Marriage Ever After

by King Ellie

She answered and he placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “Wait… no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Don’t leave, Graham is in the bathroom and he’ll think it’s weird if you leave. Please, don’t tell him about this or what I did before. I wanted to be part of this lunch because I wanted to apologize. I was out of order.”

  “What did you do that was out of order?”

  I asked when I made my presence known behind them.

  Mila turned to face me,

  “Kash? What are you doing here?”

  “Bunny,” I said to her then looked at Manny again. “What did you do that was out of order?”

  Manny’s eyes widened.

  “Nothing, it was nothing. It was an honest mistake. I didn’t mean to kiss her.”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “Bunny, did you want him to kiss you?”

  If I were Manny, I’d be gone before she answered that question because I was asking in a very calm tone. One too calm.

  “No.”

  I nodded.

  “When did this happen?”

  “When I first found out about my diagnosis and I was out of it even at work.”

  Manny glared at Mila.

  “She said she wanted to feel, to feel anything for someone to help her feel and I thought she was talking to me.”

  “Did you drive here, bunny?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Okay, ask the valet to get your car for you. I’ll meet you out front.”

  “Kash…” Mila called my name out.

  She stood. As if already knowing what I was going to do next. She was further from the table by the time, I flipped it over and I swung at Manny’s jaw. All I saw was red. I advanced on the man so quickly, he never had a chance. I could hear Mila’s voice in the background yelling my name, but she was smart. She never touched me because had she, I would’ve beaten his ass even more for taking advantage of my wife when she wasn’t even in her right mind to defend herself. What made me hit him repeatedly was the fact that Mila still wasn’t right enough to understand that she should’ve never been sitting at this table with him. I wondered if I fucked up her progress as I heard Graham yelling out my name like a crazy person. I didn’t stop until I was ripped off him by what I found out to be more than four cops. The only way they kept me from killing Manny was the fact that they laid me out on the floor in my expensive suit and in handcuffs while I stared at Manny with the intent to kill.

  Mila

  I was freaking out because they wouldn’t let Kash out of the damn county jail.

  “I need to see my husband…” I said to one of the officers who insisted on giving me an attitude since I first stepped foot here.

  He peered up at me with a lazy type of precision then he smirked. I wanted to slap that smirk off his ugly mug, but I wouldn’t. I already knew the stigmas that came with the color of my skin.

  “You can’t see him yet. He’s still being processed.”

  I glared at him,

  “you do realize that he’s a criminal lawyer right? And the fact that you’re taking twice as long to process him, means you’ll be on his shit list, right?”

  He scoffed.

  “Ma’am, you’re not the first person waiting to see someone, but I can make it that you’re the last.”

  I huffed as I went back to sit down. I pulled my cell out as I texted Cherise again, thanking her for taking Jordan with her on her day off. I didn’t know that we were even going to be here for this long but now, I was just worried. I wanted to see Kash. I nervously bit my nails for the umpteenth time while Graham was on the phone telling Channing trying to get him to check on Manny. The worst thing was if Manny didn’t make it, then it would be manslaughter. Graham got off the phone then walked over to the officer who was giving us an attitude.

  “Pete, is it?”

  “Yeah, what of it?”

  “I know my brother had something to do with my nephew still going through processing. If in the next ten minutes, Mrs. Emerson isn’t able to see her husband, by the end of today, you won’t have a job let alone live in this town. Pick a battle and be on the right side of it.”

  Pete gritted his teeth as he picked up his phone making a call then with his face redder than I’ve ever seen, he hung it up with force.

  “You can see him one at a time.”

  Graham tsked.

  “No, we’re both seeing him, and I dare you to say something else out of your mouth. I’ve been in a foul mood lately and if you want to end up worse than the idiot my nephew put in the hospital, test me.”

  Pete stood placing his hand on his gun.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  Graham beckoned for me to take his hand.

  “Don’t put your hand on a gun, if you have no intentions of following through or if the nightmares will make someone like you piss their bed at night.” He turned facing me. “Come on, Mils. Let’s go see my nephew.”

  I placed my hand in Graham’s as we made our way towards where they were holding Kash.

  “Hey…” Getting Graham’s attention.

  “What’s up, Mils?”

  “Why have you been in a foul mood lately? I know that I haven’t really been feeling like myself and haven’t talked to you. Are you okay, Graham?”

  I squeezed my hand as we turned the corner going closer to where Kash was.

  “Savannah left me.”

  I stopped walking,

  “what? Graham, look at me. Say that again?”

  When Graham turned around, I took him in. His demeanor, the bags under his eyes, the tired look he had on his face.

  “Not now, Mils. Later. I promise we’ll talk.”

  Before Graham could shut down about Savannah, I moved closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. At first, Graham didn’t do anything, and I smiled when he wrapped his arms around me too. He kissed the top of my head.

  “Thank you.” He said.

  “Anytime.”

  When we got ourselves in order, we walked into the holding cell that Kash had been sitting in for the past two hours. Kash was laying down on the small bench with one leg bent. He had his arm over his face as he played with his wedding ring. Kash liked to do that sometimes when he was in deep thought. They didn’t even let him wash the blood off his knuckles.

  I missed him. I really did.

  “Kash? Baby?”

  I called out to him. When he heard my voice, he removed his arm and turned to face me.

  “Bunny, you okay?” His voice was gentle. Full of worry.

  I nodded as I got closer standing at the bars gripping them tight because I wanted to touch him.

  “Can you come here, Kash? Please.” I asked him.

  “I’ll give you two a minute,” Graham said as he stepped out.

  Kash sat up, he didn’t come near me, but he gazed at me. He clasped his hands together as he looked down. His hair was wild, untamed yet it didn’t take away his attractiveness. His hazel eyes glinted with an emotion I couldn’t place but before I could ask, Kash spoke up.

  “I almost killed that man, bunny.”

  “I know.”

  Kash shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair then clasped his hands again placing them near his knees with him a bit hunched over.

  “no, bunny. Listen to me. I almost killed that man and I don’t mean it in the sense of me being scared to do so.” He peered up at me. “If anyone ever touches you or takes advantage of you like that ever again, I don’t know what I’ll do. You are my world and if I can’t protect you from predators like Manny, what the fuck am I good for? Yes, we’re going through a rough patch but you’re the love of my life and seeing that look of fear in your eyes from that Manny dude, no. Bunny, there will be no next man that ever-fucking disrespects you like that, you fucking hear me?”

  The fury in Kash’s eyes was palpable and I nodded. He tsked.

  “No, I need your word, sweetness. Please, the next time anyone so much as grabs your wri
st the wrong way, you come to me. I know you can handle yourself. You are a strong woman. You don’t take shit from anyone, not even me so baby, I need just one thing from you?”

  The way that Kash was talking to me, made me feel something I hadn’t in a while, like myself.

  “What do you need, Kash?”

  He finally stood making his way towards me. When he stood in front of me, he began reaching out, to touch me but he stopped himself. There was a faraway look in his eyes, and I wanted to wipe it away. I didn’t want my husband to feel like he couldn’t connect with me.

  “Please touch me, Kash.”

  He didn’t hesitate with my request. I felt his thumbs caress my cheeks as he cupped my face in his hands through the bars. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know that Kash was in my face. I felt his breath on my lips. I opened my eyes, my browns to his hazels intensely staring at each other as though this was the very first time we have ever met.

  “What is it that you need, Kash? I’d give you anything.”

  He shook his head.

  “I don’t want you to give me anything, baby. I just need you to come back to me. To get better, to let me love you again in the way I know how. I can’t lose you, Mila. I can’t be without you and I hope you understand that I’m not joking when I say that. Not being able to see you smile or laugh caused me some crazy pain. When I heard you laughing in the restaurant, I was envious because I couldn’t do that.”

  I shut my eyes, breaking away from the intensity of his eyes.

  “Listen to me, Kash…” I waited for him to interrupt but he didn’t. I opened my eyes as he watched me, waiting. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m sorry that I went to the clinic without you. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have because you’re my husband. YOU’RE my best friend and that’s why there’s something I want you to know, I want to get on the antidepressants.”

  Kash blinked.

  “Will it hurt you or the baby? Honey, I don’t want you to do something that will harm you. We can stick to the therapy. I’ve also been reading, there are other holistic approaches if you’re uncomfortable with that.”

  I shook my head. Tears coming down my face because this was changing our lives. “I talked to Dr. Harrison; she says there are certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that I can take. I told her that I wanted to try something else. Something that would bring me back to my old self. I want to love you as I used to Kash. I want to feel and feel from you and Jordy. I want to be her mother. I want to be present not just for myself but for you. We have issues, yes… but let me make an effort.”

  Kash shut his eyes, nodding.

  “Do what is best for us, bunny.”

  “I’m sorry about all this, Kash. Please tell me you’re okay. I’m worried about you.”

  Kash was smiling like a fool. When he smiled, it transformed his entire face making his eyes radiate.

  “Don’t worry, bunny. If I knew all I had to do was fight a man to get you to let me touch you, I would’ve done it long ago.”

  I scoffed and before I could say anything else. Kash kissed me. I didn’t feel like pulling away nor did I feel like disconnecting instead, I felt my entire world spin faster than it had ever spun before.

  Chapter Seven

  Kash

  Three days. Three whole days, my father was able to get the pull on me to stay inside. It was odd because I thought we were on better terms than that. I didn’t say anything to him, and he didn’t come near me, but he was like a thorn on my side.

  The moment the jail cell was opened, I walked out of there not looking back. In front of the station, I found Mila sleeping on the chairs. How long has she been doing this? After the first night, they refused for me to see her and I didn’t fight it because I knew that every chance she got she would be here instead of resting. At the end of the day, she was pregnant, and she hadn’t made it out of the first trimester just yet. I walked over to her sleeping form crouching so that I could watch her like I used to. It was weird, I know every little detail about her face, but I felt like I was seeing her for the first time. I traced over her brows causing her to wrinkle her face. It made me snicker. This prompted her to open her eyes and when she did, the smile she gave me was all worth this.

  “I missed you, bunny.”

  She sat up, taking a look at me. She searched my face for I don’t know what, but she made sure to check me out as much as she could.

  “Are you okay, baby?”

  Her sweet voice was all that I needed to be okay. I nodded.

  “Now that I’ve seen you, I’m okay.”

  Those tears that I hated so much appeared again as she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “Kash…”

  She sobbed openly. She never used to cry this much so I wondered if it was the worry, her not being herself or if it was the hormones… or worse all combined. I hugged her tighter, missing her body near mine. Damn, I don’t know how I did it. How I didn’t sneak in a touch or two even by mistake.

  “Hey…baby, it’s okay.”

  “I was so worried about you.”

  I shouldn’t have been smiling at her being worried about me, but it was great to hear that she wasn’t having negative thoughts but in a way positive ones because she was worried about me.

  “Don’t be worried, bunny. I’m fine, I’m here, aren’t I?”

  She hugged me even tighter.

  “You are here, and you stink too.”

  At this, I couldn’t help it as I laughed. The kind of laughter that comes from deep down inside of you.

  I made sure to hug her tighter, kissing the side of her face.

  “You love me just like this.”

  She chuckled.

  “I do. I always will.”

  “Good, because I’m not playing with you, bunny. I will never let you go.”

  She nodded.

  “I know that too, Kash. I do.”

  “Better that you do. Now, are you here all by yourself?”

  “No,” a voice I knew belonged to Graham spoke. “I went to get some coffee. Glad to see you’re out, neph.”

  I tried to let go Mila so I could stand but she refused. Both Graham and I laughed as I stood, and she wrapped her legs around me.

  “Guess, this is how I’m getting home then huh?”

  I turned to face a smiling Graham.

  “She’s been worried.”

  I nodded as I held her close to me.

  “I’ve been worried about her and even you. I know you talked to dad. Thank you.”

  Graham smirked then shrugged.

  “I wouldn’t call it talking maybe more of coercion, but it worked. My big brother is an annoying bastard, that one. By the way, ya look like shit.”

  I laughed again, shaking my head.

  “You never miss to tell me that Unc. You’re such an asshole.”

  He winked.

  “Let’s get you guys home.”

  ****

  After having the longest shower of my life while Graham and Mila chit chatted was the best feeling ever. After my shower, I did the basics of applying lotion, brushing my teeth, and setting my suits aside for dry cleaning, I got dressed wearing a white tee and loose faded jeans. When I got to the dining room, Graham and Mila had started talking about work. I rolled my eyes, I thought I was the one who brought work, home.

  Mila knew I was in the room even before I fully stepped in and she turned to face me. I winked at her as I moved closer to them.

  “You want something to eat, baby?” She sweetly asked me.

  I smiled at her shaking my head.

  “No, I’m good, bunny.”

  Her face contorted with a weird expression.

  “You sure? I can make you something quickly or like maybe you want a coffee?” She turned to face Graham with her back to me. “What about you Graham, you want something?”

  Graham peered up at me and then back at Mila. Even before he answered, I knew his answer.

  “Ye
ah, sure. You make great grilled cheese.”

  Mila stood and came towards me. She gazed up into my eyes as if contemplating something, she needed sleep, but I knew that she wasn’t going to do that. Sleep was critical for someone dealing with the disorder like she was. It helped keep things balanced. I was happy to know that she had gotten everything sorted out with her prescription and she was already taking the meds. Which meant that was why she seemed much less sad and more in the now, more in tune with her feelings.

  “Come here.”

  I pulled her towards me, giving her what she really wanted. There was a look she always gave me when she wanted a hug from me. I held her to my body as she wrapped her arms around me. I kissed the top of her head realizing how much I missed this. I missed just holding her, being near here and absorbing her heat.

  “I love you, bunny. With all my heart, don’t ever forget that.”

  She chuckled underneath me as she held on even tighter.

  “I never will. I love you too. I’m making you something to eat as well.”

  I snickered.

  “Okay.”

  When I let Mila go, I didn’t have that feeling of I was going to lose her instead I knew that she would be in the next room. I watched her walk away, lingering even after she was gone to another room.

  “We need to talk, neph.”

  I faced my uncle. I took a deep breath going to sit where Mila was sitting.

  “I know, it was dad who held me in there. He came to see me one of those days and so much was put into perspective.”

  Graham’s eyes widened.

  “He came to see you. What did he say?”

  “The bastard had the nerve to tell me that I was a fuck-up on so many levels and I was doing the same shit that he taught me not to do. Which makes no sense, it’s because of him that I am the way I am. I don’t blame him for things that I’ve done myself but shit, don’t come to me telling me all that when you’re making it so much harder for me to live my life. I literally tried to hash things out with him but for him, it’s about his reputation, what people will think about him. Him and the Emerson family that can’t accept my life, my wife or my children, can kiss my ass. I don’t deserve to be alienated because I fell in love with the most beautiful, most compassionate person in this world. She made me a better person and without her, I don’t know where I’d be right now. Yes, I accomplished a lot by myself but she’s my partner. She’s the reason I even wanted to talk to my dad again.”