She smiled and nodded like she understood.
“Do you want to give me your money, and I can check you in. You probably shouldn’t go in there like that.”
“Can I trust you?” I joked.
“The better question is will you trust me? Not can you.”
Damn, this girl. I didn’t know if it was her voice, her energy or just her, but I was standing there smiling like a fool. I pulled out my money and handed it over to her.
“You trust me with all this. There has to be at least three hundred dollars here.”
“I trust you.” We exchanged a look. “Get me a room for a week if you can,” I added.
She looked at me as if she was contemplating something. She walked over and stuffed the money back into my hand.
“Get back into the car.” It sounded like a command.
“What? Why?” I questioned, as she opened the passenger door, stuffed me inside the car and locked me in.
I had no idea what this chick was doing. I watched her run around the front of the car. She climbed into the driver’s side and looked at me.
“You need a place to stay for at least a week, right? Maybe Longer?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“You need a place. I need money. You can stay at my place and pay me the money instead.”
Is she kidding? Stay with her. Hell yeah. If I’m lucky, it will be in her bed. I threw that last thought out of my head. Blame it on the alcohol.
“Um, Yeah I guess that will work,” I replied, as I tried to maintain a coolness on the outside.
“Great! You get the couch though.”
The couch. The freaking couch. Ugh. At least I’d be by her, near her. I’m close to her now. Why was I even thinking these crazy ass thoughts? I closed my eyes, hoping to clear my head. Somewhere between the motel parking lot and her home, I fell asleep. I was woken by a soft hand on my cheek.
“James, we’re here.”
She helped pull me up and out of the car. She grabbed my arm and walked next to me. I looked around at the area. I was pretty sure this was one of the poorest neighborhoods I had seen in a while. She lived in a small apartment complex, maybe ten units or less. Emily jiggled her keys inside of the lock and pushed open the door. She basically shoved me over to sit on the couch once we stepped into the place. Her apartment was actually nice inside. I wasn’t sure what I expected. It was very cozy. This was something I was unfamiliar with. Nothing about my mother or her home screamed cozy. I watched her walk back and forth doing whatever she was doing. At one point she brought me a blanket and a pillow.
“Okay, goodnight,” she said, as she turned to walk away.
“Emily, why are you really doing all this?”
“Again, It feels like the right thing to do.” She paused. “This is unusual for me to do this, but there is something different about you, James King. Not to mention again that I do really need the money.”
“You don’t even know me.” I shrugged.
“I know what I saw, and what I heard at your mother’s house. That’s all I need to know, right now.”
My heart felt as if she had pulled it out, and stuffed it back inside of me. What is this girl doing to me? She gave me a half smile and turned to walk out of the room.
“Night,” I pushed out. My voice was barely audible.
I laid down on the couch and let the memory of her voice soothe me to sleep. I was now spread out on that thing, with one leg thrown over the top of the couch. I was comfortable. I was relaxed. I was safe. At least for now. Minutes passed, hours passed. Shoot, it felt like days had passed, but it hadn’t. I didn’t know how long I was sleeping for. I just knew it was pitch black in the room, when the sound of crying woke me from my rest. I jumped up, rubbed my eyes and looked around.
For a minute I was shaken. I didn’t know where I was. I wasn’t in my tiny cell, and everything around me looked unfamiliar. I had to remind myself that I was out of jail, and staying in a stranger’s home. I walked down the hallway toward the noise, and stopped in front of the cracked door.
“You don’t think I know she’s dying, Gabriel. I’m doing the best I can. I’m working double shifts just to get money over there.” I quietly stepped in closer.
I peeked through to see Emily sitting on the edge of her bed with one hand up to her ear. Her elbows rested on her legs. She wiped the tears from her eyes, as she listened to the other person on the line speak.
“I’ll send some more when I get paid. Tell her I love her.” She paused. “Bye.”
She started to weep hard, I mean really hard as soon as she hung up. I took a step forward to open her door, but I didn’t want to intrude. This was really none of my business. I turned around to walk back to the couch, but I couldn’t just leave her in there crying. I quickly swung around again, and to my surprise, she was standing there. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes were sunken in with worry.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I was looking for the bathroom,” I blurted out like an idiot.
She pointed down the hall. I nodded, and walked as fast as I could. I felt like a little kid that had got caught spying on their parents. Once inside, I shut the door and leaned up against the back of it. Curiosity was killing me. Who was dying? Why was she crying and what was the money for? Do I ask her? No. No way. That’s prying. Whatever she was going through was personal. If she wanted me to know, she’d tell me. After doing my business in there, I slowly opened the door, and quietly walked back to the couch. Her bedroom door was shut and there was no sign of her. The apartment was dead quiet, and as bad as I wanted to go knock on her door, I didn’t. I laid back down and after a million things ran through my head, I went back to sleep.
The sound of pans being tossed into the sink woke me. The smell of eggs wavered about and it smelled delicious. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Once again, I had to remind myself where I was. This would take some time. I looked over into the kitchen, to see her standing there with her back to me in what had to be the shortest shorts I had ever seen. If I didn’t have morning wood when I awoke, I did now. She was arranging food on two plates, and it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. She was moving the fruit around and lining up the toast, so that it sat at an angle. It was obvious that she wanted to impress me by the effort she was making. I don’t think she knew that she could have heated me up a frozen waffle, and I would have liked her just as much. I cleared my throat to get her attention.
“Oh good, you’re up,” she said, as she turned around.
“Must have been the smell of the food.” I winked at her and stood up.
“How do you feel? You hungry?” she asked and nodded for me to come sit down.
“I have a raging headache, but I’m okay.” I watched her bend over as she poured a glass of juice. Oh, I’m hungry alright. Hungry for you, but that last part I’ll keep to myself. “Very hungry.” I smiled.
“Here let me find you some aspirin.” She began to rummage through the drawers until she found a bottle. She slid me a glass of water and an aspirin.
“Thanks.”
I watched her pace back and forth trying to gather napkins and forks and whatever else she was getting. She gently slid the plate in front of me and placed hers down at the same time.
“Sorry, I didn’t know what you liked to eat. I hope this is okay.”
“It’s great. Thank you,” I said digging in.
She sat down in silence and stared at me. I looked up just as I took a huge bite.
“I think we should talk about last night.”
“I know. I was drunk and sloppy. I apologize,” I said, swallowing the ball of food in my mouth.
“No. Not that. I mean the conversation you might have heard on your way to the bathroom last night.”
“I didn’t hear anything,” I lied.
“Do you always lie to people, James?”
I put my fork down and stared at her. The girl could see right through me.
“No. I just didn’t want to get into your bu
siness and make you feel awkward about anything.”
“So you did hear something?” she questioned.
I placed my hands up and sort of shrugged my shoulders.
“I heard you crying that’s all,” I lied again.
She looked at me in such a way it made me feel bad. I knew I wasn’t a good liar, because I never did it. I had always been straight forward, but I felt like I had to be careful not to cross boundaries. She was being nice enough to let me stay here. The last thing she needed was some random stranger suffocating her. Maybe she was the type of girl that wanted to be alone when they were upset. If I would have busted through her door with open arms, it would have scared the shit out of her. She picked up her fork and gently stabbed it into her eggs.
“My mother, she’s in Mexico. She’s really sick.”
“I’m sorry to hear of that.” I leaned my weight against the table.
“The doctors don’t know what she has. They keep telling my family that it could be fatal. Medical bills are piling up and my brother, Gabriel, down there has spent every penny he had. I just started working for your mother last month. Lucky for me she fired the other two maids, so I get plenty of hours. I send pretty much everything I get from work, back to my family so they can treat her. That’s what that phone call was about last night.” Her eyes trailed down to her plate and then back up to me.
“You don’t owe me any explanation,” I said.
“No. I know. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. I guess it just feels good to talk about it with someone other than my family. It’s probably more for me than for you. It’s like everyone is looking at me to save her, and if I fail, she dies.” She paused. “God, I’m sorry. I’m totally ruining your breakfast with this. Let me stop right now.”
I watched the life drain out of her face, and it broke my heart. I leaned back, dug into my pocket and took the wad of money out. I slid it across the table to her. She looked at me with wide eyes.
“I didn’t tell you all that so you would feel sorry for me.”
“I’m just paying for rent. Whatever you do with it, is your business,” I said.
“This is way too much. Don’t you need money for clothes or food?” she asked.
“I’m good. Take it.”
She smiled and tears filled her eyes. I wanted to grab her hand. I wanted to grab her, but I didn’t.
“Can I show you something?” she asked.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Follow me,” she said, jumping up from the table.
I trailed behind her down the hallway into her bedroom. She pulled an album out and sat down on her bed. She looked up and patted the area next to her. I walked over and sat down, leaving a little space between us. She opened up the album.
“This is her. My mother. Isn’t she pretty?”
I leaned over, and glanced at the old, black and white photo of a young woman holding a baby.
“That’s me when I was little.”
“She’s beautiful like you,” I said.
She looked at me for a second, and then back to the picture. I could hear her swallow the lump in her throat.
“She doesn’t look like this anymore. The sparkle is missing. She just looks sickly.” Her voice cracked.
She turned her head to the side, so maybe I couldn’t see her tears.
“Hey, look at me,” I said.
It took a few seconds before she turned to me. I slid closer to her. I took my hand and placed it on her wet cheek slowly wiping it dry.
“I don’t want her to die.” She sobbed. “Oh my God. I can’t believe I just cried to a stranger.”
I wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks. Her eyes were red and swollen now. Her skin was flushed and even in pain she was more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. Our faces were now inches from each other and my heart started to beat fast. I didn’t know why. I had kissed and taken plenty of women to bed, but she made me nervous and cautious. I wanted to protect her, care for her and give her affection at the moment. She was like a wounded bird and I wanted to fix her. I lifted her chin up with my thumb and slowly moved in. My lips softly connected with hers. I felt her hand grip the back up my head. My tongue slid into her mouth and hers into mine. Every ounce of pain she was feeling was thrust up out of her body and into that kiss.
“I can’t do this,” she blurted out and pulled away.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know you like that. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” I back stepped.
“I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I don’t do whatever this is.”
“This? I didn’t know this was a thing yet.”
“Look, James, I have a lot on my mind. I don’t need a guy to come into the picture and distract me.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on right now. It was just a kiss,” I said.
“My mother is top priority. I don’t need a guy like you playing with my head. That’s what guys like you do.”
“Guys like me, huh? I guess you’re an expert. It’s been less than twenty four hours since we met, and you have me all figured out. Congratulations.” I looked down. Why did I feel so offended by what she said? Maybe because I didn’t expect that to come out of her mouth. Last night she told me I was different, now I’m like everybody else. Is she trying to push me away? What’s her angle here?
“I just meant I don’t have time for the games that’s all.”
“I don’t play games, Emily. Maybe if you let yourself get to know me, you would find out I’m not that guy,” I stood up and walked out. I wasn’t mad. How could I be? Why would I be? We weren’t a couple. I barely knew her, yet I felt disappointed.
“James!” Emily yelled.
I was already headed to the living room to throw my shoes on. I still didn’t have a shirt, but I didn’t care. She jogged into the room after me.
“I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant to say is…”
“No. I get it. This is strictly a live in deal we made. I broke the line by kissing you. It won’t happen again.”
“Thank you. We’re still good, right?” she asked.
I sat on her couch feeling a range of emotions, but only choosing to show one. One in which I didn’t even feel, happy. I had to. She was standing there, just staring at me. It was best for me to pretend that nothing bothered me and go about my day. I didn’t need to fuck up my living situation, and I didn’t need to fuck up her head. She said it best herself. She had her mother to focus on.
“Yeah. We’re good. Thank you for breakfast. I have to go see my parole officer today anyways, and then it’s off to work. Maybe he’ll let me start early or give me a double shift.” I pulled my mouth into a smile, or at least I tried to. I hated this. Why was I pretending to feel un-effected? Why was I smiling when I didn’t want to? Why was I feeling this way about a girl I just met? Maybe I’m just beyond horny and need a good lay. That’s it. I need to find a girl at the bar tonight, and get rid of these feelings.
“Let me get you a shirt. My brother left his clothes here. You’re welcome to them all. I have a huge, black, bag in this house somewhere,” she said, as she turned and walked away.
She returned and tossed me a black V-neck shirt. I slid into what felt like a snake skin. The shirt was form fitting, bordering on too tight. I think if I flexed hard enough the T-shirt would just rip at the seams.
“My brother wasn’t as big as you. I mean hard. I mean like he didn’t have muscles in certain places.” She started to blush and then she slapped her hand over her face. “That didn’t come out right at all. I’m going to get ready for work too. Good luck tonight, Mr. King.”
Oh were back on that Mr. King, shit again. I think that kiss just set us back, way back. I saw her eyes when she watched me throw on the T-shirt. I noticed the nervousness in her voice. She likes me. She’s just scared. I think it’s better if we don’t travel down this road at all. Tonight I’m finding a sexy piece of ass and forgetting about Emily. Emily who?
<
br /> Chapter 3. Mixed Messages and Broken Signals.
Patrons were coming in and out of the bar, liquor was pouring and the music was loud. It felt like home. I missed this place. I threw a rag over my shoulder and smiled at the pretty little red head walking my way.
“Hey, cutie,” she said, and smiled back.
“What can I get you, sweetheart?” I replied.
“I’ll take a screaming orgasm.” She pushed her tits up and winked at me. I watched the barbell in the middle of her tongue slide back and forth slowly across her lips.
“One screaming orgasm coming up.” I smiled, and tapped the glass.
She leaned over the bar and placed her hand on top of mine.
“Not the drink.”
“I’m sorry?” I responded. I knew what she said, and furthermore, I knew what she meant by it. I think I just wanted to hear it again.
“I think you’re fine as fuck, so I’m just going to be straight forward and say this. I’m looking to get off tonight, and you look like a good candidate. The question is are you qualified?”
This wasn’t the first time a female customer had offered herself up to me, and it wouldn’t be the last. I smiled and started to mix her the drink. I could feel her eyes burning into me as I did so. I looked up as I slid her the glass.
“Here is your drink, miss.”
“Are you turning me down? Are you gay?” She arched one eyebrow.
“No. I’m not gay. I just don’t sleep with customers.”
“Bullshit. You’re too good looking. I bet you’re as gay as they come.” She smirked.
“I’m one hundred percent straight. Trust me when I say that.”
“Show me then, unless you’re a little bitch and can’t handle me.” She bit her bottom lip.
I tapped my hand down on the bar and looked around. This was exactly what I needed. The girl was sex on a stick. Look at her sitting there with her finger in her mouth. I guarantee this chick has no panties on. She began to basically molest the straw in her glass with her tongue and that made my decision.
“I have a break in five minutes. Meet me out back.” I nodded my head toward the back door.
The Silver Lining Page 4