by T A Ford
“It’s me, Maura.”
“Hi you,” Rodney smiled.
“When was the last time you saw your sister?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“Dina? When did you see her last?”
“Ah... why? What’s going on?”
“That’s what I thought. You know, I always knew you were an asshole. But the one thing I believed is that you loved that girl. I saw it. Turns out you can’t love anyone or anything but yourself.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? You ended it with me. Blocked me. Cut me off. And you’re calling me trashing me and my sister?”
“She trusts you Rodney. She leans on you. And you gave her to that white boy to let him play in her head. How could you do that!”
“This is about Cue?”
“You damn right it’s about him. Did you know he’s her boyfriend?”
“No he isn’t,” Rodney chuckled.
“They just left my house. I got a front row seat to it. Three days ago she was at my door crying because he yelled at her. He’s been sleeping with her and pumping her with anti-depressants since you tossed her to him!”
“You’re lying.” Rodney paced. “You’re fucking lying.”
“Why would I lie Rodney? Why? She is the sweetest girl. And you two are destroying her. I don’t know what to do. If I tell her then I know it will destroy her. If I let you get away with it, it will destroy her. I think I’m going to report you both to the police.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you do. But know this. He’s a dead motherfucker. Do you hear me!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Dead!” Rodney threw the phone with all his might at the mirror in the bathroom and shattered it.
“Rodney!” Sheila screamed.
Shaking with fury, Rodney’s hands dropped to the sink. He gripped it forcefully as he struggled to capture his breath. He didn’t want to believe any of it. But he knew in his gut something was wrong.
“Rodney? What happened?”
“Pack your fucking bags. We’re going back home.”
“But you said we couldn’t? That you’d be in trouble—”
“Pack your fucking bags! Now!” he shouted at her.
Sheila stepped back in shock. She turned and left him. He picked up his phone, but the screen was too cracked to dial. He was itching to call that motherfucker and warn him to get the hell out of town before he found him and committed homicide. But he decided that it was too late to have that conversation. Homicide was much better.
DINA WALKED OUT OF the bathroom with her electric toothbrush. She scrubbed her teeth and spoke to Cue while he sat on the edge of the bed staring at his phone. “I think I might get the call to start work on Tuesday,” she said.
“That’s great.”
“Hey? Do you want to do some Black Friday shopping?” she went back in the bathroom and spit in the toilet. Never the sink. She found it disgusting that people spat in the sink. It’s where you cleaned your hands. Toilet is where excrement should go. She rinsed her mouth. She turned off the tap and grabbed the rag to wipe her lips. When she looked up she found him standing in the bathroom with her.
“Hey? Something wrong?”
“I have a lot to tell you,” he confessed.
“Okay?”
Cue got down on his knees before her. Both of her hands were taken into his. Was this a proposal? She had so many dreams of how he would propose. Next to the toilet wasn’t one of them.
“I lied to you.”
“To who?” she asked.
“To you,” he repeated.
“About?”
“Your brother,” he said.
“You lied on my Rodney?”
“You asked me if I knew him in college. I lied. I did know him. We were friends.”
“What?” She pulled her hands from his.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“You knew him in school?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Okay. Why did you feel like you couldn’t tell me?” she asked.
“Because I was trying to get to know you, and I felt that you wouldn’t trust my intentions if I was honest,” he said.
She stared at him.
“Does Rodney know that you’re my therapist? That you were my therapist?”
“Yes,” he said. “He hired me.”
“I’m confused. When did he hire you?”
“When I met you in Panera Bread. I was sent there to meet you by Rodney. And flamenco. That was set up by me and him. None of it was a coincidence. All of it was for me to get closer to you, to help you. Rodney wanted you to see a psychiatrist in a positive way. He felt this was the only way.”
“He did that to me?”
“Yes. We did that. I’m sorry.”
She gave him a sad smile. “I understand.”
“No. I don’t think you do—”
“I do, you and Rodney wanted to protect me. I understand.” She knelt before him and hugged his neck. “It’s okay. It’s how we became friends. Rodney always knows what is best for me. That’s why he sent me to you.”
“He doesn’t know that we’re in love. He doesn’t know that I crossed the line.”
“Stop saying that.” She let him go. “You didn’t. We are adults. I’m a normal person, like any other woman. I can have relationships.”
“Babe, it’s not just the relationship. It’s a lot more to it than that. You’re not listening.”
“Fine, so what. I get to say if I care, don’t I? Don’t I have a say?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Well, I don’t care. Rodney left me. He didn’t care. Now I’m happy and I’m not going to let anyone take that happiness away. Not this time. Can we please stop worrying about what everyone thinks of us? And just be happy?”
“Dina,” he sighed. “I still don’t think you understand what I did.”
She stood and pulled him up to stand with her. She put her arm around his waist and they went back into the bedroom turning off the lights. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight in bed. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with her face on his chest. A huge burden had been lifted. Now he just had to deal with Rodney.
Chapter Sixteen
Light to Darkness
After a long rest Cue woke to darkness. His lady was sleeping in his arms as she did every night. It amazed him how they could sleep in the same position holding each other. It was one of the purest examples of their love. He touched her face and kissed her lips. Like a true prince, his kiss woke his sleeping beauty. She smiled at him. He wondered, again, how he’d ever become so lucky. Maura was right. He wasn’t the hero in Dina’s story. She was. She changed him.
He kissed her again, and again. He had the absolute right to her lips and her mouth. She was his. When he pinched her nipple she released the sweetest cry of release. He tore his mouth away and removed the covers to study her with hot and bothered eyes. Was it was wrong of him to lust for her beauty and vulnerability? She may have chosen his shirt to wear to bed, but conveniently she went without panties. Dina hated panties. And so did he. She turned him and straddled his waist with her thighs while taking his hands and pinning his hands down above his head. Her tongue enticed him deftly, and her wet sex pressed to his groin.
And then he was in her. Nothing felt more glorious than first entry. His hands were freed during the kiss and take down. He pushed and pulled her hips back and forth, urging her to go faster. She put her hand to his shoulder and forced him to relax. She insisted on going at her own pace. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. Dina grabbed his hand on her hip and slipped it up under her nightshirt so he could tweak and pinch her nipple.
“Oh yes, Doc. Yes!”
The friction stroking up into her channel through her folds sent tension rippling up her spine. For a few seconds she forgot how to breathe. It became too much and she dropped on him, moving harder and faster.
“Relax,” he said stroking her ass.
&
nbsp; Dina dragged her breathing back under control. And soon her desperate need for him caught up to the passion he gave her. Cue flipped her to her back and kissed her all over her face while driving himself in and out of her. She held on to him. She wanted to live the rest of her life in his arms.
“I love you so much Dina,” he said. “So much.”
“I love you too.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him as he pumped his hips in wild jerking fashion that pitched them closer to the end. When he climaxed, she didn’t need to. There was no greater feeling to her than what it was like to be his. And then he did what he always did after making love to her. He held her close way past the time of her breathing stabilizing. She didn’t mind that she needed a shower. She didn’t mind the way her thighs stuck together when he pulled out of her as his seed escaped her. She didn’t mind any of it. She trusted in love.
“DID YOU WALK JACK?” Dina asked as she warmed food on the stove instead of the microwave. She was reading a book on the constant poisoning of food through artificial means.
“No. I... I haven’t yet,” he replied.
“Don’t you think you should? Before it gets too late?”
“In a minute,” he mumbled.
Dina looked up. Once again Cue was before his laptop. It was Black Friday. She had hoped to catch the early morning sales, but they couldn’t get out of bed. She had hoped they’d rent some movies on Amazon Prime and go back upstairs after eating. But if he was working, that wasn’t likely.
“Hello?” she said to him.
“Whatever you want, babe,” he replied.
Now she was certain he wasn’t paying her any attention. She turned down the stove and went into the living room. He was fixated on his screen. She walked over and sat next to him. “What are you doing?”
Cue closed the laptop lid. He didn’t do it before she saw the card game. It looked like some interactive videogame with different player hands around a dealer’s table.
“What is that? Another video game?”
“Nothing,” he said and kissed her nose. “That smells good. Can we eat?”
“Yes,” she smiled. She got up and Cue followed her into the kitchen. He hugged her from behind and she nearly stumbled. “Let me go Doc,” she laughed. He kissed her and let her go. “I should go check on Jack and take him for a walk. What do you think? While you eat.”
“Sure.”
She watched him pile food on his plate. “I tried calling Rodney.”
“Oh?” he said without looking around.
“We’re going to have to tell him about us,” she said.
“I know. I was thinking about that. But telling him over the phone might not be the best way,” he said. “What about a trip?”
“Really?” she asked. “You think I’m ready for a trip?”
“You tell me,” he looked back. “You and I were planning on Christmas but I think we can take the trip now. As a test run. If things don’t go as expected I’m there to support you. A different kind of support.”
“Hmm, I just don’t know.”
“What does the thought of flying do to you?”
“Nothing. Uhm, I just don’t know. I get in elevators now and don’t notice when it makes too many stops. I don’t know.”
“We could go to Paris and see him. Sit him down and tell him what is going on. Explain it together. That would be best. Don’t you think?”
She smiled. “I think that is a good idea. If I fly to Paris, Rodney will see how much better I am now. He won’t be so overprotective of me.”
“Oh, he will always be overprotective of you,” Cue said, and walked out with his plate. She went to the fridge and got a beer, then followed him into the living area where he sat at the table.
“He calls me every day. Not today. Tried calling twice today, and it goes to voicemail,” she said. “Strange.”
Cue started eating and looking at his phone. She smiled and went upstairs. She put on some thick joggers, her snow boots and a heavy jacket. It was the coldest day on record. She even pulled a knit cap down on her head. “I’m going to get Jack and take him for a walk. I’ll bring him back,” she said.
“Okay,” Cue replied.
Dina went to Cue’s penthouse and Jack nearly bowled her over when she came through the door. “Hi Jackie-boy!” she laughed. “Aww... I’m sorry boy. I should have come sooner. Let’s go baby-boy. Let’s go walk.”
RODNEY SPED INTO THE city from the airport. When he and Sheila arrived, they saw his sister walking down the sidewalk with Cue’s dog. He slowed in his rental car almost to a stop. Dina glanced his way, but didn’t recognize him behind the deep tinted windows. He almost said something to her, but he stopped himself. If she was outside with Cue’s dog, that meant the bastard was alone. He swerved up into the gated garage and used a master access code the building owners had given him.
“Was that her? Was that Dina?” Sheila asked.
He didn’t answer.
“What are you planning to do?” Sheila asked as he parked nearest the elevators.
“Kill that motherfucker,” he mumbled.
“Seriously? You’ve been acting like a madman. We haven’t eaten. We’ve been traveling for nine hours. I’m exhausted. Let’s go to—”
He got out of the car before she finished. He heard her saying his name but her voice sounded distant, as if she called for him from the other end of a long tunnel. All he could think about was Dina and what Cue had done to her. Once in the lobby he turned on his lover and grabbed her roughly by the arms to shut her up. “You were right. That was Dina outside with that dog. You see her come in the building, you keep her downstairs. I’m going to deal with my friend.”
“What are you going to do? Are you crazy?” she lowered her voice. “You can’t get in trouble now—have you forgotten? We’re not even supposed to be in the country.”
“She’s my sister Sheila!”
“She’s a grown woman.”
“Do as I say!” he snapped.
Sheila glared at him but knew better than to object. When he was satisfied she understood, he walked off. His trench coat was open with his gloves on and he wore a cap on his head. He didn’t look like the murderer he was planning to be. If he had time, he would have gotten his gun. He was angry enough to use it. But a small part of him hoped that there was a reasonable explanation. After all the years of friendship and the things they endured together while in school, Cue was the last man he’d expect to have put a knife in his back.
“DAMN IT!” CUE GRUNTED. He closed the lid on his laptop and crashed back against the sofa pillows with his hands to his head. He was in the red again. After the winning streak he had been overly confident that he could flip his money and pay off his debt and then close his account. He was ready to get the help he needed. He had to. “What the hell have I done?”
“That’s what I want to know,” said Rodney as he slammed the door to his sister’s penthouse and walked in. Cue didn’t have time to hide his shock. He hadn’t seen his friend in almost two months. And suddenly he was there. He sat forward as if to stand and Rodney put up his hand for him to remain seated.
“You give me a reason, one motherfuckin’ reason, not to break your fucking neck dude.”
“When did you get back?” Cue asked.
“Is that what you have to say to me? When did I get back?”
“She called you?”
Rodney paced back and forth. “My sister bro? My sister? What the fuck!”
“It’s not what you think. I swear on my life it isn’t. I’ve been trying to help her.”
“What did you say?” Rodney took a step forward. Cue stood. He knew Rodney. He’d seen the worst in Rodney. And he’d also seen the best in him. If he didn’t de-escalate the situation soon it would go beyond either of their control. “I can explain. If you’re willing to listen. She can’t come in here and find us at war.”
“Explain to me that you are fucking my kid sister? My
sister who has a disability and doesn’t even know what the fuck sex means? You some fucking pedophile pervert! You betrayed me!” he beat his chest.
“She’s twenty-five! I’m thirty. She’s not a kid.”
“You set me up man.” Rodney pointed at him. “This was your plan? You fucking sicko!”
“Not true!”
“You did this to me man? After I told you she was crazy. After I begged you to help her. After all the times I’ve pulled your ass out the fire? I’m the one that didn’t graduate. Did you tell her that? How the ethics board rescinded my degree and kicked me the fuck out of school because of you. Did you tell her that while you were fucking her?!”
“Don’t throw that in my face Rod. I went down with you. That wasn’t my fault, not all of it.”
“You graduated motherfucker. I have a degree I can’t even claim.”
“I confessed. We both confessed to the same crime. The charges were dropped against us both. I didn’t have anything more than you.”
“Right? You didn’t have more privilege than me? Because the school kicked me out and just gave you probation. Why the fuck was that? What’s different between me and you Cue? Tell me? I had better grades than you. I had put in the work. What was the difference?”
“Rodney, that was years ago. You and I put this behind us,” Cue reasoned.
“We did. And I trusted you. Because I’m the better man. You’re a fucking joke. I built all of this from nothing. I’m worth ten of you,” Rodney said. He paced like a caged lion, waiting for the moment to be freed to pounce. Cue put his hands to his head. The issues between them ran too deep for an explanation.
“Alright man. You won. I’m shit. Happy? I fucking drink like a fish, and that cost me Bridget and the respect of my family. My gambling debts are back. You knew that when you suggested I move my practice down here to Atlanta. You knew I was bankrupt and fucking losing it all. You brought me down here to show how much of a big man you are. I see it. I respect it. And when you asked me to help your sister, I felt like I owed it to you. You used me and I let you, bro. Because ten years of this shit between us has done me in. I can’t get past it. I’m a different man too. I’ve paid my debts. I’m still paying them.”