Leaving Eden

by Kelly A Walker et al.

  Eli lets out a humorless laugh beside me. “Oh, we know you’re different, alright. We just can’t figure out the why of it.”

  “My name is Lusa Morningstar.” I sit back and let that sink in, hoping the name will ring a bell for them. It doesn't. Damn it. “I’m guessing the last name does nothing for you?”

  Crickets.

  This is going to be harder than I thought. Mom always told me it’s better to just rip the band-aid off and tell it like it is. No sugar coating for her. Taking her advice, I spill everything. “My parents are Adam and Eve Morningstar. I was born as one of the Seven Sins. I’m Lust. Call it a gift, call it a curse, it doesn't matter. My life has never been easy. From the time I hit puberty, every guy and girl alike have had feelings for me. Feelings that they couldn’t explain. I can’t have any girlfriends because sooner or later they get boyfriends then blame me when the guys try to hit on me. My only frirnd is Rupert, who is gay and very secure in his sexuality. He still lusts after me, but he knows my history and it’s never been an issue.”

  “Wait,” Gabe holds up his hand. “We said we felt a pull, but never lust. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re beautiful, but it wasn’t like that. It was deep, like a longing. Like we’d known you all our lives.”

  Taking a deep breath I finish my story. “Until I meet the man, or men,” I say under my breath, “that is my true soulmate, this won’t stop. Once I meet him, then the curse or gift, will cease. No one will lust after me again.”

  “How do you know when you’ve met him?” Zac asks with a calculated look on his face.

  And, here’s where the story gets tricky. “He, they, whoever, won’t lust after me. It will instead feel like a yearning to be near each other. Almost like a feeling of coming home. Our souls will know one another and once we’re bonded, we will never want anyone else. Nor will anyone else want me.”

  I sit back and take a sip of water they had sitting at the table for me. I wait for them to put it together. Hoping I don’t have to spell this out for them.

  “You’re trying to tell us,” Gabe flings his hand out to the other two, “that we, the three of us are your true soul mates?”

  I silently nod my head and wait for one, or all of them to laugh at me or throw me out. I won't be surprised by either gesture.

  “Lusa?”

  I look over and up to Eli. “Yes.” My voice cracks under the stress of the situation.

  “I honestly don’t know what to believe right now. I won’t deny that we feel something, but being one of the seven sins? You know how ridiculous this sounds, right?”

  “Oh trust me, I know exactly how crazy it sounds. But it’s true, Eli. I’ve lived my entire life knowing this. I never thought I would meet him, that I would have to continue through life alone with no one besides my family and Rupert. Imagine my surprise when I ended up here of all places and found not only my true mate, but three of them.”

  “Jesus.” Gabe’s eyes widen and he looks around frantically. “Did he just hear me say his name? Christ. I mean, hell. I don’t know what I mean anymore.” He lifts both hands to his head and pulls at his hair. “I’m just a little shocked is all.”

  “It’s okay, Gabe,” I tell him. “Jesus isn’t here and isn’t coming here. At least not that I know of. I’m from the other side of the tracks, if you know what I mean. My parents didn’t have last names and after they were thrown out of the garden and God’s graces, Lucifer took them in, gave them his last name and blessed them with one of the sins. Me.”

  “Holy shit,” Zac blows out. “You’re telling us the truth, aren’t you?”

  I nod my head, confirming his thoughts. “I’m sorry,” I tell each of them. “I know this is a lot to take in and I understand if it’s too much for you. Not only am I telling you who and what I am, I’m telling all three of you that you are destined to be mine. I know what it’s like to have no free will over this and I hate it. I would never force any of you into this. You can walk away and never have to see me again. I promise no ill feelings or anything happening to you because of it.”

  “This is a lot to take in, Lusa,” Eli says. “I have your number. Would it be alright if we called you later? After the three of us have had time to talk and digest everything you’ve told us today?”

  “Of course,” I readily agree. “I can’t imagine what’s going through your heads right now.”

  Eli stands and lets me out of the booth. I start to walk away but stop before I make it to the door. Turning back, I look at the three of them, memorizing each of their faces in case I never see them again. “I really am sorry for this.” I turn and flee, never stopping until I get back to the safety of my own apartment.

  Once inside, I slink to the kitchen and grab an apple, taking a giant bite out of it. After today I deserve a little rebellious streak. As soon as I begin to chew my phone rings, causing me to jump and throw the apple across the room like it’s a live grenade. I reach into my pocket and pull it out, seeing my mother’s picture across the screen.

  “Hello, mom,” I greet her.

  “What’s wrong?” I swear that woman has a crazy sixth sense when it comes to her kids.

  “I met them,” I tell her.

  “Met who? Who is them?”

  “I met my true soulmates, momma. There isn’t one. There is three of them,” I wail into the phone.

  “Oh, Lusa! This is the happiest day of your life. Why all the tears and sadness?”

  “Did you hear me? I said there were three! I never thought I’d meet one and now I have three and I'm sure they think I’m nuts and should be locked up in a padded cell somewhere.”

  “Did you explain everything to them? What being with you would mean for them? They had to feel it, baby.”

  I take a shuddering breath and tell her about meeting them last night. How Eli gave me his number and meeting with him, Gabe, and Zac today. “I don’t know if they’ll call me back, mom. What if they think it’s too much. I mean, it’s three of them and just one of me. How would that even work?”

  “I imagine it would work out divinely,” she chuckles.

  “Mom! Don’t be gross,” I snap at her.

  “Lusa! Don’t be a prude,” she snaps back at me.

  Rolling my eyes I count to ten before speaking again. “It’s a lot to take on, mom. I’m asking them to give up their free will in finding their own person to spend their life with and choosing me.”

  I hear her huff into the phone and I know she’s about to get all motherly on me. “You are amazing, Lusa. A hundred different women couldn’t make up one of you. They should be honored that they were chosen for you. I don’t think I like these men. Maybe you are better off without them. Sounds to me like a bunch of idiots that wouldn’t know the best thing for them if they were hit in the head with it.”

  “Mom,” I groan. “It’s fine. I know it’s a lot for them to take in. let’s not cut them out of the will jsut yet.”

  “What do you know about our will? Has your brother been going through your father’s desk again. I swear that kid is one nosey ass. I should make a new one and not add him to it just for spite.”

  I can’t help the laugh that burst through my mouth. She may be a diva and a bit ornery, but my mom is the best. “Love you, mom.”

  “I love you too, Lusa. Now, call me after you hear from them. I need to know what night to have them over for dinner. I’ll make our favorite.”

  She means she’ll order my favorite. My mom does not cook. Not ever. I think once when I was sick she made toast and burned it. We’ve always been a family of takeout.

  “I promise to call once I hear from them,” I tell her.

  “Perfect. I’ll talk to you soon then.”

  I sigh and hang up the phone. I hope I call her soon, but my gut tells me it won’t be the happy ending we both hope it will be.

  7

  GABE

  “Do we believe her? I mean, I know we feel something towards her, but soulmates? That’s something out of on
e of those romantic books my mom used to read. You know the ones with the half naked guy on the cover. This isn’t a book, man. This is real freaking life.” I throw my hands up in the air. “I just don’t know about this.”

  “How else do you explain it?” Eli asks. He’s always been our voice of reason, the real leader of our little group. “I don’t think she’s lying, Gabe. Do you?”

  I blow out a raspberry and shake my head. “No. Unfortunately I don’t think she’s lying either.”

  “How would this work?” Zac finally speaks up. “If the three of us are her solmates, how would we do it? There’s three of us and only one of her.”

  I look at Zac and slowly blink my eyes. “Really? That’s your only concern? How we’re supposed to share her in bed?”

  “What? It’s a valid question. I love you both like my brothers, but I don’t want to cross swords, man. I don’t think I’m in to that.”

  “Zac,” Eli moans his name.

  “Fine!” He yells out. “I really don’t give a shit about crossing swords. I just don’t know about this. I don't want to sound like a wuss, but I being in a relationship I have to share? It doesn't seem right. Like, how would we do this? Do we share everything? A house? Kids? I don’t know!”

  “Calm down, Zac,” I tell him. You’re getting way ahead of this. First we have to decide if we actually believe her and if we even want to think about doing this. Seriously though,” I run my fist over my chest where my heart is, “since she left I feel empty. Like a piece of me is missing.”

  “Same,” Eli grunts out. “Last night was bad enough when I couldn’t stop seeing her face in my dreams. But now that we’ve sat down with her and spent time together? The second she left it was as if a piece of me went with her. I don’t know if I can deal with that. Will the feeling always be there? Will we ever be able to go anywhere alone again where we don’t want to run right back to her? I want to be married one day, start a family, but I don’t want to feel like I can’t take a piss without her standing over me or I’ll cry like a toddler.”

  “I don’t know, but I feel the same way. She said something about bonding. Maybe once that happens we’ll feel like ourselves again?” I say to them.

  “You two are seriously considering this?” Zac scoffs. “This is nuts. She should be in a padded room and the two of you right beside her.”

  Eli stands and leans down, getting into Zac’s face. “Are you honestly telling us that you feel nothing?”

  Zac throws his head back and groans. “No. Damn it. I feel it too, alright. It’s like there's a damn hole in my chest since she left and I can’t freaking breathe. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

  Eli stands up straight, running his hand over his face. “What should we do then?”

  “That’s the million dollar question, my friend.”

  8

  LUSA

  “It’s been two days, Rupert,” I tell my best friend over the phone. “I don’t think they’ll be calling me back.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” he tells me. “It was a lot for them to digest. Give them some time and I bet you’ll have them knocking on your door before you know it.”

  “I don’t think…”

  A knock on my door stops me from finishing me sentence.

  “Lusa? What’s wrong? What happened?”

  “Rupert,” I whisper into the phone. “Someone just knocked on my door.”

  “Shut up! Who is it? Is it them? I’ll bet it’s them.”

  As quietly as I can, I tiptoe to my front door and look through the peephole. I gasp and spin on my heels, bending over to catch my breath. “It’s them,” I whisper yell at Rupert. “What do I do?”

  “You answer the door,” a voice calls out from the other side of my front door. “Lusa, it’s us. Please open the door.”

  “Shit,” I shake my head. “Rupert? I’ll call you back in a little while.”

  I push the red button to end my call, take a deep breath then spin to face the front door. “You can do this, Lusa,” I say to myself. “Just open the door and listen to whatever they have to say. It may not be as bad as you think.”

  I place my shaking hand on the doorknob and slowly turn it. “Hey,” I say weakly once I have the door pulled open. “Please, come in.”

  Eli, followed by Zac then Gabe walk into my apartment and it instantly feels much smaller.

  “Can I get you guys something to drink?”

  “No,” Gabe says, turning to look me over. “Can we maybe just sit down?”

  I nod and lead them over to the heather grey couch in my living room. The three of them take a seat and I fall into my favorite, brown, leather, oversized chair. It practically swallows me up, but it’s so comfortable.

  “Lusa,” Eli calls my name. “We’ve done some thinking, and we wanted to come by and talk to you.”

  “Wait,” I hold my hand up. “How did you even know where I lived?”

  “Well,” Gabe smiles at me. “We may have received a flower arrangement this morning from Eve Morningstar that told us to get the stick out of our asses and what your address was.”

  I’m going to kill her.

  “I’m so sorry, guys. My mother can be a handful sometimes. I promise, I’ll tell her to back off and leave you alone. You won’t hear another word from her.”

  “No, it’s okay. We were actually going to call you today so it made it easier on us,” Gabe chuckles. “Probably better actually since we were going to meet back at the bar. This feels better.”

  I sit up in my chair a little straighter. I’ve already decided to listen to what they have to say, accept my fate, and move on. There isn’t anything else for me to do.

  “Why do you look like that?”

  My eyes find Zac’s and I shake my head. “Look like what?” I tilt my head down, making sure there isn’t food all over me then run my hand over my face. “Do I have something on me?”

  “No,” he eyes me. “You looked like someone just stole your dog or something. It was sad and pitiful.”

  “Oh. I was just, umm, well, getting ready to hear what you have to tell me.”

  “You expecting us to say something that bad?” He asks me. “We don’t want to hurt you, Lusa.”

  “I believe you,” I whisper.

  “We want to try this,” Eli breaks in. “We can’t seem to stop thinking about you, about us. Nothing is working. It feels like a part of us is missing and it isn’t right.”

  “I’m so sorry. Maybe if I leave, after time the feelings will go away.”

  “We don’t want them to go away,” Gage inists. “We want to explore this with you, see where it goes.”

  “Are you sure?” I try not to let my excitement show too much. I don’t want to scare them off before they meet my parents. If they don’t run after that, then nothing could break us.

  “We’re absolutely sure,” Zac winks at me and I feel my heartbeat speed up. “Are you sure you still want to take on all three of us?”

  I finally allow myself to smile. “I am so sure.”

  9

  ZAC

  “So,” I look around the living room, noticing the smiling faces of my two best friends and the woman we’ve essentially just pledged our lives to, “exactly how do we go about bonding ourselves to you?” What? The other two were thinking it, they just didn’t want to be the first ones to ask.

  “Well, it’s nothing weird. No blood or voodoo,” Lusa laughs and I can’t help but be pulled further down. There’s just something about her. When she smiles at me, it’s as if my insides are being lit up like a damn Christmas tree. “If this is really what you want, then bonding is simple really.” Her cheeks turn a bright red and I have a feeling where this is going.

  “What do we need to do?” Eli asks her. The amusement in his eyes tells me he’s thinking along the same line as me.

  “We have sex.”

  “I’m sorry, but did you say sex?” I ask, just to clarify. She spoke so softly I almost missed it.r />
  “Yes,” she whispers. Clearing her throat, she pushes her shoulders back and sits up in that massive chair a little straighter. “We have sex and then it will be complete.”

  “Lusa, is there something else you need to tell us?” Gabe looks at me with his brow raised. I shrug my shoulders. Sex isn’t something any of us aren’t used to. Before she showed up a few days ago, it wasn’t unheard of for one or all three of us to bring someone back home. Not that we’ve ever shared, but waking up to a strange face, well it isn’t like we all haven’t done it.

  “I’m, well, you see,” she takes a deep breath before rushing out. “I’m a virgin.”

  “Say that again,” I croak out.

  “I was saving myself for my true soulmate.” Lusa shrugs her shoulders like she didn’t just drop a bomb on us. It’s one thing to be with a virgin, but she’s about to take on three of us. At once.

  Have mercy.

  The tension in the room just upped and I can’t continue to allow her to feel bad about her choices. Honestly, I want to puff out my chest and beat on it like a caveman. “We can’t allow that, now can we?”

  “No,” Gabe chuckles. “We certainly can’t.”

  Lusa’s mouth opens and forms the perfect O shape. “Well, I mean, okay.”

  “Lusa,” Eli purrs at her. “Show us your bedroom.”

  She stands and nods her head. “It’s down the hall.”

  The three of us look at each other then stand and follow her. I can’t help but follow the sway of her hips with my eyes. She’s a beautiful woman, but it’s the tenderness and innocence that has me panting like a fool right now.

  We enter her bedroom and I take note of the emptiness in here. Against one wall is a queen size bed, made with a simple yellow comforter. No girly pillows, just two incassed in pillowcases for her to lay her head on. Against the opposite wall is a tall dresser and nothing else. This woman is simple and I;m even more intrigued.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Gabe asks her.

  “Absolutely,” she exhales.