As Quiet As It’s Kept

*JAMIRA*

The sunlight streamed through the curtains as I stretched and rubbed my eyes. I glanced over to see Eric staring at me. His eyes were filled with adoration.

I felt instantly embarrassed. It was creepy in a sweet way, I suppose.

“How long have you been up?” I asked casually.

“About 10 minutes,” he replied.

“How long are you going to keep staring at me?”

“As long as it takes,” he said.

“For what?”

“To remember how beautiful you look in the morning,” he replied.

That’s what I loved about Eric. He always reminded me that he thought I was beautiful. Chris used to, but lately, he seems to look at me with venom in his eyes. I wish things weren’t so complicated.

“What time is it?”

“7:10,” he said.

“Oh my god, I have to go,” I exclaimed.

Eric leaned closer and nuzzled his face in my neck.

“Not so fast, just a little bit longer,” he said.

I wanted to, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I felt like I should, but I didn’t want to get too attached or comfortable too soon.

I looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

He kissed me and said, “I was hoping we could go another round before you leave.”

I smiled and threw a pillow at him. “You gotta catch me first.”

He rolled out of bed and chased me into the bathroom, where he once again brought me to my climax.

….

*Chris*

Ever since my last conversation with Jamira, things have been put into perspective for me. I know things were difficult, but I hadn’t anticipated the extent of it. When I saw that video, I assumed something had happened, but I tried to put it aside. That is, until she admitted to having sex with him.

It wouldn’t have been a big deal if she had just let me inside her. How had one night kept her from wanting to be intimate with me? I’m her man, for goodness sake. We’re together.

Those events replay in my mind constantly. So much so that last night, I went out with the guys. I decided to stop by Rod’s house since he always seemed to be up to something. He was sitting in the garage smoking when I pulled up.

“What’s up, fool?”

“Hey, what’s the plan for tonight?” He asked.

“I’m not sure yet. You called Cory to check?”

“Hold on, I got you.”

I took the blunt from his hand and smoked it myself. He had that good shit.

When he finished the call, he told me the plan for the night.

“Alright, so we’re going to stop by the liquor store and pick up a bottle. Then, we’ll go pick up Lou and head over to Cory’s place.”

“Sounds good.”

We both got into my car and drove to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of D’USSE and Paul Masson. Now, it was time to get Lou. Even though he can drive, he was technically the drunk of the group. He’d get so sloppy that he’d blackout, become a stuntman, fight everyone, fire off a few bullets in the air just to wake up in someone’s bushes, four states away. Don’t ask how he got there because he’ll either say he was abducted or set up and actually believe it.

That man is unhinged, but definitely a good time.

The ride had been mostly quiet, except for the music playing, until Rod decided to break the silence.

“So, uh… I noticed the last few times we went out, you’ve been a bit tense. Is everything okay?”

Why did he think I wanted to talk about that at this moment? The whole point was to not think about my home life. Rod had a way of getting everyone to open up, but I hated that. I feel like I should be able to talk about Jamira to her, not to anyone else. But I can’t bring myself to tell her what I’ve been hiding deep down all this time. She thinks I’ve been grieving, which is true, but not exactly.

I haven’t been honest with her in a while. I don’t even recognize myself sometimes.

“Yeah,” I lied. “Why are you asking?”

“Like I said, you’ve been tense like you’re about to slap someone. She’s not giving you any pussy?”

“Something like that,” I said dryly.

“You know Cory has the girls at his place, so you’ll have the pick of the litter.”

I tried to laugh at that, but it came out so dry that it hurt my throat. It was really sad.

“Nah, I’m good. You guys have fun.”

“What’s really going on?”

I took a deep breath and told him. “Mira went out with her hoe-ass friends and fucked some little white boy.”

The look on his face could’ve killed somebody. It’s like the ultimate offense was committed.

“Bro, what the fuck! You sure?”

“Yeah, man, her little friend sent me a video of them leaving together, and when I asked if she fucked him, she started apologizing and shit.”

“You think she’s still sleeping with him?”

“I don’t know.”

He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.

“So what now?”

“I don’t know, I just know I still love her, but we can’t keep going like this.”

“What you need is a distraction right now. You know that fool Lou will get your mind off of it for now.”

“Yeah.”

I turned the music back up as we picked up Lou and headed to Cory’s.

When we got to Cory’s house, there was food, liquor, and women. So many women. The music was blasting with smoke in the air and everyone having a good time.

As soon as I got to the living room, someone grabbed my arm and pushed me on the wall while she danced on me. That went on for a while until I saw they brought out the dominoes. I’m a beast at that. I kicked a couple of asses, then I smoked and drank with the boys. A few women tried to push up on me, but I wasn’t interested.

Right when I started feeling the liquor, my phone buzzed. It was Keema.

Hey—

What?

Damn, why are you so cold?

Why do you keep texting me?

Same reason you keep texting back.

I guess she had a point. Still, she refused to take a hint.

What do you want?

Pull up.

Bet, I’m on my way.

I waited a few more minutes then let the boys know I was leaving.

When I got to Keema’s house, she came to the door completely naked. Gone off the liquor, I pushed her to the couch and wore her out. I have to put an end to this shit once and for all.