressed his back to the wall and covered his face with his hands.

  “Do you think she will forgive me?”

  “For her sake, I hope she does, but that doesn’t mean she will let you back in. Forgiveness is a gift. Access is earned. You probably should give her some time to calm down. Do you have anywhere you can go until she does?”

  “I mean, I could go to my parents’ house, but I don’t feel like answering all the questions they are going to have. I can get a room for a couple days.”

  “I have a client who owns one of the hotels downtown. He can hook you up with a good rate for a few days. I will text you the address and his contact information. I will let him know you are coming.”

  “Thanks, Samuel. I am going to go ahead and leave. I will text Key and let her know where I am staying.”

  “Kerem, on my life, if I find out that you had some broad up in that hotel room, it’s going to be you and me. If you don’t want to be with Key, then tell her and move on. Don’t take this as no free pass to do whatever.”

  “I want my wife. I fucked up. Imma fix it no matter what it takes.”

  “Good to hear.”

  Averie

  “So, what do you want to do? Do you want me to stay here with you?” I asked Keeva while we sat on the foot of her bed.

  I kept my arm around her shoulder and wiped her tears as they fell. I should have let her get one good lick in on Kerem before he scurried out of their bedroom. Maybe that would’ve made her feel a little better.

  “No, Vee, you haven’t been with El in a couple weeks. Do you really think I want you here with me, dry-humping me in the middle of the night?”

  “Shut-up, Key. I will stay if you need me to. El will understand.”

  “No, he won’t understand, and he shouldn’t have to. I will be fine as long as Kerem stays away. I don’t want to see his face right now. If I just can’t make it, I will call Mommy.”

  I pulled away to look her in the eyes.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Girl, if you don’t go and sit on that man’s face, I am going to kick your ass. Go, Vee. I love you. I will be okay. I don’t know the combination to the gun safe. I’m not suicidal or anything. I’m just so disappointed and hurt.”

  She started crying again. I pulled her back in for another hug.

  “Okay, go. I’m fine,” she said after abruptly standing from the bed, “Tell El I said thank you. Don’t forget to tell me about all the nasty stuff y’all do this weekend.”

  We both laughed.

  “Okay, call me if you need me?”

  “I will call you on Monday. I just need a minute to process all of this.”

  I examined her eyes.

  “Stop looking at me. I promise I won’t go and find Kerem and kill him. I may go over to Mommy’s house. I just don’t want to have to explain what’s going on.”

  “I would feel better if you went to Mommy’s house. Just tell her that you will talk about it later. I won’t be able to rest or enjoy myself if you are here all alone.”

  “Alright, I will go over to Mommy’s.”

  “Okay, text me when you get there.”

  I reluctantly stood from the bed and started toward the bedroom door. I’d seen Key amped up and angry before, but I’d never seen her the way I found her when we first got there. I hated to leave her, but I knew she was not going to let me stay. I closed her bedroom door behind me and walked into the living room figuring I would see El and Kerem. El was sitting on the couch messing with his cel
l phone.

  “Where is Kerem?” I asked as I approached him.

  “He left. He needed to give Keeva some space. He is staying at the Harlow property downtown.”

  “I hope not with the side chick.”

  “He said she was a one and done. I don’t have any reason not to believe him.”

  “So, he really did sleep with her?”

  “Yes, he did.”

  “This is really messed up. I am so disappointed. How could he tear his family up like this?”

  I looked up at El. I wanted to know if he could give me some sort of answer.

  “I mean what would make a man do something so stupid?”

  “I don’t know, baby,” he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest, “Are you ready to leave?”

  I nodded as he took my hand and led me to the door. We rode in silence back to the apartment to collect our things, then we rode in silence out to the house. I really didn’t feel like being out at the house, now. I wanted to go home and mourn for my sister and brother.

  I’m at Mommy’s. Have fun. – Key

  Are you really there or are you just telling me that to make me feel better?

  Grinch don’t accuse me of lying! I’ve been through too much today to take flak from my little sister! - Key

  So you’re not there are you?

  Fine! I’m going now. – Key

  Lyin ass.

  We pulled into the garage. Samuel turned the truck off and turned to me.

  “Averie, I am not Kerem, and you are not Keeva. Although what they are experiencing is completely foul, we cannot let that affect this,” he pointed to me then to himself, “I haven’t cheated on you because all I do is fantasize about being next to you, kissing you and being inside of you. So, before we go into this house, is there anything you want to talk about with their situation because once we cross over this threshold, you are mine and I am yours for the entire weekend. I missed you. I need you.”

  “I’m just so disappointed. I looked up to them and their relationship. They were a model for what I wanted to have and now it’s just so messed up. I don’t understand what he was thinking. I don’t know how to help my sister but honestly I don’t know how to help my brother either. I am torn.”

  “Disappointment is normal. It’s expected in situations like this. I don’t know what he was thinking because he probably wasn’t thinking. I hope this doesn’t sound like I condone what he did but sometimes we can find ourselves in situations and we honestly don’t know how got there. From what Kerem said to me, that’s what it sounded like. As far as using their relationship as a model, you still can. It can be a model for what to do and what not to do. No relationship is perfect and even if you think you know all the details about what’s going on with them, I can guarantee you that you don’t. Be supportive and not overbearing. Let them figure it out.

  I know this will be on your mind but I need you, Averie, all of you.”

  “Can you help me think about something else?” I asked while pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.

  “Absolutely.” He leaned in and captured my lips.

  Samuel

  I stepped out of the bathroom and saw Averie standing in the middle of the room in her white nightgown. She had dimmed the lights, and soft music was playing through the speakers. I appreciated the way the silk fabric covered her skin but was thin enough for me to see through to her full breasts and curvy hips. She sashayed over to me and met me in the middle of the room. She ran her hands down my chest and over my abdomen. I loved how soft her hands were. I took her hand and led her to the bed.

  “I’m going to make love to you, Mrs. Valentine. No tapping out tonight.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it.”

  “That’s my girl,” I said while lifting her up and placing her in the center of the bed.

  I climbed on top of her and began kissing her slowly, taking my time to relish every moan, every swipe of her tongue and every part of her mouth. Her body was so soft, so warm and felt so good underneath me. I moved from her lips to her neck. I marked my territory by sucking near her clavicle long enough to leave a mark. I planned on leaving several more before the night was over. I moved from her neck to her breasts. I heard her breathing stop for a second when I sucked her left breast into my mouth.

  “El,” she breathed while rubbing her hands down my back, causing goosebumps to form.

  I moved to her right breast and gave it the same attention before kissing my way to the valley between her breasts and slowly working my way to her center. Averie’s natural scent turned me own from the moment I smelled her. Every time I breathed her in it was like breathing in an intoxicating substance. I was addicted to her. I took in a deep breath before spreading her legs wider and feasting on her sweetness. Her hips gyrated while I pleasured her. She sang my praises and told me how wonderful I was until her hips started moving erratically and her cries of ecstasy turned into indecipherable gibberish. Her body went rigid about a minute before she collapsed and pushed my head away.

  Her moisture provided the perfected lubrication, allowing me to slide into her with ease. My hardness was only matched by her softness. I adjusted myself and slid in even deeper. Being inside of Averie was the most satisfying feeling I’d ever had. I began to stroke her slowly, trying to reach places that I’d never been. I wanted to show her how much I missed her. I wanted her to feel how often I fantasized about this very moment while I was away. She put both of her hands on my ass indicating that she was ready for more. I started to push in further but felt her hands on my thighs.

  “No tapping out, remember? Move your hands.”

  She slowly removed her hands. I got up on my knees and plunged all the way into her.

  “EL!” she screamed.

  I put my hands on her hips and repeatedly thrust into her until I felt my stomach begin to spasm indicating my release was coming. She held on to my wrists and cried out in pleasure. The feeling of an electrical current running through my body propelled me into an explosive orgasm.

  “UGH!” I groaned closing my eyes to enjoy the sensation.

  Collapsing on the side of her, I felt her hands rubbing my back.

  “Take a minute, El. The next round is on me,” Averie said.

  “Bet.”

  Averie

  Finding a parking space in front of Keeva’s place could be hard after a certain time because they only had street parking. Luckily, I found a spot a few houses down from her house. I grabbed the two bottles of wine I’d picked up on the way and made my way down to her house. She and Kerem had purchased a duplex that needed a ton of work and turned it into a single-family home. Kerem secured a grant from the city that helped with the renovation. They turned it into a showcase home.

  I rang the doorbell then tried the doorknob. It was open.

  “Hello?” I called out while walking into the house.

  “We back here!” Kenzie called from the back of the house.

  I found them in the family room sitting on the couch with two large bottles of Añejo tequila, sliced oranges sprinkled with cinnamon and various snacks.

  “Damn, y’all drinking already?”

  “I’ve been drunking but I ain’t drink or some shit,” Keeva said.

  “Ummm, okay?” I chuckled.

  “Key! Did you hear what you just said? You said you been drunk…I mean you said you been drink…”

  “Ken! Stop before you hurt yourself,” I laughed.

  “Come on Sis, you gotta get caught up!” Keeva said while filling a shot glass with the brown liquid.

  I sat the bottles of wine I had down on the table and took the shot glass from Keeva. I threw it back, then sucked on one of the orange slices.

  “That’s smooth,” I said while pouring another.

  I threw that one back and grabbed another orange slice.

  “Let’s make a toast,” Kenzie said.

  “Dust to all these busta ass niggas who can’t control their dicks!”
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  “Hell, yeah!”

  We drank another. Before I realized it, we’d gone through one whole bottle of tequila, and I was feeling nice. I’d taken my shoes off and propped my feet up on the couch while Kenzie did the same on the other end. Keeva sat in the reclining chair next to the couch. I popped a barbecue pork rind in my mouth while we watched The Wood.

  “She stupid if she still marries him after all that shit he did that day,” I said.

  “Diamond! Don’t marry that nigga!” Keeva screamed at the TV, “He ain’t shit! He loves hip-hop more than he loves you! Plus he met a woman on the beach that was trying to get her groove back. He playing you!”

  “Key, I think you are confusing their movie roles. I think. Is her name Diamond in this movie?”

  “Yeah, wasn’t she stripping earlier in the movie?” Kenzie asked.

  “Shit, I don’t know,” Keeva said. “All I know is one moment they acting like they all down for you and all in love and shit. Then the next moment they fucking a stripper.”

  “A stripper? The chick Reem messed with is a stripper?”

  “I don’t know,” Keeva admitted, “She could be though. Why does this shit hurt so bad? Why did he have to do this to me? I was faithful as fuck! I could have stepped out on him, but I didn’t. I gave him what he wanted when he wanted it, and it still didn’t work.”

  She started crying and Kenzie and I both went over to hug her.

  “I always said that if he ever cheated on me, I would leave, period. Then I find myself in this situation, and I can’t say for certain that I want to go. I am so damn confused it’s not even funny. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I keep trying to figure out when he had the time to do it. Who is she? Where does she live? Is he with her now? Is she prettier than me? Did he enjoy sex with her? Was she better in bed than me? What did he tell her? I mean the questions won’t stop. Then I want to call him, but then I don’t. I want to kill him, but I want to ask him why at the same time. This shit is the pits.”

  “I say, let’s roll up on that nigga and whoop his ass. We can dress in all black, hide on the side of the building and when he comes out, we attack. He can’t beat all three of us,” Kenzie said, “We could force him to tell us where she stripping at and go and whoop her too.”