Evening Gentleman Read online

  NATHAN

  You know what I am so over this conversation right now. I am going to take my shower. You can let yourself out.

  I left Alton on the balcony. I walked into the bathroom and closed the door. I turned the radio on that was in the bathroom. Soon the voice of Kelly Rowland filled the room. I turned the shower head on full blast as I stepped in. The water was so relaxing. Visions of everything that Aiden and I had done flashed in my mind. I thought about Leslie, Dana, Alton, and countless others. What had I really done with my life?

  After been in the shower for almost twenty minutes the water began to turn cold. I turned the water off and grabbed my towel. As I was drying off I figured that Alton had vacated my room by now. When I opened the door to walk into the bedroom I noticed the curtains wave from the wind off the balcony. I wrapped my towel around my waist and closed the doors to the balcony. I walked over and grabbed my travel bag and began to do my nightly ritual. I made sure that I had my facial creams and oil to rub into my body.

  When I finished I went directly to bed. I look at the bed and stopped. My sheets were messed up. Did Alton do this to leave me a sign? I started to remake the bed before I lay down for the night. Something was missing. I could not put my finger on it but my bedding was strange. I decided to turn each layer back piece by piece.

  In the mist of my playing detective there was a beating on my door. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it back around my waist. With my chest exposed I opened the door. I was looking in the faces of many people. They burst through my door and went straight into my bedroom. While I was following them two gorilla built men took me down to the floor.

  NATHAN

  What the hell are you doing?

  They didn’t say much as they place handcuffs on me. Finally they lift me to my feet and flung me on the couch. One oversized man came out of the bedroom and began to ask me questions about the evening. I was lost as to what he was talking about. He took me by my arm and led me into the bedroom. We walked out on the balcony and I found my sheet that was missing. One end was tired to the rails and Alton hung from the other end. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what happened or how it happened. I staggered back into my room.

  POLICE

  What can you tell me about this?

  NATHAN

  Nothing. I don’t know what happened.

  POLICE

  Do you know him?

  NATHAN

  Yes. He is…was a friend of mine.

  I explained everything to the police that happened that evening. I left out about me and Alton being in a relationship.

  NATHAN

  I am leaving going back to Birmingham in the morning.

  POLICE

  I don’t think that you will be leaving for a while.

  No Place like Home

  What was supposed to be a week’s trip turned into three weeks. I walked into the house and Leslie came running up to me. She threw her arms around my neck and held me tight. I could not help but cry on her shoulder. She rubbed the back of my neck.

  NATHAN

  I am so sorry. So many times I have hurt you. I am so sorry.

  LESLIE

  We will worry about that later. Right now we need to think of how we will get passed this.

  NATHAN

  Baby I know you are mad. Please hit me or do something.

  LESLIE

  Nathan – I don’t want you to think about me right now. Put yourself first…like you have always done. I am here with you for now but when it is over I am walking out. I am just letting you know now so that it won’t be any surprises later.

  I lift my head and looked into her eyes. She took her hand and wiped away my tears.

  NATHAN

  Do you still love me?

  She didn’t respond. She released me and walked into the kitchen.

  LESLIE

  Do you care for a drink?

  NATHAN

  I guess. Leslie I need you to understand the demons that I have dealt with.

  LESLIE

  To be honest with you I don’t want to hear about your demons. I have put up with a demon for years being married to you. I knew that you were sleeping around on me. I knew this. But I kept telling myself that you would come around. I knew one day that you would change. But you want to know what really hurt me Nathan – when I found out that you were sleeping with a good friend of mine. And a man at that.

  NATHAN

  I don’t know what to tell you.

  LESLIE

  There is nothing that you can say.

  My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number that showed on the caller ID.

  NATHAN

  Hello?

  VOICE

  If you value everything that you own and love you will meet me at Oak Mountain State Park in thirty minutes.

  Suddenly there was no sound on the other end. I didn’t know who it was and was not about to take a chance of anything else happening to someone that I love.

  I walked toward the red trial as I was instructed to on the phone. Every rustle of leaves and crackle of twigs frightened me. I made sure that I packed my pistol just in case anything went wrong. I heard a few bikes coming towards me. I stepped out of the way so that I would not get hit. As I continued to walk someone came behind me and poked me in my sides. I jumped and turned. It was the woman from the flight to Chicago.

  NATHAN

  What are you doing here?

  RACHEL

  I live in Birmingham.

  NATHAN

  Where is Lil Nathan?

  RACHEL

  He is still in Chicago with my brother. I needed him to stay there while I got some things figured out here.

  NATHAN

  Okay okay. Is everything okay?

  RACHEL

  You really don’t remember me do you?

  NATHAN

  The lady from the plane.

  She laughed

  RACHEL

  No I am Rachel. We went to high school together.

  NATHAN

  I can’t place you.

  RACHEL

  Drama club, student council, the show choir.

  NATHAN

  It was five hundred and some odd people that graduated with me. I can’t place you.

  RACHEL

  Okay how about six month before you got married to Leslie. You told me that you were going to marry me.

  I looked at her up and down. Suddenly it hit me.

  NATHAN

  Rachel!

  RACHEL

  Right…Rachel.

  NATHAN

  I thought that you left the city.

  RACHEL

  I did when I found out that I was pregnant.

  I paused.

  NATHAN

  Wait a minute…

  RACHEL

  Right Lil Nathan is your son.

  NATHAN

  This can’t be.

  RACHEL

  Oh brother man but it is. You know you took my life from me. You proposed to me and then married another woman. I followed you for sooo many years.

  NATHAN

  Why didn’t you just come and talk to me?

  RACHEL

  I couldn’t. I watched you sleep around on your wife. Men…women…men…it didn’t matter as long as you got your dick wet.

  I tried to speak but she cut me off.

  RACHEL

  And then watch you get up in church and minister. I made it my business to destroy you. The truck in your office.

  NATHAN

  You killed my secretary.

  RACHEL

  Oh…I am sorry I didn’t mean to. You hadn’t slept with her had you? I don’t remember her being on my list.

  NATHAN

  You are sick.

  RACHEL

  You haven’t seen sick yet.

  I tried to run but as I turned I heard a gun fire. I wasn’t sure if I had been shot but I immediately stopped. I turned and looked at her. She walked
over to me and rubbed the hot barrel against my face.

  RACHEL

  Leslie and that Aiden are the only two left before I have you to myself.

  NATHAN

  I am going to the police with this.

  RACHEL

  And if you do Leslie leaves sooner than I planned. Now I want you to go home and play nice for a while. I will be by to visit really soon.

  I walked into my house and easily pushed the door open. I didn’t know what I could be walking into. As I walked through the house I peeked around every corner. When I reached my bedroom Leslie was laying on the bed. I eased my way to her. I gently touched her forehead. She jumped.

  LESLIE

  Why are you touching me?

  NATHAN

  Just checking on you.

  She tilted her head when she saw my face.

  LESLIE

  What happened to you?

  NATHAN

  I fell when I was walking in the park.

  LESLIE

  That’s a burn. What happened?

  NATHAN

  I told you I fell and slid in the park.

  I went into the master bath and ran some water to wash my face.

  Communicate

  I was strolling at the fair eating some cotton candy. I was trying to process everything. Why didn’t I remember Rachel on the plane? How was I going to get rid of her and save Aiden and Leslie? For the life of me I could not tell Leslie everything that was happening. She knew enough and she decided to stick with me until it was all over. I needed to talk to someone. I needed Aiden. He could help me. But I knew that he didn’t want to hear from me. He was starting a new life with Demarcus. Maybe if I explain to him everything that was going on he would have some compassion for me.

  I caused all of this. Being greedy. Never filling fulfilled. But I needed to end this and end it soon.

  As I was eating the last of the cotton candy I saw Rachel looking towards me. I wanted to turn and walk the other way but there was no telling what she might do. I can remember someone telling me years ago, “You never know a person is crazy until they started acting crazy.” I knew Rachel was a lunatic. As she walked towards me I felt my heart thumping in my chest.

  RACHEL

  Well hello.

  NATHAN

  Hey.

  RACHEL

  Awwww…is that all I get is a “hey”.

  NATHAN

  Are you following me?

  RACHEL (bluntly)

  Yes.

  NATHAN

  You need help.

  I walked in the opposite direction and she stopped me.

  RACHEL

  Look…how about we have our picture drawn together.

  NATHAN

  I am not interested.

  RACHEL

  Either you are interested or I will scream right here.

  NATHAN (grabbing her by the arm)

  Look I need you to get the hell out of my life.

  RACHEL

  Picture first and then I will think about it.

  We walked over to the artist and I paid for him to draw the picture. I pushed her down in the chair and I stood behind her. I figured this way I could make a run for it.

  ARTIST

  Excuse me sir but why don’t you sit down and she sit on your lap.

  RACHEL

  I love it.

  She hopped up and helped me sit down. She sat on my leg and made sure that her leg was touching my manhood.

  NATHAN

  Your leg is on my dick.

  RACHEL

  I know and the way it feels you must like it. I can feel it getting teased.

  I tried to make it unnoticeable to push her leg off.

  ARTIST

  Hold that pose. Be sure to smile.

  Rachel continued to wiggle in my lap. I closed my eyes and tried to think about other things but my body was betraying me.

  RACHEL (whispering to me)

  Someone is getting excited. Maybe we will have to take care of that.

  NATHAN (standing up and nearly pushing Rachel to the ground)

  Is it done yet?

  The artist continued to draw as we looked at the photo.

  ARTIST

  Are you guys married?

  NATHAN (interjecting)

  No!

  ARTIST

  Well what are you waiting on man?

  RACHEL

  I have got to rid of his wife first.

  I looked at the artist and then at Rachel.

  NATHAN

  I am married to Leslie. You went and lived your life however you saw fit.

  RACHEL

  I had to because of you. I didn’t get pregnant by myself. You twisted my life.

  NATHAN

  I didn’t twist your life.

  RACHEL

  Sure Nathan Edward Riley Sr.

  NATHAN

  How do I know that your son is even mine?

  RACHEL

  We can all go to get the DNA test. Me, you, Lil Nathan and Leslie.

  NATHAN

  Leave Leslie out of this. She has enough to deal with and my mess as it is.

  RACHEL

  Poor Leslie.

  NATHAN

  I am facing murder charges because of you.

  RACHEL

  That’s your fault. Your shouldn’t have hung Alton with your sheets and you shouldn’t have shot O’Keefe.

  NATHAN

  You are a sick ass bitch.

  RACHEL

  Come on with the name calling.

  NATHAN

  I have got to find a way to move on with my marriage and you need to move on with your life. You have got to find a way to move beyond the past.

  RACHEL

  I guess by moving beyond I am supposed to forget about what happened between us. When you divorce Leslie or she dies, whichever comes first, you will be with me and our son.

  NATHAN

  I will never be with you. If Lil Nathan is mine I will find a way to get him from you.

  RACHEL

  I have lost everything that I have ever loved, including you. If I can’t have you can I at least have your friendship?

  I took a deep sign and exhaled into the wind.

  The More I Try

  LESLIE

  Where have you been?

  NATHAN

  I went to the fair and then for a walk.

  LESLIE

  With who?

  NATHAN

  Myself.

  LESLIE

  As much as I want to believe you Nathan I can’t.

  NATHAN

  Leslie I know that I have lied to you so many times. I wish that I could take them all back but I can’t. I would love us to start over. My life is changing before my own eyes.

  LESLIE

  The only thing that might change you is death or a child. We don’t have any children and I hope you aren’t dying.

  I stood against the drawer quietly. She rose in the bed and glared at me.

  LESLIE

  Please tell me you are not dying. Do you have a virus or disease and you haven’t told me?

  NATHAN

  No nothing like that.

  LESLIE

  You have a child out there.

  NATHAN

  I don’t know Leslie.

  LESLIE

  You bastard. Get your shit and get out of my house.

  NATHAN

  This is not your house.

  LESLIE

  I may not be on the mortgage but I am on the deed.

  NATHAN

  You know this is all you have wanted. The big house, the fancy cars, the fine clothes and jewelry. I put myself in debt trying to make you happy all of these years. You know some friends of mine asked me a long time ago, “Shouldn’t you be worried that Leslie may be having an affair. She is always out saying that she is in school late at night.”

  LESLIE

  What are you saying?

  NATHAN

  So you were having an
affair on me while you tried your best to blame everything on me.

  Before I knew it she slapped me across my face.

  NATHAN

  I hope that made you feel better.

  Who Do You Love

  On a late Friday night I drove to Rachel’s apartment against my will. As usual I wasn’t sure what she wanted but I would do anything to keep her from harming Vanessa and Aiden.

  I pressed the doorbell and waited. When the door opened she stood there with her robe half opened. Her ample breasts were barely covered. I couldn’t help but study her body from head to toe. She stood there with a devilish smile. When she posted one hand on the edge of the door and the other hand on her hip, her robe was fully opened.

  RACHEL

  Do you like what you see?

  I felt my body betraying me again. I wanted so hard to fight the temptation. She took her hand and began to unbutton my shirt. I wanted to stop her but I refused to. She rolled my shirt off of me. My broad shoulders, flat abs, and narrow hips were exposed.

  RACHEL

  I have had sweet dreams and beautiful nightmares about being with you again. I remember the thickness of your manhood, the slow rhythmic gyrations of your hips, and your strong kisses as you were about to climax.

  NATHAN

  I don’t want to do this.

  She reached down and felt my manhood through my pants.

  RACHEL

  Are you sure that you don’t want to do this?

  Her touch was so massive yet so gentle. I knew when I heard my belt unbuckle that there was no turning back. She kneeled before me and placed me in her mouth. The warmth was so mesmerizing. As she went back and forth I looked down and saw the glistening of her saliva. I reached down and grabbed her subtle breasts. I pulled her up and sucked each one just the same. I came up and looked her in her eyes. She released an “Ahhhh” when I entered her. With each thrust I became stronger and stronger.

  Just as I was about to explode I felt her tightening around my manhood. She screamed out my name. Once again it let me know that I had hit that spot. I pulled her into me when I released. I felt as she dugged her nails into my back. I breathed deeply.

  Invincible

  I was taking a shower when I heard a noise in the bathroom. I peeped my head out of the shower curtain but nothing was there. I called out to Leslie but there was no response. I quickly turned the shower off and walked out the bathroom. When I turned the corner Rachel was standing there.