by A. G. Hobson
I take a deep breath and brace myself. I have to say I am a little irritated that he failed to disclose that I would be meeting his family for a first date. I am nervous around him now I have to meet his perfect looking family.
‘Oh joy!’ I think to myself.
His sister’s nose is turned up as she looks me over. I definitely would have had to rethink my ensemble if I knew we would be having dinner with them.
“This is Montana everyone.” He says as he releases my hand and greets them. “This is my sister D’Naya, Bryant, my brother, my mom and my father.” He nods toward them.
“Hello Montana.” His father walks over to me with his hand extended. “We have heard so much about you. All Hayden does is ramble on about how he couldn’t wait for you to meet us. It is such a pleasure.”
“Oh my God. He has been talking about me to his family.” I giddily screech inside of my head.
I take his hand and it is warm like Hayden’s. We shake and the rest of the family stands to greet me. No one in this damn family smiles. They all just look me over. They speak friendly pleasantries but without the warmness a friendly introduction entail.
“I had a special dinner prepared tonight, Montana.” His mother tilts her head with a quick slight nod as she walks out of the study and into the dining room. “Let us eat.” We all follow her into the dining room one by one.
We enter and out of nowhere, three servants emerge with trays that have fancy silver coverings over them. The Alexanders all sit down with Santana Alexander sitting at the head of the table. Hayden sits opposite his father and Bryant sits to the right of him. Mrs. Alexander sits at the left and D’Naya sits beside her. I watch the servants place plates in front of everyone and serve them. The female servant begins to place fancy fresh vegetables on each plate and nice juicy meat smothered in a sweet-smelling dark sauce alongside them. Hayden waves for me to sit beside him.
“Come Montana. Have a seat beside me.” He says.
I slowly walk passing his family by. They watch me with stone faces. My heart sinks into my stomach for some reason as Hayden stands and pulls out the chair beside him. Why does he sit opposite the family? He is at the other side alone with me. Maybe that’s why.
As I sit, Hayden slides my chair back underneath the table. I grab a napkin and a fork when the beautiful red headed servant stops to load my plate.
“What is this?” I ask as she slides a drumstick of some kind in front of me.
“It is roasted duck over fire roasted plantain and Brussel sprouts.” She whispers as she covers the tray.
“Oh. I’ve never had duck before.” Before I dig in, I bow my head to say grace. I don’t even get to bless my food, because Hayden taps me and shakes his head no. I’m confused. ‘No to what?’
“Just eat.” He says digging in. I close my eyes quickly and think ‘Thank you Father God for this food.’
When my eyes open, everyone is staring at me in disgust. What the hell? Why didn’t he want me to pray and why are they looking at me like I cursed the entire family? Gayle places her fork onto the table and grabs her napkin. She gently and daintily pats her lips trying not to smear her red lipstick.
“Sweetheart.” She begins. “We don’t do that here.”
I’m confused. “Do what?”
“It’s fine mother. It’s over. Eat.” He looks at me as he places a slice of duck into his mouth and begins to chew. I follow his lead and slice into my meat. As I place the succulent duck into my mouth, I focus my eyes on the china cabinet. I chew and take another piece from my plate. I slide it from the fork with my lips and I stare at the glass doors of the cabinet. I spot something moving inside of a large crystal jar. The movements are rapid and there are many moving about. I squint and focus. There are butterflies in it! And they’re black!
I almost choke on the piece I swallow. Hayden looks up from his dinner and checks to see what has rattled me. He spots the focus of me discomfort and smiles. His smile constantly stuns me. It’s a bit of a smirk mixed with an evil grin, sexy but kind of creepy. I chose not to address it but it really chills me to the bone. First, the black suit, now the black butterflies. Am I psychic? Or am I losing my mind? I periodically glance at the fluttering butterflies in the jar. Why are they in the cabinet? And why black butterflies?
After everyone finishes their meal, dessert is served. A chocolate cake with strawberries and drizzles all over the platter is placed in front of us. I take my fork and dig into the decadent dessert. I slide it into my mouth and hum in delight as the cake slides down my throat.
“God, this is so good.” Hayden’s mother slams her fork down and I jerk.
“I’m done for the evening. Let’s meet back in the study.” She says pushing her chair back to stand.
“Mother.”
“No Hayden. This is what we have to deal with when you bring outsiders around. Why can’t you just date your own kind like your sister and brother?” She yells as she storms from the room.
“Your own kind?” I lean in and whisper. “Maybe I should go.” I don’t know is she is being racists because they look like they’re mixed with another race, maybe Hispanic? But why would they be racists against me? I am positive that they are black like me…
“No. She’ll be fine.” His father, sister and brother finish their dessert.
Santana lifts his napkin to his lips and pats his mouth. He lays it across the plate and slides his chair back.
“I apologize for Gayle’s shrewd behavior. We are not religious people and Hayden should have explained that. Christianity is not welcomed here my dear.”
“Oh…” I pause trying to concentrate on the words he used. “Are you guys atheists?” I blurt before I can stop myself. “No, don’t answer that. I’m sorry.” I quickly reprimand myself.
He chuckles. “It’s okay sweetheart.” He says tenderly. “We know he exists we are just not fans.”
What thee fuck? What have I stepped into? Are Hayden and his family devil worshippers?? Hayden looks at the horror that has replaced curiosity. He grabs hold of my hand.
“I would like to go home. I don’t know what to think and I don’t want to be rude.” I say patting my mouth with the fancy silk napkin that sits beside my plate.
“Don’t leave now. I brought you here so that you can understand me before we go further. I want to date you and I want you to know what you are getting into. Trust me it’s not as bad as you think.” He says holding tightly onto my wrist.
We glare at one another for a few seconds and I hear the rest of his family get up and leave the room.
“I can’t be with a devil worshipper. I…” I whisper before he abruptly cuts me off.
He laughs for the first time. And it’s sexy and menacing. “What is a devil worshipper Montana? You have no idea what you’re saying. Let’s just sit and talk. I promise you it’s not as bad as you think.” He caresses my hand and slowly brings it to his mouth. When his wet lips graze my skin, I forget that I may have to sacrifice my soul to date the man of my dreams. He holds my glare as he kisses my hand over and over. Chills along with heat ping and pang throughout my belly. I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of his mouth on my hand. When he stops, I open my eyes and he is smiling again.
“I love when you smile Hayden. You don’t do it often.”
“I know. I only smile when I’m happy. And the thought of me and you makes me happy.”
“But what about your mom? She wants you to stick to your own kind, which means what?” I hitch my brow, waiting for an answer.
“Beliefs can make things complicated.” He pauses and releases my hand. “Say a Jewish man wants to date a Muslim woman, who sacrifices their belief for the other? The same as if a Christian marries a Buddhist. Someone has to sacrifice if not both. My mother just wants me to stay true to who I am and not have to sacrifice for the love I may have one day.”
“I understand that. But according to your social media life, you don’t plan on settling down anytime soon.”
/> “You never know. Let’s go and talk to my family.”
He stands and reaches back to help me get out of my seat. He extends his hand for me to take it and I grab hold. We walk toward the study and I have to ask about the black butterflies.
“Hayden. What’s with the black butterflies? I have been seeing them around my house lately and in my dreams.”
“Black butterflies symbolize death, transition, freedom and rebirth. They represent me, and my family. So, I keep them around for our lifeline. Each butterfly in this case is the lifeline for someone that lives on this plain. They are our souls so to speak, our familiars.”
“Huh?” I turn to look at him.
“If you say yes to me, I’ll be completely transparent with you Montana. I don’t know what it is about you but I just want to share all of my secrets. I want to be everything you think I am and everything you want me to be. I can’t help myself.” He takes the back of his hand and slides it down my arm.
The words ‘say yes to me’ ring like an alarm. Every single intuition that a human possesses tells me to run far away but my heart and my body is saying stay. How are my dreams manifesting?
“You know that my dreams…”
He drops his head and looks to the floor.
“We can talk about your dreams on another day. Alright?”
“Okay.”
Why am I still here? I think to myself. Shit is really weird and I am following behind him like a lost puppy. I must be insane.
As we walk into the study hand in hand, I think about why I want this to be so badly. The little that I know should have me running toward the door but I let him lead me back in to the pit anyway.
Chapter 10
We enter the study and his family is sitting. Gayle grimaces as I enter and his sister D’Naya smirks. Hayden offers me a seat on the couch and he sits on the edge of the chaise.
“Sooo, brother. You finally bring a girl home, but she ends up being a Jesus freak.” She purses her lips and glare at me.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m a ‘Jesus freak’. More like having a sense of spirituality. I just believe.”
“You should. Because everything you know and believe is very real. The stories are all true. Satan was kicked out of heaven by his father and cast to live among measly humans that God loves so much, more than his own children. So, he did what anyone would do, he created a new family. The angels that followed him became his family. His sons and daughters so to speak.”
I sit down and engage D’Naya. What she is saying interests me.
“So, you worship the devil, Satan, I mean.”
“How can you worship a parent or grandparent? Or how can you categorize a family unit?”
“I don’t understand. Are you saying Satan is your parent?”
“You wouldn’t. No human on this earth could. But stick around and you will.”
“Would you like something to drink Montana? We always have a glass of wine before bed.” Santana asks.
“I’m not 21.”
“Technically Hayden, D’Naya and Bryant aren’t either. But what happens in this house stays.”
“I guess one glass wouldn’t hurt.” I need something stronger to take my mind off of this satanic family.
He stands and offers all of us a wine glass. He then pours red wine into each glass. I immediately take a sip and Hayden watches me. After I gulp down another, he drinks. We drink a few glasses a piece. Soon I feel a little tipsy. Bryant glares at me as I giggle whenever Hayden speaks. He watches with a strange dark expression.
“Who is the oldest?” I ask trying to get him to speak instead of devouring me with his cold stare.
“Hayden is.” Bryant blurts. “Hayden is the oldest and the one that will inherit our family’s legacy. Now, if he happens to lose focus and… well get involved in the wrong activities it will go to me. D’Naya is last in line and a female.”
“Shut up. The way the two of you fuck up, this female will have it all. It’s not like it hasn't been done.” She snaps.
“Hey.” Santana interjects. “Let’s call it a night.” Gayle, who hasn’t said one word stands and turns to leave.
“Have a great evening Montana. I hope we don’t have to see one another again. I hope we scared the hell out of you and you never come back. I hate that the first girl Hayden brings home, is not worthy of this family. Good night.”
Wait, what the fuck did I do to her? She is evil. I have never met anyone that mean and callous. I watch the back of her head as she leaves the room. Her husband and other two spawn follow her. They all bid me a goodnight as they leave one after the other. Hayden and I are left alone.
“I apologize for my mother’s behavior. But I wanted to get the worse of this out of the way. I couldn’t let you get into this blindly.” He smirks.
But, what about any of this funny… at all? I can’t believe his mother has such a discriminatory attitude.
“May I give you a tour of the rest of the house?”
And, we are really going to gloss over the fact that his mother is acting like a total bitch?
“I guess, but promise me that your mom isn’t going to sneak up behind me and kill me.” I joke.
“I wouldn’t let her harm a hair on that gorgeous little head. Come on.”
He walks over to me and lifts me from my seat by grabbing both hands and pulling me up. He seductively pulls me into an embrace. I wrap my arms around his neck and he stares down at me. “When I look at you, for some reason I can’t see past your beautiful smile and childlike wonderment. You are completely different than what I’m used to. You laugh at corny jokes. You blush for no reason.”
“Are those all good qualities?” I whisper up at him.
“They are damn good qualities.” He whispers back down at me.” Before I can say something else goofy, he leans in and kisses my lips. I’ve kissed someone before. Kwame Burrell in ninth grade wanted to sneak into the gym and make out. I thought it was okay until he told people that he went to third base with me. I didn’t know what the fuck third base was but I knew I didn’t do it with him. His breath smelled like pickles and chicken grease, so kissing him was like licking a dirty frying pan. The thought made me ill. But kissing Hayden was like a fantasy come true. All of the times that I wished I could have kissed him came back to me. Our lips touched and danced. It feels like tongue wrestling with a warm wet spongy pillow, so soft and sweet.
His hands glide up my arms to my shoulders and onto the nape of my neck into my hair. He holds me there with his thumb caressing my cheek. I live in this kiss. I don’t want it to end. But, he pulls away planting soft short pecks on my lips then my chin. He takes hold of my hand and leads me back through the dining room, to the kitchen and through a kitchenette. He anxiously passes through entering a hall that stretches the length of the house. There are several bedrooms doors in the dark hall. Of course, art decorates the wall. Individual portraits of his family are displayed. He leads me down the hall and I spot his individual painting. Why is Hayden so alluring? Why doesn’t he have me continuing with this evening even though I’m creeped the heck out? He hurried past his photo and to a door that I assume leads to his bedroom. He turns the knobs and we go inside. A guy this young shouldn’t have a room this mature. A large wooden high post bed that sits up where I would have to hop up. His bed is made with a comforter that has dark red swirls on it. And, his armoire matches the headboard and posts. He has a small office that rests in the corner. I noticed that there are no TV’s in any of the rooms that I visited.
I release his hand and explore the room. I approach a bookcase that sits beside the opening to his office. I’m pleasantly surprised when I thumb over books that a person his age should not be reading. But he is after all, a college man. Each book impresses me more than the one before it.
“Do you read?”
“Yes, but nothing like this.” I run my hands along a vintage book with a leather cover.
“What would you like to read?” He asks as
he walks over to his bed and sits.
“From here?”
“No. Name a book you haven’t read but would like to.”
“Ummm, I don’t know. Let’s see…” I take my finger and tap my chin. “What about The Great Gatsby? I’m always impressed with people who have read it without it being assigned to them in a class or something. And I loved Leo in the movie.”
“Really? The movie?”
“Yes. I am a movie fanatic. I love watching TV.”
He tilts his head and smirks. “Great read.” He takes a step toward me and his eyes hold me. Each step he takes pulls me in. He reaches out to touch my face. He caresses my cheek.
“You are so adorable Montana.”
I lean into his touch and close my eyes. I feel the soft wetness of his lips again and I open my eyes to see him glaring back at me. His tongue slowly creeps into my mouth. My lids roll shut. He lets out a slow growl as if he tastes something divine. His hands siege me caressing parts of my body no one has touched but me. He slides his hand up my thigh and lifts my skirt. I dare not protest. I have turned him down way too many times. When he pauses I look down at him. He removes his shirt and his body is as amazing as I imagined. His chest is ripped and his abs are defined. His pants are hugging his waist just below the hipbones. I get to see the fine hair that lies at the rim and the V cut above the hairline. Sexy is an understatement. He resumes his massaging of my legs.