His Secrets

by Bishop, K. M.

“Ok, well I imagine at the wedding, you guys are both going to have some fun, right?” Dane said.

  I knew what he was getting at. “There will be plenty of alcohol for the guests, don’t worry about it.”

  Dane smiled and gave me a high five. “That’s what I like to hear.”

  “I’m going to order an Uber home,” I said. “I think you should do the same.”

  Dane smiled. “Nah, I’m going to hook up with one of these hotties. They can drive me home.”

  I laughed and finished my beer. It was around this time I realized that my bladder needed emptying in a bad way. I staggered out of the booth and over to the men’s room. Once inside I reached the urinal just in time.

  As I came out of the men’s room a few minutes later someone lightly touched my shoulder. I turned to see a beautiful woman. She was smiling at me in that typical flirty fashion, eyeing me up and down.

  “Hey, there,” she said. Her voice was sweet, with a touch of a southern accent I believed.

  “Hey,” I replied. I started to turn away when she grabbed me and leaned into me.

  “I think you and I should go somewhere private and get to know each other.”

  I smiled and removed her hands off my shoulder. Then I stepped back and said, “Sorry, but I’m engaged. I appreciate the offer, though.”

  With that I walked away. When I glanced back, I could see the woman standing there huffing and angry with her arms crossed. I laughed heartily and sat down at my table. Then I told Dane what happened.

  “What girl?” He said.

  “That one over there,” I pointed.

  “Damn! That is a hottie,” Dane said. “I’m on it.”

  “How do you know she wants you?” I asked.

  “Well, a woman like that is not used to being rejected. I’m going to pick her up while she is on the rebound. Her ego needs validation.”

  Dane quickly walked over to her. I shook my head. That guy had issues. He needed to find a good, stable woman to settle down with, before he ended up some miserable old miser.

  I sat there and finished off the remaining wings watching as Dane hit on this now distraught woman. She seemed to be interested in him, or she was interested in just proving to herself what an asshole I was for turning her down. Within a few minutes Dane was leaving with her.

  He shot me a nod and a wink as he followed her out the door.

  I left shortly after myself. By the time the Uber dropped me off, I was a bit messy and could barely make it to the door and insert the key in the lock. I did manage though, only dropping my keys twice. Wow, I was so smashed. I was going to have the hangover of the century tomorrow.

  But it was worth it. I’d had a blast with my best friend and I’d even gotten some work done earlier. So, the day was not a total loss.

  When I got into my house, I didn’t expect that Tina would be there. But she was waiting on the couch watching some movie and sipping a glass of wine.

  She took a look at me, and suddenly a concerned expression washed over her face. She knew that I was hammered. My first instinct was to be ashamed or sorry, but then I corrected myself. There was nothing wrong with having a good time every now and then. It had been months since I’d had a drink, and tonight I let off some steam. I had nothing to be sorry about.

  I just hoped that Tina felt the same way.

  “You’re drunk,” Tina said.

  “Yeah, Dane and I had a few. How is Donna? Did you help her get everything sorted out?”

  “Yeah, she was just having a bit of a drama queen day. To tell the truth, she didn’t really need me. I think she is getting a bit weirded out by the fact that the wedding day is coming closer. It’s like with her being the maid of honor, suddenly it all seems much more real to her. I think she thinks this will somehow affect our friendship, like she is losing me or something.”

  “Ok, that’s a little childish.”

  “Well, she is a bit childish at times.”

  I slumped down on the couch and leaned back. “I missed you, babe. You should have come out with us. We had an epic time.”

  “I can see that,” Tina said.

  I was surprised at how cool she was being about it. I really thought she was going to read me the riot act and give me the third degree, but she didn’t. No coal raking was being done here.

  “So, how is Dane, as if I have to ask?” Tina asked.

  “Well, Dane is just the way he is. You know that. Just like Donna is the way she is…”

  I playfully stuck my tongue out at her, and she smiled. We both had best friends who were a bit off, but they provided much needed entertainment and stress relief in our lives, therefore we loved them dearly.

  “Was there someone else out there?” Tina asked.

  “What?”

  “Outside. When you were dropped off, I looked out and saw the Uber, but then I saw another car down the street suddenly turn its lights on and speed off down the road. Didn’t you notice?”

  “Um…no…”

  She shrugged. “I guess it was nothing then.” She shut off the movie and kissed me on the forehead. “I’m going to bed. You should come, too. We got the movers here early in the morning.”

  “Right,” I said.

  “And this had better not become a regular thing again,” Tina said.

  “What do you mean by regular?” I asked. I wasn’t sure why I was trying to stir up an argument. I’d been so happy that she hadn’t said anything about it at first, but now she was poking at me (at least that’s how it felt in my drunken stupor) and I didn’t like the tone of the insinuation.

  “You know,” Tina said. “Like before.”

  Then she walked upstairs and headed for the bedroom.

  I wanted to say something else, but my brain was not firing on all cylinders and I decided to keep my mouth shut.

  I picked up Tina’s glass of wine which was still half full and chugged it. Yeah, that was the stuff…she wasted far too much wine. Who poured wine and just let it sit after a few sips?

  Somehow, I made my way up the stairs and eventually crashed into the bed.

  As the ceiling spun around above me and I closed my eyes to steady the dizzy waves of the bed (I was so thankful at the moment I didn’t buy that water bed I’d had my eye on) I somehow found sleep and fell into the abyss that separated one day from another.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tina

  I woke up the next morning just at sunrise. I had forgotten to set my alarm, but luckily my internal clock woke me when the time was right. I looked to my left and saw Blake dead asleep. He had been so wasted last night. I hated to see him that way. I’d never seen him belligerent or angry when he was drunk, and he certainly wasn’t violent, but I hated to see that alcohol could have such a grip on him. When I’d first started going out with him, I noticed that he got drunk, a lot. I wasn’t sure if he had an actual problem, but it was heading down that path. Luckily, he’d been able to stop easily on his own, when I asked him to. I just didn’t want to see him start it back up again. I wanted to know that he was ok and that there were no destructive forces in his life, or our relationship.

  There had been something off about Blake lately… he’d been… distant. I wasn’t sure what it was, but there was definitely something bothering him. So far, I hadn’t asked him about it. If it was something major, he would have shared it with me. Most likely it was just something at work. I let it go at that.

  I hoped I was right.

  I hopped in my jogging clothes and hit the pavement. I loved running first thing in the morning. It was a great way to greet the world, besides, in Phoenix if you waited too long to do physical activity outside, you were going to roast in the hot sun. By eight in the morning the mercury would be climbing far past ninety and hitting triple digits by ten.

  I was just on my way back from the jog when I stopped at Hot Joe’s, a coffee bar that I frequented at the end of a good jog. A caramel Frappuccino would usually hit the spot right about then.

&
nbsp; I stopped in and got my drink. The crowd wasn’t too crazy yet. But as I was exiting, something caught my eye. It was so unexpected and frightening, that I almost dropped my drink.

  Standing in front of me in a jogging outfit was Norm. He had a goofy grin plastered all over his face. He didn’t appear to be sweating. It was almost as if he’d strategically placed himself right there at that moment to meet me. Was he stalking me? Did he know my routines? What was going on? How dangerous was this guy?

  “Tina! What a pleasant surprise,” Norm said. “Fancy running into you here, right?”

  “Um… yeah. I’ve got to be going,” I said.

  I started to walk past him when he held up his hand to stop me.

  “Not so fast!” He growled.

  I stared around hoping someone would see this, but the place was quiet this early in the morning. I was alone outside with this creep.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded. “This is getting way out of hand.”

  “Oh, is it? I don’t think so. What is getting out of hand is the way you keep teasing me. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you dress, the way you are always looking at me, the flips of the air, the leaning your head back in that sexy way to expose the nape of your neck…yes. I’ve seen it all. You know what you are doing.”

  I shook my head. “You’re crazy. I’m going to complain to Principal Wicker. Pray that I don’t go to the cops. If you don’t leave me alone, I will.”

  Norm laughed. “You stupid bitch.”

  “Hey!”

  A man’s voice came from behind me.

  I turned to see a tall, slender man in his forties stepping forward. He had his hair slicked back into a Steven Seagal like ponytail, and he had a thick mustache. But he was well dressed, like some kind of a businessman.

  “This doesn’t concern you!” Norm said.

  The man stepped in between me and Norm. “Oh, I think it does. Why don’t you take a hike, pal. The lady obviously isn’t interested in talking with you.”

  Norm stood there for a moment. I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to test the stranger. He was furious at the interference. I saw a fury in his face that I’ve never seen in anyone before. I was truly terrified of him, and what he might be capable of. Thank goodness for this kind stranger who stepped in to help me.

  “This isn’t over,” Norm said.

  He turned and walked away putting his sunglasses on, as he did so, began to whistle a soft tune as if he hadn’t a care in the world and he was just out for a peaceful stroll.

  My heart was leaping over itself in my chest. I felt my breath return and my skin began to tingle as the blood unfroze within my veins. I was sick to my stomach. I wanted to vomit all over the sidewalk, but I held it together. My hands were shaking to the point I could barely keep from spilling my drink all over the place.

  “Wow…” I said. My voice cracked through my tightened throat. Tears stung the back of my eyelids as I tried to keep it together. I bit my lip and swallowed hard, closing my eyes as well. I didn’t want to break down. Oh, how I wished Blake was here.

  “Hey, it’s ok,” the man said. “That punk is gone.”

  “Thank you,” I blurted out. “Thank you so much.”

  “It’s no problem. I was just in the right place. I’m glad I could lend a hand.”

  “You did more than that...” The tears began to fall now. I was sobbing. I couldn’t hold it back.

  “Hey, you’re alright,” he said. His voice was firm and confident, but kind. “Do you know that jerk?”

  “Um… yeah… he works with me,” I said.

  “Yeah, you should probably turn him into somebody. Get a restraining order or something.”

  “Right,” I said.

  “Do you need me to walk you home?”

  “Um, no. I’m fine. I don’t think he’ll come back. I just live a mile down the road. I’ll be fine. There’s people around that way.”

  “Ok,” he said.

  And then he sauntered off, before I could even get his name. I watched him go. He walked quickly, taking long, confident strides- as if he was a man on a mission. I wanted to talk more with him and thank him for what he did. He had to know that he might have just saved me from… I didn’t know what.

  I watched him go for another minute and then I started walking quickly towards Blake’s house. I was still shaking. So scared… how did this happen to me? Norm… he seemed so harmless at first. I realized then, that Donna was right. I should have just told on Norm right from the start. Now, not only did I have to tell the principal, but I had to go to the cops. Norm had basically threatened me.

  Had he though? Did he actually threaten to do something to me? I… I didn’t know… I could say he did. That would work, right? But no. That wasn’t me. I wasn’t a liar, even if I knew it would help to protect me. I wasn’t sure I could do that.

  Surely what Norm did had to be some sort of a crime. I had to get a restraining order.

  And I knew I had to tell Blake this time.

  “What the hell? Did he hurt you? Tell me he hurt you and he will never see daylight again,” Blake yelled when I told him.

  He was as angry as I’d ever seen him.

  “Dammit!” Blake screamed as he slammed his fist down on the counter.

  “Blake, I’m ok. This guy was walking by, and he helped me. He scared Norm off.”

  Blake looked at me, his eyes scanning me up and down for what was perhaps the fortieth time, as if he was trying to make sure I was really alright.

  “I’m fine,” I repeated sternly. I appreciated that he was so protective of me, but I was a grown woman and I didn’t need him getting so mad and doing something stupid. “Just relax. I’ll handle this.”

  “How?”

  “How do you think? I’ll go to the cops. The principal at least.”

  “Good.”

  Blake sighed and tried to get a grip on himself.

  “I shouldn’t have told you.”

  I expected Blake to get mad about this statement, but to his credit he just sat there silently. I knew he cared, and it was comforting that he did, but he knew I liked to fight my own battles. Still, there was nothing I wouldn’t have given, for him to have been by my side when that creep Norm was in my face scaring me. That man was deranged.

  “Hey, it’s alright,” I said. “I’ll handle it.”

  “Ok. I’m going to go take a shower. The movers will be at your house soon. We need to meet them.”

  “Right.”

  While Blake was in the shower, I used the one downstairs. In the middle of my hot, relaxing shower, I broke down and started crying. I couldn’t help it. I was so scared. I’d never had that kind of experience before.

  I dropped to my knees slowly and let the water wash over me. I felt like I was losing control. The fear was riveting through me. My breath wouldn’t come to me, I had to force it just to make sure I could still do it, I was on the verge of a total panic attack. I used to get them when I was a kid, and it had been so long, but right now, it was knocking on my door.

  Panic attacks often manifest themselves into extreme thoughts of passing out, death, and other awful things. I knew this, but it didn’t make this any easier. I wanted to relax and wish it all away. I had things to do that day. I had to keep a level head and not let Norm’s intimidation get into me. I could handle this, I was stronger than that.

  I thought of what it would have been like to trample him underneath me outside that coffee shop. I wanted to kick him in the head and watch him squirm and scream in fear at my power, my anger. That would have been the very thing that would take away my own fear right then and there.

  But that wasn’t me. I’ve never been a violent person.

  I had to fight back the civil way.

  But why wasn’t it good enough for me right then? Because I felt helpless. I felt frightened. But that was the point, wasn’t it? That was what Norm wanted me to feel. He was that type of a cretin.

  I straightened
myself up and finished my shower. By the time I dried off, brushed my teeth and my hair, I was fine. I had put myself together again.

  I didn’t tell Blake that I’d cried. I didn’t tell him how much I was melting down. He didn’t need to know that; it would only serve to make him worry so much more.

  We hopped in his car and drove to my house to meet the movers. I’d spent the last few days boxing up things. It was strange, to be moving on. I had loved keeping my own place, but Blake was right. This meant that things were changing, for real, and I had to evolve with them. I had no reason to really keep my own house anymore. It was just a waste of money. I spent more time at Blake’s than my own place, anyway.

  Still, it was an odd, almost surreal experience. It was like watching a chapter of my life closing, while I was standing on the sidelines as a casual observer. But this was actually happening. And that was alright. I had to get used to it. It was a good thing. I was about to be living full time with the man I loved. What was more beautiful than that?

  I wondered as we pulled up in front of my little house that I’d been renting for the past year, what other chapters in my life did I have to look forward to? Our wedding? Our first child? More kids? Grandkids?

  The list went on and on.

  And all of it sounded so perfect. That by the time I stepped out of the car, I was as happy to be moving to the next step as I’d ever been before in my entire life.

  Norm was lost in the background.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Blake

  I hoisted a heavy box up onto the truck and then walked back towards the stack to grab another one. The two moving men did the same thing. I didn’t have to lend a hand at all, but it did make things go faster, plus I felt like some lump on a log if I didn’t chip in when some work was being done, even if I had hired the work to be done.

  “We got it, sir,” the younger man said.

  I shrugged and hoisted another box. I realized he was more worried about the liability of me helping them. If I hurt myself some way then I could potentially sue them, or tell the company I did half the work. There were people out there that stupid.