Sweet Escape

*JAMIRA*

I lied there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process not only my thoughts but also why I was lying in bed with a complete stranger. This was so out of character for me. Part of me was waiting for regret to follow, but it never came. As bad as I knew this was wrong, I couldn’t feel bad about it. A man I barely knew treated my body so well and made sure I was satisfied. Chris had never treated my body like he knew exactly what to do to send me over the edge. Shit, Chris! I almost forgot we lived together, and he’d be suspicious if I didn’t come back home.

Panic overcame me, and I turned to see the time on Eric’s phone on the nightstand. It was 4 a.m.! I pushed Eric’s arm off me and scrambled to gather my clothes and put them on. When I got dressed, I slipped out the door and searched for my phone in my purse. Upon checking, I had two missed calls from Chris, six messages from Ayana, and a missed call from her too. Once I got outside, I called her.

“Mira, what the hell?!” I could hear the anger and worry in her voice.

“Yana, where are you? Come get me!”

“Girl, I was already on my way. I want all the details.”

I laughed. This girl is always willing to hear about my life. “I got you.”

As I waited for her to come, I couldn’t stop smiling at the fact that I had some good sex a few hours ago, and although I cheated, I still don’t regret what I did.

The sound of music pulled me from my thoughts as Ayana finally pulled up. I got in the car, feeling relieved and anxious at the same time. Relieved because now I didn’t have to worry about getting caught outside this man’s house, but anxious about what was to come. Chris had called, and I could just imagine the animosity I’d walk into when I got home.

“Oh my god, girl! I’ve never seen the walk of shame look so good,” she said, smiling wide.

I blushed and turned my head.

“Wait… did… did you really go through with it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh my word! Jamira Emani Hines, you slut! You gave that man some, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. “Mm hmm, and it was absolutely delicious.”

“Tell me everything!”

“Let’s just say he’s an eater girl,” I said with a sly smile on my face.

“No, girl! He ate your…” Her expression said everything as she pulled over to listen to all the details. I’m not entirely sure why she couldn’t have driven, but I’m not tripping.

The rest of the ride was filled with light energy and music. Ayana occasionally glanced my way, mocking me for being fast. Soon, the car approached my home, and it was time to get out. I didn’t want to face Chris alone just yet, so I invited Ayana in for breakfast. At first, she hesitated, but I think she sensed the tension and eventually agreed.

I walked in expecting to be greeted by an irate man who would be completely unreasonable. Instead, I was met with something far more unsettling. He calmly walked down the stairs with a blank expression on his face and simply said, “Morning,” so dry that I felt like I needed water after that one. Ayana and I both looked at each other, bewildered. There was no yelling, no fighting, no hostility. Just indifference.

“I’m getting ready to make breakfast. Did you want some?”

He walked to the door and turned around with a look on his face that I didn’t quite understand. “You got it. You always do.” And with that, he was gone. He didn’t even slam the door this time. Something was definitely wrong.

“Damn, not even a fight? That’s weird even for him.”

“Oh my god, do you think he knows something?”

“Honestly, you’re just getting home, and even though he can’t prove anything, he’d be foolish not to suspect anything.”

She wasn’t lying. Those words hung thick in the air. I was speechless, racking my brain at the possibilities of what he could be thinking or how much he possibly knew.

“Girl, don’t worry about it until he can show you any kind of proof. It’s all speculation. No face, no case.”

You’d think that would have put me at ease, considering I still don’t regret hooking up with Eric. However, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy seeing him like this, clueless about what might be going through his mind.

“I don’t know, girl. I did get two missed calls from him. I wonder if that’s related to it.”

“Are you serious? And you didn’t call him back or even let him know you were okay?”

“No, I was drunk and didn’t think I had to. He usually ignores me when I’m with you.”

Ayana was silent for a moment, then something clicked. She reached for my phone and checked something. Afterward, she looked at something on her phone as well. As if the pieces just fell into place, she finally let me in on the truth.

“Mira, he has your location. I think he checked it.”

Anger surged through me. “How do you know?”

“He sent me a direct message asking about you. I didn’t even know he knew my social media.”

“Did you respond?”

“Of course not! He’s my nemesis, and I just thought to check now.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his head at that moment as I made breakfast. If he knew something, why hadn’t he said anything? What would make him suddenly calm like that after I’d been gone all night?

“Look, if anything happens, you can always come stay with me. And if he asks, tell him you were with me anyway. My page is private, so he won’t be able to see what I’ve posted.”

I nodded and continued cooking. When the food was done and plated, we ate in silence, analyzing everything. This went on until Ayana went home, leaving me alone with my thoughts.