“No problem Babylove, you want it I got it. Give me a sec and I’ll get breakfast started and prep for dinner. Any idea what you’ll want for lunch?” I ask holding my hand over the mouthpiece of my phone.
“If you don’t mind making it think I’m in the mood for some salmon with a side of Basmati rice and mixed vegetables.” Her eyes landed on me in wait for my answer but of course she didn’t have to wait long because I was already nodding my head to her wishes.
“Give me a second to finish this phone call and I’ll call in to have the Basmati rice grains delivered.” It was only then that she even noticed I was on the phone because her perfect lips formed a plump O shape, mouthed sorry and ran out.
“Was that-”
“Yup. Sure is. Jealous?”
“Damn right I am! No wonder I haven’t been able to reach you, you fucker. How in the hell did you manage that?” Chuckling, I sit back feeling like I just won a billion dollars.
“I listened to the advice you gave and stopped pushing the woman I live and breathe for away but look let me call and get the thing I need for my woman.” I wrap up the call by telling him to allow Nia to accompany Angel to the salon tomorrow and we’ll talk about it when we have some time. After hanging up I call in for a few groceries and get started on my day of relaxing and doting on my woman.
Terrible Suggestions
As beautiful and relaxing as our days off were, I’m annoyed that Monday is here and Nia and my brother are at my door disturbing our peace, with Nia’s mouth set in a surprised O and her head turning here and there as she walked through our home. Even though I have no problem with her as a person I still want her to get out of my love nest and to take my knucklehead of a brother with her.
“Wow Mr. Stohurst this house is amazing.”
“Thank you, Nia. Angel is upstairs in our master bedroom. She’s still asleep but feel free to wake her up. We just had a shower together and she might need some… motivation to move from the spot I laid her down to rest in. Her legs gave out midway.” Both Nia and Landen turned my way, but I ignore them doing my best to appear casual while telling her I fucked all energy from her friend.
“Oh?” Nia’s eyebrows raised looking perplexed.
“Oh indeed.” I level her with a look daring her to say something. Though I do feel bad about putting things out like this but I’m well aware of how her and Angel would speak about my brother and I. After listening in on their phone calls and watching them though our security footage we knew quite a bit about their disdain for us. That’s why I feel it’s best to show and tell her that type of narrative isn’t appreciated over here and my wife and I are good. That’s past us now and I want it to stay there.
“Wow. Uhm okay. I'll just go wake her up then, excuse me.” She turned and hurried upstairs and I could see her stop, confused once she reached the top.
“Only door to the right.” Nodding to me she disappears to the right and I turn, only to stop when I see my brother glaring at me. “What? I was as nice as I could be about it.” With a half joking, half serious punch to my arm he growls, eyes flashing and teeth bared.
“Talk to my woman like that one more time, and I'll resign from this company build a rival startup to take all of your money, and never speak to you again.” I know he means it, because had it been the opposite way, I’d mean it too. If he were to disrespect Angel in any way, I'd completely cut him off from my life, so I totally understand.
“I expect no less from you.” Grumbling he takes a seat and I grow concerned when his face morphs into one of a sad child pouting. “What's wrong with you?”
“I messed up.”
“Tsk, that’s not saying much coming from ‘country bumkins’ like us but pray tell what did you fuck up now.”
“Well, this weekend I was doing what I always do, watching Nia in her house, when I saw on the cameras, she invited a man over.”
“Ouch.” He nodded and pouted, and I can’t help but recall the little six-year-old who clung to me when our dad would… shaking those thoughts from my head I look up to see he’s cupping his hands tightly.
“Ouch indeed. They were on the couch and about to make out. I was so distraught that I hopped in my car without thinking and called her about some bullshit just to get her away from him.”
“That’s low.”
“I know but If I hadn’t called her, she would have no doubt had sex with him. I can’t handle that.”
“I understand you on that. Sorry for sounding so insensitive. How are you holding up? Did anything happen after that? You didn’t do anything crazy did you?”
“It depends on what you think is crazy.” He put his hands in his head and groaned. I slide my hands in my pockets and watch my brother make the same guilty face he’s made since he was one. Oh, he did something REALLY bad huh? He only makes that face when he absolutely knew he was in the wrong.
“What exactly did you do?”
“Well, you know I bought the apartment on the side of her so I can be close to her, right?” I nod and he continues. “Well, long story short when I reached that apartment. I ran inside and I started the feed on the cameras there. To my surprise they were arguing about her always being at my beck and call, and he seemed like he was about to hit her. I could feel something bro. I could feel something I’d never in my life rise in my soul.
Thank goodness he left when he did because if he’d laid his hands on her, I know I would have been capable of murder.” To hear Landen say something like that was surreal. With him being the most affected by our dad’s abusive behavior. He was still an impressionable little kid and became a pacifist so I know the demon that secretly dwelled within us was real. “When the guy left, I still felt… off, and my need to be with her was so overwhelming and all-encompassing to the point I-”
“You what? She doesn’t seem scared or shaken so what could you have done that was so bad?” He swallowed and grabbed his head, shaking his right leg.
“I… I cut the power to her house and snuck in.”
“Okay no big deal, I’ve snuck into Angel house a couple times. Is it wrong? Absolutely but as long as you did it without her knowing and you didn’t do something heinous like rape her or anything like everything should be fi-” When I said that he sat up straight and his eyes went wide and something disgusting welled up in my chest.
“Landen… you didn-” I grab my cell about to call the cops when he snatches it from me holding it behind his back.
“NO! God No, I didn’t rape her, I might be incurable but I’m no fucking monster. I-” My face must have showed my shock and disgust because he stood up defensively. “Hey, don’t give me that look! I am not our father!” I hold my hands up to show him that I understand and that he should calm down. When he sees that I believe him, he deflates and sits back down setting my cell on next to him. “Anyway, what I was trying to tell you is that, I tried to leave after that but… but she stopped me.”
“Come again?”
“You heard me right. She stopped me.”
“Okay. What exactly happened? What could make her want you… an intruder in her home, stay with her.” He bit his lip and groaned, and I could feel something radiating off him.