Savory Deceits (6 page)

“Aww honey,” I put my arm around her. “I know you don't believe that. Just give him some time to get used to you again. You can’t expect him to just pick up where you two left off, as if nothing has ever happened.” I reasoned with her. Then, I stopped to adjudge her reaction. When she appeared to be more receptive, than defensive, I continued. “He probably needs time, Nai.” I said.

“I know he does, but sometimes it’s good to hear those words you know, for reassurance. It breaks my heart that he won't tell me how he feels.” She said, resting her head on the back of the sofa. Then, I thought for a moment, before I spoke again.

              “Maybe he doesn't feel safe with you yet.” I suggested. “Maybe his heart doesn't feel safe with you yet. I know when Tony cheated on me; it took me a while to get over it. I was hurt, and I think Chris still is.” I said, hoping to shed some light on the situation for her. After that, Naima reached for the ice cream again, and resumed her indulgence. We both sat there in silence for a while, sharing the spoon, and the half-melted tub of ice cream.

“So, when's the last time you heard from Tony?” Naima asked me, breaking the silence.

“About a week ago,” I answered.

“How long before he comes back now?” She asked me.

“Six weeks.” I said hopeful.

“Oh, I bet somebody's anxious to see her husband again, huh?” She teased.

“Yeah I am. I just miss being with him.” I said, resting my head against the sofa.

“Ah, I bet that's not the only thing you miss.” Naima said, darting her eyes at me. I picked up a pillow, and hit her with it. Giggling, she caught the pillow between her hands. “What? Am I wrong?” She asked with a chuckle.

“No you're not wrong, but that's none of your business.” I scolded playfully.

“Yeah? Since when?” She asked. We both looked at each other, and then laughed again.

“But seriously though, I think Tony wants to have a baby.” I told my sister.

“Really?” She gasped. I nodded my head. “How do you know?” She asked me.

“Well, he's been dropping less than inconspicuous hints to me about it, in his phone calls, and through his emails. Lately, he has been telling me how much he cannot wait to expand our family. And just the other day, his latest email was filled with suggestions of baby names,” then I stopped, and shook my head, “could he be more obvious?” I thought aloud.

“Can you?” Naima asked.

“What do you mean?” I got defensive.

“Look, don't get me wrong, I understand how you feel about this whole baby thing; how you want to wait and all, but you have to understand where he's coming from sis. You have been married for over four years now. I mean, what are you trying to do, go into retirement before you have children?” She said, rolling her eyes.

“That's not funny Nai!” I scolded with a frown.

“It wasn't supposed to be funny. I just don't see why you still want to wait. The man loves you girl. Why don't you want to have his baby? And do not give me that 'I want to finish school' bullshit, because I am not buying it.

There are many pregnant mothers in school. There has to be some other reason as to why you’re disinclined about it.”

Then, Naima crossed her arms, and waited.

“Look, I’m only twenty-six. I am still young, and I have many goals that I want to accomplish first, before bringing a child into this world. It’s not that I don't want to, I'm just afraid to.” I admitted.

“Why?” She asked. Now, it was my turn to fess up about my feelings.

“I don't know. To tell you the truth, I don't think I ever got over that whole Ashleigh mess. Every time I think about it, I get upset all over again. I guess I don't quite feel secure enough with him yet; at least not enough to have a baby that is. I don't want to bring a child into this world without knowing for sure, whether or not its father and I, are going to be together forever.” I reasoned.

“But sweetie, there's no way you can ever know that. There is no way anybody can ever know something like that. I know he has hurt you, but you cannot keep living in the past honey, because if you do, you will never be happy. You have a good man, and I am not saying he is perfect, but everyone makes mistakes. On the surface, it may show that you have forgiven him, but emotionally, you have not. At least your heart has not anyway. You need to let go of that anger inside you, instead of suppressing it.” Naima preached. When she noticed the tears in my eyes, she continued. “It's been three years since it happened, and the memory is still fresh in your mind. You have to let it go hon.” She said to me. Then, I looked up at her, and shook my head.

“That's just it. I don't know if I can.”

~TONY~

A few of my shipmates, and I, strolled through one of Venice, Italy's largest shopping malls. I surveyed many souvenirs, on display through the windows, that I knew Nena would love. Before entering yet another store, the guys in my group stopped to make catcalls at the Italian girls walking by. This particular mall was full of insanely beautiful, tall and slender women. I, myself, took notice to this one girl, with a butt so big, that it should have been in a museum! The women waved at us, and said ‘
chow,
’ when they walked past.

“Now you know she got a little black in her wit’ all that ass.” I said to my friends, after the women were gone. They all laughed in agreement, slapping fives with one another. I then looked at Miss New
Italian
Booty again, before she disappeared into a store. Going back home, to my wife, could not have gotten here fast enough for me. I had to admit, at first I did not think I could handle being away from Nena for so long. Yet, here I was, now five months into this deployment, and have been doing just fine. Regardless of the things I have done in the past, which caused me to doubt myself, so far I have been a good boy during this whole separation. Contrary to the great deal of unfaithful husbands on my ship, I have not cheated on my wife, since we left the states, and I was proud of myself for that. Now, the countdown has begun. I could not wait to see Nena, and hold her in my arms again.

“Hi there,” someone said from behind me. I spun around to find Alana standing there with that infectious smile of hers. It was hard not to notice how sexy she looked in her skintight navy blue jeans, along with a tight white tank top, that showed off her belly ring. All of a sudden, the guys behind me grew silent, and I knew why. Almost every Sailor on our ship wanted to sleep with her, but I was the one that she pursued. Most of my shipmates often ragged on me about how stupid I was, to ‘pass up an ass like that,’ but I wanted to stay true to my wife.

“So what's up?” She asked, once again interrupting my thoughts.

“My dick!” One of the other sailors interjected. They all burst into laughter with the exception of me, who just smiled. Hopkins was always the comedian of the group.

“Yeah, what's new?” Alana said, shooting him an angry look.

“But I’m saying though. When you gon’ let me hit that?” Hopkins pressed.

“Get a number, wait in line.” Alana replied, rolling her eyes.

“OH!” All the guys shouted in unison, clowning on Hopkins. “Damn! It's like that?” Stone, another sailor asked, eyeing her body.

“Just like that,” She replied, turning her attention back to me. I had to admit, I admired how self-assured she was, in everything that she did. It appealed to my taste on some level. I always did have a weakness for a girl that was not afraid to go after what she wanted, regardless of the odds, stacked against her.

“So, what are you doing tonight?” She asked, flashing me another smile.

“Not you.” I replied, smiling back. Then, all the guys roared in laughter. Although, I liked her confidence, I despised her 'I
know
I am all that' attitude. If I could rate her, based on her attitude alone, she would fail miserably.

“C'mon baby, don't be like that.” Alana said, playfully pouting. I cocked my head to the side impressed. I have never met a girl that was as forward as she was to me, and in a way, it turned me on.

“You must not remember that I have a wife waiting for me at home.” I told her.

“Yeah, and you must be looking to get your ass whooped.” Stone said, still eavesdropping with the rest of them. Once again, they all burst into laughter. Seemingly annoyed by their comments, Alana turned to them with her hands on her hips.

“Don't you bitches have some hoes to go run a train on or something?” She asked disgustedly.

“Of course, why do you think we're still talking to you?” Hopkins threw in again. Now, I had to laugh. I could not hold it in anymore, because Hopkins was a killer, when it came to putting girls like Alana, in their place. He, like me, hated to see a beautiful girl with a bad attitude.

“Fuck you Hop!” She said angrily.

“Get a number, wait in line.” He mocked, with another burst of laughter from the Sailors.

“Look man, let's bounce. I'm hungry.” Mencia said, another sailor in the group, who was doubling over, holding his gut, trying to control his laughter.

“All right dawg, let’s bounce.” Stone said, turning to leave, along with the rest of them.

“Hey, Skye, you coming?” Another sailor in the group called out to me, a short distance away from where I still stood.

“Yeah man, I’ll be right there.” I replied, and then turned back to Alana. I could hear mumbling, and more laughter, coming from the group as they piled onto the escalator, heading up to the food court.

“My bad for messing with you earlier, you know how it is. Them my boys so I had to, you know.” I apologized.

“No, it's okay. I’m not worried about it. So, what's good?” She resumed her flirtatious behavior, and I smiled once again, at her directness.

“You tell me.” I replied, now reciprocating her advances. Straightaway, Alana seemed surprised, by my sudden change of attitude, and flashed those pearly whites again.

“Are you coming on to me, Skye?” She asked, faking astonishment.

“That depends,” I replied, staring at her protruding nipples.

“On what?” She asked, unmistakably enjoying, my newfound attraction to her.

“On how far you plan on taking this little cat and mouse game you got going here.” I answered.

“How far are you willing to go?” She challenged. Then, I reached out, slipping two fingers inside the belt buckle of her jeans, and tugged on it, pulling her to me.

“Is this far enough?” I asked, my face inches away from hers.

“Not quite.” She replied, and then kissed me. Her mouth tasted as sweet as candy, as I explored her tongue. She smelled of strawberries and cream, and that turned me on even more. As her tongue moved in my mouth with such urgency, I felt my dick grow hard. When she pressed her body against mine, I abruptly stopped. What am I doing? I thought to myself. Before I could think anything further, she reached into her back pocket, and slipped a small electronic card in the front pocket, of my button up shirt. When I looked in my pocket, I saw that it was a hotel room key.

“Come see me later.” She said, turning to leave. I stood there, and watched the way the two cantaloupes she calls butt cheeks, bounced from side to side beneath her Apple Bottom jeans, as she walked away. I knew I was playing with fire, but there was something about Alana, that I just could not resist.

6

~NENA~

“Hey Chris, what brings you by?” I said, stepping aside to let him in.

“Nothing really. I just wanted to check up on you, and see how you were doing.” He came inside, went straight to my fridge, and grabbed a soda.

“Is that all?” I questioned with a touch of sarcasm. I figured he was here because of my sister, but I wanted to give him the chance, to admit to that. Chris then took a seat on my sofa, popped the can open, and took a long swig.

“I take it there’s a shortage of carbonated beverages, over there on your side of town?” I joked, and he laughed, almost spewing the liquid out of his mouth. Joining in his amusement, I sat down next to him. Whatever his deal with Naima is, I was prepared to play therapist to them both. I could not have those two falling apart, just weeks before Tony came back, because I was looking forward to plenty of double dates, and game nights with them. It has been a while since all four of us hung out together, and I missed how much fun we used to have.

“I also wanted to talk.” He said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Oh? This sounds serious.” I said, curling my legs up under me, facing him.

“Something like that,” he replied. “The thing is, I still got love for Nai you know, and I don’t think I ever stopped loving her, but…” he stopped for a moment.

“But you can’t seem to get those words out, right?” I asked, finishing his sentence for him.

“Yeah. I guess she talked to you about it too then, huh?” He asked rhetorically.

“Yes, and she's really hurt by it, because she loves you Chris. And I know you love her too, but why can’t you tell her that?” I asked him.