by Pua Ramona
I look at her and feel a part of me relax a little. “It’s not that Emma’s a secret, I just don’t want anyone to say anything about her you know?”
Leila gets up and hands me a blueberry muffin. “I know what you mean about people not knowing how to mind their own business. Reese and I had our own share of gossip and drama girl. I’m just glad that shit is over with” she says.
“Reese? You mean Reese Williams? I remember him” I smile at Leila. “Reese was in every class of mine, he even shared his history notes with me when I forgot mine in my locker. How is he?” I ask.
Leila smiles and tells me “He’s doing amazing, and he’s engaged as well.” Her eyes are assessing, watching my reaction to her words.
I feel like I'm missing something as I question, “Engaged? Aww that’s awesome. To who?” And then the missing piece slots itself into place as she flies to my side and flashes the most beautiful, twisted halo diamond flower white gold engagement ring.
“He proposed to me last year on my birthday,” she says with such a beautiful look on her face.
I get up and hug her “Oh my goodness. Congratulations, Leila. Your ring is gorgeous. Have you set a wedding date yet?” I ask.
“Yes, we’ll be tying the knot this December, it’s going to be an evening ceremony so I am excited” she says with a squeal.
I stand there holding her hand, still looking at her ring and hug her again. “I am so happy for you Leila.”
She looks at me with teary eyes and says laughing, “Thank you, Sina. I feel like we should be besties now.”
I let out a little giggle at her silly comment, but deep down I wished she were being serious, Lord knows I need a friend or two. Leila goes back to her computer and starts filling out a form to order the book I was after. I don't realize that she owns this place until I see a picture of her cutting the ribbon on her opening day with Reese looking so in love with her sitting on her desk. “Leila, I had no idea that you owned this beautiful place!” I say in a surprised tone.
She looks up at me from her screen and says “Yup, all mine and I’m glad that you chose my spot over Barnes & Nobles. I would have been upset if you hadn’t”, she laughs. It takes Leila less than ten minutes to send my book order out so she asks me to have coffee with her so we can catch up together. We walk back to the front of the store and she finds us a spot in the back by all the books. I don’t know, but there’s something about books that makes me feel safe. The same girl I spoke to earlier, Tammy I think ,comes to our table to drop off our coffees, muffins and a couple of cupcakes.
I take a bite of my chocolate cupcake with coffee cream cheese frosting and oh my freaking goodness it just melts in my mouth “Mmm” I cant keep the sounds in, this cupcake is the SHIT.
Leila laughs, “Good huh? My favorite is the mocha cupcake with the espresso buttercream frosting. It’s to die for.”
I take another big bite of my cupcake and say “Please kiss the baker for me” she cackles and says “Well pucker up ‘cause here she is” and pouts her lips making a kissy face at me. As we both laugh until there are tears in our eyes, I realize that I can’t remember the last time I’ve sat with someone who wasn’t my sister and just laughed. It feels so damn good to just let loose. I eat my second cupcake and sink into my seat “Girl, I might have to get me a dozen of these to go, because I’ll need a snack for when I’m reading” I say winking at her.
“I was going to grab you some to go anyway, wait here while I box them for you. I’m going to grab a couple for Emma as well, what does she like?” And I know there and then that Leila is going to be a good friend.
I look at her and smile “Her favorite is double chocolate with chocolate icing and sprinkles.”
Over her shoulder she yells, “Coming right out babe” with a wink and heads towards the counter.
I lean back on my seat and take my first real breath. I wish I had known Leila back in high school. She’s the exact kind of best friend that every girl longs for. I was lost in my thoughts again, when I heard a familiar voice “Hi Sina, It’s been a long time”
I look up and everything around me feels like it was closing in. I rise from my chair with my hands on my chest “Michael?” I whisper trying to breathe.
He walks closer to me and he says “Why did you leave me Sina? You just left and didn’t say anything. Why? Did you not love me?” Is this asshole serious?
I look at him shaking my head “I’m not doing this with you”, and I start walking toward the door.
“Sina, wait I got your cupcakes” Leila calls from the counter.
“It’s okay I’ll come back for some later. Thank you Leila” I say as I reach for the door handle.
I hear Michael behind me saying “No Sina, you and I need to talk. I have been looking for you for the past eight damn years, you owe me this conversation.”
I can’t believe the shit I’m hearing from him and then I feel him grab my arm. Oh hell no. “Get your hands off me right now” I growl at him.
I see Leila walk in front of me and she says “Keep your hands to yourself jerkoff” going from polite store owner to fierce friend in a split second.
Michael puts his hands up backing away from me “I just need to talk to her Lei, stay out of it” he says looking hurt.
Leila looks at me and she asks “Do you want to talk to him, or would rather not Sina?”
I stand there trying to hold my tears in. Leila and I have never hung out or had any type of friendship before, but I have never been more grateful to have her with me right now. I place my hand on her shoulder and say “It’s okay Leila, I’ll be fine.”
She looks at me as she hands me the bag of cupcakes “Okay girl, I put my number in there so call or text me if you want to hangout, or if you want some more cupcakes, alright?”
“Thanks, Leila.” I smile as I give her a hug.
“Anytime bestie,” she winks before I walk out the door to my car.
I try to walk fast, but damn it I know I’m not going fast enough because Michael is walking next to me. What can I say? I have short legs, and I get it from my mother. I reach for the keys in my purse but Michael stops me by blocking my door. “Eight fucking years Sina, we were supposed to get married. We had our future planned out, but you left me without explaining why” he says.
I can feel myself getting upset, my breathing becoming uneven and short sharp pants coming in and out of my lungs make me feel lightheaded. I step away from him and say “Get out of my way Michael, I mean it.”
He ignores me and steps closer saying, “No, we are going to have this conversation whether you like or not Sina. Just tell me why you ran off like a coward?”
I drop my cupcakes and my hand flies right across his face, I can’t stop my tears from falling so I didn’t bother trying to hold them in anymore.
I push him away from me, hitting him with my small fists against his chest. I’m pretty much incoherent but I keep yelling “You fucking cheated on me Michael. You stepped out on me, I didn’t do ANYTHING to you. You lied to me, you stopped seeing me Michael”
He stands there taking it all in and says “Sina, I loved you. You left me.”
The more he opens his mouth, the more my tears keep falling, “No you didn’t love me enough to stay faithful to me Michael” I cried at him.
He looks at me and yells, “I never fucking cheated on you. You just up and left me, Sina!”
I step closer to him, absolutely furious that I left everything and everyone behind because of this piece of shit, and seethe quietly “No Michael, you were in love with my best friend. You fell out of love with me when you chose Becca over me.” How dare he claim his innocence when I saw his infidelity with my own eyes, in our own bed.
I try walking away from him but he grabs my wrist and whispers “Please, Sina.”
I look at him and ask “Do you remember the day I had a doctor’s appointment, Michael? The same day you had Becca in our bed?” My heart breaks all over again. He can’t look
me in my eyes so I step closer again. “Do you remember, Michael?” I cry hysterically.
He looks at me with tears running down his face.
My knees give out on me and I fall to the ground resigned to telling my side of the story. “I came home as soon as I could because I was so happy Michael. When I got home, I saw that Becca’s car was in my spot so I was excited because I figured I would share my news with the two people who I trusted and loved with my whole heart.” I look up at Michael and I see nothing but a man who knows right there how broken I am because of what he did. “I didn’t see either of you anywhere, but I walked past our bedroom and I saw you making love to Becca. It’s the same day I heard you tell her that you were in love with her. I died that day Michael. Everything I loved about you died.”
He steps closer but I hold out a hand to stop him from touching me.
“Please Sina” He cries, “Please let me hold you. I am so, so sorry. Let me explain, it's not what you think. I -”
“No.” I spit at him, shaking my head. I look him in the eye and I break a little more because those eyes belong to my Emma. “That’s the same day I found out I was pregnant Michael” I cry as I close my eyes and look away.
I can’t see his reaction but I feel someone’s arms around me and I hear a voice say “Mike, I think you need to leave man. I know it’s none of my business, but Sina needs some time to herself.” I pull away a little to see who this person is, and realize it’s Reese. He must be here to see Leila.
Michael drops next to me and says “Sina, I am so sorry. So damn sorry.”
I hug myself closer to Reese and I break, I didn’t think hearing Michael apologize would break my heart all over again, but it does. I don’t want him to show remorse. I don't want to see his tears. His guilt should eat away at him, not me. I hold on to Reese and I sob.
“Go Mike. I’ll make sure she gets home okay, but you need to leave she needs her space right now man” Reese tells him.
“I’m still in love with you Sina,” I hear Michael whisper in my ear and I tense as a fresh wave of anger and grief crashes over me.
Reese holds me tighter and tells Michael one last time, “Go, Mike, you’re just hurting her more, man.”
I sense Michael moving away from me, but before he leaves I hear him say, “I’ll wait for you Sina, when you’re ready to talk to me, you know where I’ll be.” That was the last thing I heard before I passed out.
Chapter Four
Eli
It was close to lunch time when Reese finally showed up to work. I was on the phone with one of our clients when he walked in looking like something heavy was on his mind. I watched him go through his usual routine, he checks his emails, checks his voicemails, then he grabs his clipboard and walks out. Before I could say something to him he looked at me with a shake of his head and slammed the door. What the fuck? Just as I was hanging up with our client, I hear Becca say something to Reese and I hear Reese say, “Fuck you, Becca.” I don’t know what the fuck was wrong with Reese but I was going to find out because he was starting to piss me off. I get that he’s never had a soft spot for Becca but that doesn’t give him the right to treat her like shit.
Becca walks in, closes the door and I hear her lock the door “What are you doing here Becca?” I asked her.
She turns around then she walks toward my desk. “I thought I’d stop by so you can have lunch,” she says. She pushes my papers to the side and she sits on my desk with her legs spread.
I feel my dick getting hard but I tell her, “I can’t fuck you right now Becca, now get off my desk.”
She gives me her best Becca pout and she drops to her knees. “If you can’t fuck me then I can make you feel good baby” she says. She moves her hand to my belt then she unzips my pants. “I knew you wanted me baby” she moans. She grabs my dick out of my boxers and she starts licking the head. If she wants to suck my dick, who am I to say no? I lean back and she starts going in on my dick.
I grab her hair and I start to fuck her mouth, “Fuck yeah babe, deep throat my dick. Fuck!”
“You like that baby?” she asks.
“Yes, suck my dick harder Becca” I growl. I can’t stop watching her, she's every guy’s Porno Fantasy wrapped up in a tight body and smart mouth. I hear her gag and start to choke but it doesn’t stop me from fucking the shit out of her throat and keeping her from fucking talking. Right when I’m about to come in Becca’s mouth I hear the door open and Lei walks in with what I assume is our lunch.
“What the fuck?” she yells! I try pushing Becca off me but she doesn’t move, so I bust in her mouth right in front of Lei who just looks at me with something that looks like disgust and disappointment, then she walks out slamming the door.
“Fuck” I snap. “Why didn’t you stop Becca? You knew someone was coming in”
“I wanted to make sure you came before I stopped, baby. It’s not my fault that Leila walked in and your dick happened to be in my mouth” she says smiling. I stood up and zipped my pants up.
“You need to leave Becca.”
She gets up righting her dress then she walks up to me and kisses me on the cheek “I’ll see you at home” she says with a wink. Did she just refer to my place as her home? Shit! I really need to cut her loose. I stand there running my hands through my hair. I’m pretty sure the golden couple will have a lot to say but they’re going to have to wait. After getting my dick sucked and coming hard, I needed some energy so lunch it was.
I walked out of the office and didn’t see Reese or Lei anywhere. “Hey, Thomas, have you seen Reese?” I asked.
He looks at me and says, “He said to tell you that he’s taking the rest of the day off.”
What the fuck? Okay, now I’m irritated and pissed. I walk back to the office, grab my phone and call his number. Great, the motherfucker sent my calls to voicemail. I don’t know what the fuck happened between this morning and right now but something happened because Reese never leaves without fucking telling me. I go to put my phone in my pocket but it starts to vibrate, it’s a text from Reese…
Reese: We’re heading to the hospital so I’ll be out for the rest of the day.
Me: Is everything okay? Which hospital?
Reese: Don’t worry about it, I’ll talk to you later.
Me: Are you serious?
That was six hours ago. I haven’t heard anything from Reese or Lei, no updates, nothing. They’ve never kept me out of the loop before, and knowing that they kept me out of this one hurts like hell. I tried calling both their phones and nothing. All I got was their voicemail, I tried again several more times then I gave up. My phone rang and it was Becca, I ignored it but she kept calling me. She’s probably wondering why I haven’t been home yet, she had sent me a few text messages here and there but I told her I was busy. I got off work and went straight to “The Hut” , a bar that belongs to one of the Peterson brothers. I make eye contact with the bartender and she knows that I’m ready for another refill. “Take it easy, tough guy” she says.
I looked at her and smiled, she was wearing a cute island print top with fitted jeans, her hair was brownish pretty long, light brown skin, brown eyes, and she was a pretty girl. “This is my last shot, thanks” I said, winking at her. She rolls her eyes a little before she attends to a couple of college guys who apparently know her because I hear one of them calling her sis.
I’m getting ready to pay my tab when Becca appears and grabs my wrist, digging her nails into my skin “I’ve been calling you for hours’ babe” she says with a smile that was anything but nice.
I pull my wrist out of her grip and say “Becca, you’re not my girlfriend, we just fuck.”
She takes a step back and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. She moves back in and says, “Come on babe, let’s go home.”
I lean into her and say, “You should go home Becca, and when I say home I mean your place not mine.”
She stands there with eyes so big and says “Go fuck yourself Eli.”
> Before she storms out I snag her by her wrist and say “I want my house keys Becca.”
She digs in her big ass bag and slams them on the bar. “Fuck you Eli, you will never have this pussy again. Asshole” And she stomps out the door.
I look toward the pretty bartender with a nod and she comes back with a double shot and says “I’m so glad you sent that hoe home ‘cause Daniel would’ve chewed her ass out and threw your ass out along with her.”
I shake my head and say “I don’t know why everyone hates Becca, she’s not a bad person.” I try to convince myself that she’s a good person. Because if she really is as bad as everyone thinks she is, then fuck knows what they must think of me for having her in my bed more often than not. Before she gets to answer me I hear someone call her name, “Mona.”
She looks behind her and I see a big ass Samoan guy walk up to her, he brushes the loose hair out of her face and he kisses her. “Hey babe, ua mai? Is everything okay with Sina?” Mona asks the big guy who I now know is her husband because they’re both wearing wedding bands. Shit, I’m glad I didn’t hit on Mona, I probably would have gotten my ass beat, but I’d go down fighting.
I take my shot and sit there waiting to hear what the big guy says about his sister. As I sit here, I feel my heart beat faster in my chest because here I am being pissed off at my two best friends, and my girl…. wait, she isn’t my girl. Fuck, I need another shot.
I clear my throat and Daniel sees me then walks toward me “Sup uso, Watchu drinkin’?” he asked.
I look at him and say, “Whatever your wife has been giving me man.”
He shakes his head and chuckles “Aight, JD it is my dude” he reaches and grabs another shot glass and fills it up. “To family, happiness, and true love. Manuia,” he says. I tap my shot glass to him and I throw the shit back
I give Daniel a head nod and say, “Thanks man.”
He says “Nah, I gotchu.”
I look at him and say, “It’s no problem man”
He shakes his head and tells me, “Put your money away.”