TREINTA Y UNO
2337 Words
For some ungodly reason, the universe continues to put obstacles in my way when it comes to Harmoney. She and Mom were in that room for over an hour. Allie knew I’d try to eavesdrop. That’s why she dragged me away to mingle. Considering the number of people at the party, it came as a shock when Mom kicked us out to be alone with Harmoney. Unless you know Mom, it’s best to watch your words. The longer I left Harmoney with her, the more antsy I became.
When I decided to end their time, it was obvious something had gone awry. I asked. Even if I had strapped them to a chair and started pulling teeth, neither of them would’ve divulged a thing. As I drove through the city, music softly playing my favorite oldies, Harmoney and I exchanged a few words. Looking on the brighter side, my family now knows we live across the hall from one another. I could stop ducking and weaving to avoid run-ins.
Can I talk about the way Harmoney looked? The red dress is exquisite. She fit right in with the crowd. Truthfully, I am overjoyed she agreed to accompany me. Showing her off, even if it wasn’t the way I wanted to introduce her, I consider it to be a preintroduction of what is to come. If it were Carma accompanying me, my parents' penthouse would've emptied faster than if Pepe LePew had burst in looking for Penelope Pussycat. I almost slipped up on purpose when introducing Harmoney to certain people. If I had called her my girlfriend, there’s no doubt in my mind the crowd would’ve congratulated me for moving up in the world of women.
Home at last, we shared the elevator in silence. I walked her to the door. She faced me. Maybe the night overwhelmed her. Or the fun was over, and she’d decided to be done with me. I didn’t want the night to end. Like all good things, it had to. Planting a gentle kiss on her cheek, I said goodnight, and walked myself home.
Just as I slid the key into the deadbolt, “Alixxander?”
Inhaling deep hurt my chest. Nah. I was expecting an upset from her. I answered softly, “Ya?”
“Do you love me?” Damn it, Mom.
Tilting my head to the ceiling, I wanted to know how she could do that to me? Forget I asked. I knew. Interfering is Mom’s specialty. Though she likes to call it opening doors. I turned to see Harmoney leaned against the wall, hands crossed in front of her gripping the black purse. Gliding my way to her side of the hall, I figured full honesty is what’s best for us if we are going to commit.
“You have no idea how much you mean to me. Cupid struck me with his arrow the first time we kissed.”
“A little early on, don't you think?”
“I'd like to believe it was kismet.”
“Kismet?”
“Fate. Destiny. Written in the stars.”
“I know the definition. Isn’t that how you once felt about your wife?” No. Never. Not once.
Do you see how Carma drives a wedge between people? I’m ready to give her half of everything if she agrees to sign the divorce papers. If it wasn’t for Harmoney being authentic, my perspective on women would have remained the same. Appreciating a woman who didn’t have a shallow or conceited bone in her body was a foreign concept to me. Feelings I’d kept to myself for so long at long last are being expressed to the amazing woman who is owed all the credit for creating them in the first place. It was all I could do to calm the giddy roiling in my gut, otherwise known as butterflies. It took far too many months to get to this significant moment. Now that we were in it, the incessant buzzing from her purse disrupted the romanticism of the moment.
“Sorry. Give me a sec.” I unlocked my apartment and threw my suit jacket over the couch. “Arianna, you made it clear. It’s over. Yes, we have a lot in common. Listen, I am not going to deal with wild accusations. You made it crystal clear. I’d love to know how my loss adversely affected you. A loss which I should've kept to myself.” Outing herself is because of me. “My baby's father has nothing to do with us. In fact, he was all for me moving on. He suggested I tell you.” That's not how I remember the conversation going. “You’re right. It’s my fault for assuming you had a sliver of compassion. Anyone that doesn't trust me doesn't deserve to take up any more of my time. Goodbye, Arianna.”
Had I not made Harmoney feel as if she were making me her dirty little secret, she and Arianna wouldn’t be fighting right now. The fact is, I treated her worse than a soiled dove. If Harmoney had not miscarried, of course she would have to explain her expanding belly. I doubt Arianna believes in immaculate conception. That chick accused her of cheating because Harmoney told her about our exploit tonight. I didn’t ask why she told her. It didn’t matter. Our paths are forever entwined. As long as one helps the other when we fall behind, it will all work out for the best.
“If I asked you to come in, would you hesitate?”
I watched from the hall as Harmoney kicked off her shoes and threw her purse on the sofa before disappearing. By the time I made it to her bedroom, she had enough time to strip and pose herself on the bed. Kicking my shoes off knocked the wrapper out from under the bed. FCK. As a responsible man, I keep a box handy. Good thing I didn't have to go far. I ran across the hall, naked as a jaybird, and grabbed the entire box. Think about it. It is pointless to grab one if there is a chance we'll be at it all night.
The steamy details of our love sesh are going to remain in my mind only this time. I will tell you this, I took my time, and we made sweet, sweet, satisfying love. After, I held her, and we listened to the thunder roll overhead. The rain hadn’t started yet. In my early days I didn’t stick around. Stick it in, spit, then bounce was how I rolled. Look how far a man can come with the right woman. Those girls helped me perfect my foreplay game. They were good for something.
“Alixxander, what exactly did you say to your mom about us?”
“I told her everything except your name. You are the one who inadvertently told her.”
“I’d never met her before tonight.”
“Mom is my go-to person for support. I went to her after learning about the miscarriage and I spilled my guts. Well, Dad came home and announced that you had an emergency. All the pieces were there and when she put them together, it revealed a picture of you and me. You aren't in the mood for sushi from Japan, are you?”
“Huh?”
“Dad said I’m your errand boy. My job hangs in the balance. Harmoney, if you want sushi from around the world. I am the man for the job. Until I get mine back.”
“I like how easily you make me laugh. What are we going to do, Alixxander?”
Continue to keep our relationship on the DL. Put our heads together and do whatever it takes to break the binding agreement of matrimony. Then make our commitment public and rub it in Carma and Evan's face. All my free time will be spent aiming for and hitting the bullseye until we have as many little scamps as she wants running around filling our home with crying, dirty diapers, love, and laughter. Through it all, our careers will take off. Once we grow old and tired, we will retire and spend every precious waking moment spoiling our grandchildren all while making our kids hate us for it.
“Did you fall asleep on me?”
“No. How can I answer your question if we might not want the same future?”
She sat on top of me. “Truthfully....... Your marriage complicates any relationship we pursue at this point. Including a s*xual one. Condoms aren't always effective.” True to everything she said. Condoms are one of the few things in my lifetime that haven’t failed me. Harmoney’s hands were on my pecs and when she leaned over me, I began laughing. “What is so funny?”
“I can’t concentrate with your melons swinging in my face.”
“Stop it.”
She wanted a serious answer. “I plan to strive for everything with you and for you. But there is a downside to sharing my wants.”
“An upside must have a downside.”
“I don't want to push my luck by thinking so far into the future that I scare you and run you off.”
Grinding on my growing tool suggested I made her uncomfortable with my honesty. My eyes rolled back as she put my tool in her toolbox. That ended our first pillow talk session. Her juggs mesmerized me as they swayed and bounced with her rapid movements.
“How's your pullout game?”
“SSSSSS. Weak when it comes to you.” A devilish grin appeared, and she hit hyperdrive. Boiling liquid rose faster than ever before. If I hadn’t lifted her off.... I don’t need to finish that sentence.
Harmoney tossed and turned for a while before finally falling asleep in my arms. Her phone buzzed from somewhere close by. Eventually, it stopped. I did not try to close my eyes once. The dread of waking up in my bed and it all being a dream terrified me.
The worst s*xual memory of mine is from my teen years. Specifically, the age of sixteen. This girl from the neighborhood threw a party to get other kids to like her. A nasty rumor soon started, but it was high school. If a guy had alcohol, the host took them to her parents' room and gave them five minutes. The more male guests that showed up, the more bodies were in the room at once. I heard seventy-six guys of varying ages had a go at her before the night was over.
I snuck over to get me a piece. The scene was grotesque. Fluids were everywhere. The girl was on her belly with her legs on the floor. I walked up behind her and called her name. Rubbers got tossed over her shoulder before telling me I could use them or not. I put two on and went to town. About to start round three, she told me not to wake her if she passed out. I stopped. I think that was the first time a girl turned me off with words.
Three months later, her father sent an embarrassing letter to parents around the neighborhood asking if their sons took part in the festivities with his daughter. Not everyone covered up obviously. Travis and Mitchell took part. They were lucky the girl’s father didn’t want to press charges on the of aged men who took advantage of an unruly teenage girl. No one saw me. I used protection, so I knew my sample wasn’t left behind. It really didn’t matter because she couldn't identify half the dudes who showed up. I don’t think they ever found out who fathered her son.
That memory creeps up randomly and sometimes at the wrong time. Tonight is just me thinking about how far I’d come. The measures I took to get laid. I am no angel. My hormones raged, and I always found a way to tame them until the next time.
Harmoney kept the shades in her bedroom open. That’s how I watched the sun rise. The rain never came. Eight o'clock came quickly. I am usually out of bed by five, having breakfast, then out for a run, a workout before showering and dressing to start the workday. Harmoney slept roughly. Now she seemed at peace. Her life hasn't been normal since the day I solicited her for my selfish wants. Not wanting to disturb her, I lifted her head off my shoulder, moved it, and placed her head on a pillow.
First things first. I had to drain the lizard. Then came chow time. Rummaging through her cabinets and fridge, I found all the ingredients for a heart attack waiting to happen. First, coffee. Bacon went in the oven. The hardest decision was waffles or pancakes. The Eggo waffle commercial came on during morning cartoons, and it was a happy memory from my childhood. I feel happier now than at that time in my life. Waffles it is.
While finishing the eggs, I heard, “You can cook?”
I poured the dark roast coffee into a cup and placed it in front of her while stealing a kiss. “Coffee. I'm finishing the eggs, and the bacon can come out of the oven.”
“Who is gonna eat all of this food?”
“We are. Waffles, toast, bacon, eggs made two ways, scrambled and over easy, and sausage. Sit. Eat.”
“You didn't have to go through all the trouble.”
“Where's the rule of your house that says a guest can't repay you with breakfast after having a great night?”
“There isn't one.” Harmoney wrapped her arms around my waist and nuzzled my chest. I held her just as tightly in return. “Thank you, Alixxander.”
- Writer
